Identify occupational health and safety (OHS) and

[Midfielder]

Post your Tho's on this element in this thread.

[rosebud]

Environmental issues and implement strategies to minimise risk factors
Environmental sustainability in the business world involves making decisions that are in the interests of protecting the natural world. It is a prominent topic at the moment as many people are taking notice of the significant impact that businesses and individuals can have on the environment.
While some may argue that environmental sustainability is not the responsibility of businesses, there are a number of points that strongly support the business case for environmentally sustainable strategies including:
•Low risk and low potential for negative impacts on business operations.
•Potential future costs exist for not acting now (government legislation).
•Reduce operational expenses and increase efficiency.
•Provide a competitive edge for attracting and retaining customers.
Environmental sustainability is becoming an increasingly effective way for businesses to differentiate themselves in a competitive market. Environmentally sustainable practices can help to improve your public image as consumers prefer to buy products and services that are not harmful to the environment.
There are a number of emerging business opportunities in the environmental sustainability sector. For example, many small business start-up's are focusing on providing environmentally friendly solutions to common needs such as installing solar energy products and offering recycling services. Marketing your business as environmentally friendly and selling environmentally sustainable products can really help you to expand your customer base and capitalise on new opportunities.
There are a number of simple strategies and options available to small businesses to help them improve their environmental sustainability. Some strategies that you might consider include:
•Pollution control and prevention - managing and reducing the amount of pollution that your business generates.
•Improving energy efficiency - simple changes like turning off computers at night and switching to fluorescent lighting can really make a difference and save you money.
•Using renewable energy - most electricity providers now offer a renewable energy option.
•Lifecycle management - when developing products or deciding what you will sell, considering the entire lifecycle of the product (from development to disposal) will help you to make environmentally sound decisions.
•Natural resource management - monitoring and limiting your use of natural resources such as water, timber and fossil fuels can help you to reduce your negative impact on the environment.
toolkit.smallbiz.nsw.gov.au/part/23/125/436

[rosebud]

Employers have a duty of care to ensure the health, safety and welfare at work for all employees, employers, students, contractors as well as visitors to the workplace. There is a wide variety of workplaces and the risks attached to them are just as diverse.
Employers are legally bound to:
assess and manage all risks at each workplace
maintain a safe workplace
hold current workers compensation insurance cover
notify work-related incidents
manage an injury at work
assist an injured worker return to work safely
Workcover publishes a safety checklist to help small business identify the safety risks in the workplace and suggest how to make the workplace safer.
Employers are responsible for compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000, the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 2001, the Workers Compensation Act 1987 and the Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998.
For more information on NSW workplace safety contact the WorkCover Assistance Service on 13 10 50 or visit the WorkCover website.
Seek legal advice if your business has particular questions on the application of the law.
NSW is working towards national model work health and safety (WHS) laws to take effect from 1 January 2012. The new laws will still focus on the health and safety of everyone in the workplace, but there will be some important differences.
Find out how the new laws will affect you by going to the following links:
consultation
entry permit holders
health and safety committees
health and safety representatives
incident notifications
officers
persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU)
roles and responsibilities
workers

www.smallbiz.nsw.gov.au/start/hr/pages/workplacesafety.aspx

[nirmala]

Re: Identify occupational health and safety (OHS) and environment issues and implement ......
1. Occupational safety and health is a cross-disciplinary area concerned with protecting the safety, health and welfare of people engaged in work or employment.
2. Employers have a duty of care to ensure the health, safety and welfare at work for all employees, employers, students, contractors as well as visitors to the workplace. There is
a wide variety of workplaces and the risks attached to them are just as diverse.
3. Employers are responsible for compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act
2000, the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 2001, the Workers Compensation Act
1987 and the Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998.
4. Hold current workers compensation insurance cover
5. Health and safety committees
6. Health and safety representatives

• Develop processes, procedures, criteria, requirements, and methods to attain the best possible management of the hazards and exposures that can cause injury to people, and damage property, or the environment;
• Apply good business practices and economic principles for efficient use of resources to add to the importance of the safety processes;
• Promote other members of the company to contribute by exchanging ideas and other different approaches to make sure that everyone in the corporation possess OHS knowledge and have functional roles in the development and execution of safety procedures;

[ashrafun]

Business must comply with OHS laws by taking reasonable care to ensure a safe and healthy workplace for employees and other visitors. An employer is obligated to provide a safe place to work and establish safe work practices. Employees are also obligated to conduct themselves in a safe manner, including observing safety instructions and training, using safety equipment that has been provided, and not recklessly placing themselves or others at a risk. In Australia each state and territory has similar legislation requiring minimum standards for workplace health and safety.

One should plan to conduct regular safety audits to identify workplace hazards- anything which has the potential to cause harm. Any workplace hazards identified should be eliminated by undertaking appropriate actions. Business must maintain an injury / accident register for recording details of any workplace accidents. Some workplace authorities offer assistance to help business to comply with their OH&S requirements. Sources of advice for complying with OHS laws include local OHS authority, insurance companies, insurance brokers and the relevant industry association. Thus failing to meet OH&S obligations can be very serious. A serious accident at workplace can have a profound effect on one and his/her business.
There are many ways a small business can become more concerned about environmental issues and become more environment friendly in its operation. In addition, laws protecting environmental issues passed in 1960 have set minimum standards for business practices concerning air, water, and noise. The benefits of being a greener can include:

1. Greater business – owner satisfaction
2. Lower business costs
3. Healthier and more productive employees
4. Growing customers appreciation

Thus an environmentally friendly enterprise adopts practices that reduce greenhouse emissions, conserve water or otherwise help sustain the natural environment can minimise risk factors in the business caused by environmental factors.

[anilla]

A six point approach
A lack of corporate commitment to health and safety will result in OHS
remaining a marginalised and insufficiently funded workplace activity. A six
point approach has been devised to help you implement effective occupational
health and safety systems. This plan can help prevent accidents, incidents,
injuries, and work-related ill health. The six points are:
1. Develop an OHS policy and related programs.
2. Set up a consultation mechanism with employees.
3. Establish a training strategy.
4. Establish a hazard identification and workplace assessment process.
5. Develop and implement risk control.
6. Promote, maintain and improve these strategies.
These points are not necessarily in order because all workplaces are different.
Some of you may want to repeat some of the steps at different stages. It is
important however, that all six steps are included in your occupational health
and safety strategy. The six points are outlined in more detail below

www.une.edu.au/od/files/OHSSixsteps.pdf

[poonam]

Identify occupational health and safety and environment issues and implemnet strstegies to minimise the risk factors are:
Workplace health and safety has been prioritized by the Australian government as a major area for reform. The reform agenda has identified harmonization as a key element – working toward a single set of safe work practices. They have the intention of reducing or minimizing incidences of injury, disease and death throughout Australia by having an effective set of work safety laws in place.
Currently, Australian States and territories develop and enforce their own workplace health and safety laws, and whilst the work safety laws have similarities in terms of application there are differences in application governed by respective law details.
The role of Safe Work Australia is to develop models for work place safety. These safe work practices models will become the basis for the WHS Act, and will be supported by relevant work safety regulations and workplace safety Codes of Practice. These safe workplace models should be adaptable round Australia. The intention is that all states and territories will pass their own laws, mirroring the safe workplace models, and have them adopted by December 2011.
Advanced Safety Systems Australia (ASSA) leads the industry with its innovative, yet affordable solutions to Occupational Health, Safety and Environmental (OHSE) issues with safe work practices. By using ASSA services your compliance with Federal and State OHS policy and work safety laws is made simple. You will save your money and time with user-friendly solutions that enable instant setup of a Workplace Health & Safety system, leaving you free to focus on your main business.
Apart from the comprehensive Workplace Health & Safety system provided, our membership area has all the necessary information related to Best Practices to run and manage any business, no matter how big or small. The membership area covers Workplace Inductions, Employee Relations, Training and Recruitment specifically as they relate to:
• ohs procedures
• ohs legislation
• safety in the workplace
• ohs regulations
• Workplace Policy
• Safe work Procedures


www.assaohs.com.au/