Legislation
Council's employees, contractors and volunteers are required by law to adhere to health and safety legislation.
All workplaces in Queensland are bound by the following legislation:
- Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (the Act)
- Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 and associated Codes of Practice
- Australian Standards.
It is important to understand how workplace health and safety allows us to achieve a safer workplace.
The Work Health and Safety Act 2011 provides a framework to protect the health, safety and welfare of all workers at work. It also protects the health and safety of all other people who might be affected by the work.
All workers are protected by the WHS Act, including:
- employees
- contractors
- subcontractors
- outworkers
- apprentices and trainees
- work experience students
- volunteers
- employers who perform work.
The Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 supports the Act and describes how to prevent or minimise a risk at your workplace. You must do what the regulation says. If a risk at your workplace is not covered by the regulation or code of practice then you must:
- choose an appropriate way to manage exposure to the risk
- eliminate or minimise risks so far as is reasonably practicable.
Codes of Practice provide practical guidance for people who have work health and safety duties. These codes give guidance on:
- how to achieve the standards required under the Act
- effective ways to identify and manage risks.
Codes of practice apply to anyone who has a duty of care in the circumstances described in the code. In most cases, following an approved code of practice would achieve compliance with the health and safety duties in the Act.
Like regulations, codes of practice deal with particular issues and do not cover all hazards or risk. Duty holders must consider all risks associated with work, not only those that are regulated.
National Heavy Vehicle Regulator
Council and its contractors are required by law to comply with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulations. The following links on the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator website will assist contractors understand their responsibilities.