Workplace Health and Safety FAQ’s

The Commonwealth, states and territories are responsible for implementing, regulating and enforcing WHS laws in their jurisdictions.

SWMS is a Safe Work Method Statement. A SWMS is a written document that sets out the high risk construction work activities to be carried out at a workplace, the hazards and risks arising from these activities and the measures to be put in place to control the risks. Its primary purpose is to help supervisors and workers implement and monitor the control measures established at the workplace to ensure high risk construction work is carried out safely.

An approved code of practice is a practical guide to achieving the standards of health, safety and welfare required under the WHS Act and the Work Health and Safety Regulation. Codes of Practice provide practical guidance on how to meet the standards set out in the WHS Act and the WHS Regulation. Codes of Practice are admissible in proceedings as evidence of whether or not a duty under the WHS laws has been met. They can also be referred to by an inspector when issuing an improvement or prohibition notice.

A worker elected by their co-workers to be a Health and Safety Representative is therefore entitled to formal training and refresher training.

An elected Health and Safety Representative is consequently entitled to attend initial training of 5 days then a refresher every three years.

Yes, under the WHS legislation the employer is certainly required pay reasonable expenses for this training.

Yes, each State, Territory and the Commonwealth have a Health and Safety Representative (HSR) training provider package that is therefore required to be used for this training. Additional information can be found at Safe Work Australia.

This training is heavily regulated for content and accurateness it is therefore important to contact your relevant Government Work Health and Safety department for additional information.

In Queensland many businesses are required to have a Fire Safety Adviser. This person for example, may be a member of staff or another person who is local, to assist the business during emergencies.

Legislation requires at least one person to be the Fire Safety Adviser however larger organisations may get more assistance from more Fire Safety Advisers depending on their size and work shifts.

Yes, the Fire Safety Adviser is to assist with the legislative compliance whereas the Warden role is to assist with the people movement during whatever emergency is underway. Both roles contribute to workplace health and safety in the workplace.