Health and Safety Responsibilities in Construction Projects SafeWork NSW continually reinforce the point that the role of prin­ci­pal con­trac­tor is crit­i­cal in man­ag­ing safe­ty risks on con­struc­tion projects. However, there is still much misunderstanding and confusion, which leaves workers exposed to the possibility of serious injury and managers, supervisors, and companies liable to hefty prosecutions [...]

Psychosocial Hazards in the Workplace The “Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work” Code of Practise by SafeWork NSW from late 2021 establishes that employers need to use every feasible method to manage workplace hazards. Throughout subsequent years the safety regulator has heightened workplace awareness through inspections which have prompted businesses to demonstrate their psychosocial hazard management [...]

Implementing the Critical Infrastructure Risk Management Program A windfarm may be classed as a Critical Infrastructure Asset depending on its capacity.After a period of substantial industry consultation the Security of Critical Infrastructure Risk Management Program (CIRMP) was registered under the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018 (SOCI Act) at the end of 2022.  This legislation [...]

Introduction to the Confined Spaces Code of Practice Confined spaces pose unique risks and hazards that require careful attention and management to ensure the safety of workers. In December 2022 SafeWork NSW published the Confined Spaces Code of Practice, which serves as a comprehensive guideline to safe working in confined spaces. This article explores the [...]

Introduction In recent years, the renewable energy sector has experienced significant growth and has become a vital part of the Australian energy landscape. As the industry continues to expand, it is crucial to prioritise workplace health and safety (WHS) to ensure the well-being of workers and minimise the risk of incidents and injuries. At BWC [...]

Many of the workplace OHS risks commonly found in the healthcare sector are unique and this can present challenges for OHS professionals who may have recently joined the Health and Safety team in a hospital, medical clinic, or health provider. In this article, we will explore the main safety risks to healthcare workers and [...]

We are often asked this question by business leaders and managers. Sometimes the question is in response to a serious workplace accident, and other times the business is looking to upgrade their safety management system to the new international standard ISO 45001. This standard requires that all of the needs and expectations of key [...]

Maintaining good Workplace Health & Safety standards is a crucial aspect of any workplace. It is the legal responsibility of every employer to provide a safe and healthy work environment for employees, and an OHS committee can play a significant role in achieving this goal. OHS committees are typically made up of representatives from [...]

Christopher Cassaniti celebrating his 18th birthday just a few days before he died in a scaffold collapse Anyone who has experienced the loss of a friend or family member through a workplace accident will understand why providing good OHS in the workplace is the most important responsibility for a business owner. According to SafeWork [...]

Many of our newer SME clients are like the guy in the photograph. They must juggle sales, operations, customer issues, cashflow, etc. They have a vague notion that there is a safety ball to be juggled  – and of course, nobody wants to see a colleague get hurt - but hey, what could go [...]