Managing Psychosocial Hazards in the Workplace The law around psychosocial hazards – What you need to know In late 2021 , Safework NSW developed an excellent Code of Practice to guide employers on this issue. It was entitled “Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work” and clearly spells out the legal requirements placed on organisations large and [...]

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 [...]

Managing Psychosocial Hazards in the Workplace High Profile Infringements In October 2023 the Sydney Morning Herald ran a news story around the staff exodus from a major Sydney hospital amid ‘toxic’ bullying claims. SafeWork NSW investigated and issued a series of penalty notices for “failing to manage the impact of work-related psychosocial stressors on staff”. [...]

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 [...]