As most of you already know the new WHS act is designed to save red tape and provide consistency in how the OHS laws are enforced across all of Australia. As with any change there is going to be a learning curve and it may take some time to get up to speed on exactly what the new law entails. OHS harmonisation training can help you get up to speed on the the WHS act sooner rather than later which is going to benefit your company more than you may have ever thought possible.
Here are 5 Reasons Why You Need OHS Harmonisation Training:
The new WHS act is going to institute many new laws, rules, and regulations, and significantly change other laws. It is going to be essential that companies know and understand what these new laws and changes in laws are in order to stay in compliance and avoid negative consequences. OHS Harmonisation training is geared to help you understand what these new laws are and what is expected of your business and each of you individually.
- Under the new WHS act Businesses and officers of that business can face stiff penalties for breaching OHS laws even if no accident has occurred. OHS harmonisation training is designed to help you understand who is considered an “officer” and under what circumstances and help you understand what constitutes a breach under the new laws. Having a clear understanding of what constitutes a breach of OHS laws can save your business up to 3 million dollars in fines and individuals $600,000 in fines and the possibility of up to 5 years in jail.
- OHS harmonisation training will give you a clear understanding of the Proactive role that officers of the company are required to undertake in ensuring a safe work environment for all employees and the steps you need to take and the records you will need to keep in order to fulfill your “due diligence” under the law. These records will help protect both individual officers of the business and the business itself should any questions arise regarding the safety practices at your company.
- OHS harmonisation training will help you understand what the judiciary will be looking at in determining whether or not a company or PCBU did everything “reasonably practical” to ensure a workers safety. Knowing how the definition of reasonably practical will be looked at by the court before you end up there and doing everything you can to comply with the legislative intent of the term reasonably practical will help you avoid stiff penalties and possible jail sentences.
- Under the new WHS act, the PBCU and officers no longer have to prove they followed procedures it is the prosecutions burden to prove you did not but, you need to be aware of what the prosecution needs to do to establish that proof and what you need to do in order to protect yourself and your company. You don’t want some little mistake in paperwork or a careless statement to provide the proof the prosecution needs of your failure to comply with the law. OHS harmonisation will help you to clearly understand what the prosecution will need to prove their case and how you can protect yourself should a prosecution arise.
The goal of OHS harmonisation training is to help you protect your business and yourself by making sure that you understand what the new WHS entails and what you need to do to comply with all the changes that the WHS act has instituted.
