A Brisbane-based company director has just been sentenced to jail for 1 year and slapped with a $1 million dollar fine for being found guilty of reckless conduct in the workplace.

 It’s a first for Queensland yet is the second custodial sentence issued for breach of WHS duties in Australia, following a recent hearing in Victoria where a 6-month sentence was passed.

 As State Safety Authorities increase their focus on the individual liability of officers and directors, we expect to see a rise in penalties imposed by the courts. 

A breakdown of what happened:

How to ensure directors and officers understand their duties:

The Australian WHS rules and regulations require all PCBU (persons conducting a business undertaking) to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, that workers are not injured or harmed at work. As a director or officer, it is mandatory to ensue compliance and show you have taken reasonable steps of due diligence by:

• Acquiring knowledge of health and safety issues;
• Understanding operations and associated hazards and risks;
• Ensuring that appropriate resources and processes are used to eliminate or minimise risks to health and safety;
• Implementing processes to receive and respond to information about incidents, hazards and risks;
• Establishing and maintaining compliance processes with up-to-date safety information; and
• To verify the provision and use of the resources and processes mentioned above.

>>TRAINING COURSE: Officers Due Diligence WHS Training

>> For more information read: The WHS Responsibilities of a PCBU

Determining the status of a company’s WHS compliance

It’s not always easy to determine the status of WHS compliance within a workplace and can be even more challenging to uncover flaws within internal systems or processes - particularly without the right training or understanding of current legislation.

An external WHS Audit works by systematically examining the current status of a WHS system and can uncover previously unnoticed deficiencies. The audit both measures levels of compliance against relevant legislation and identifies areas to improve with an action plan of priority.

>> For more information read: How and Why an Independent Audit Matters

>> CONSULTANCY: Audit

When it comes to the work, health and safety of Australian businesses and workers, there is no room to be complacent. Being prepared and proactive about the WHS within the workplace is what matters. Exercise due diligence, keep up to date with training and check in with a gap analysis every 1- 2 years to demonstrate continual improvements in the eyes of relevant authorities.

If you would like any more information, please feel free to contact us for a free quote, over-the-phone advice, or for us to put you in touch with one of our expert Safety Consultants.

CALL: 1300 OHS RTW (647 789) or email admin@rrp.com.au

#SafetyGeek

#WHS

#WHSAudit

#WHSTraining

 #Compliance