Psychosocial Hazards
Psychosocial hazards are things like workload demands; trauma; lack of job security/insecure work; violence & aggression; unreasonable and inappropriate workplace behaviour; lack of role clarity and poor support; and much more. All employers now need to eliminate or control psychosocial risks to workers, as far as reasonably practicable.
Click here to read more here about these hazards and what workplaces can do via our Codes of Practice. You may also like to join in a free 1.5 hours information session by clicking here.
Click here for a Checklist for workers and managers to use as part of a Risk Assessment process to identify psychosocial hazards.
You can view or download here a collection of workplace posters on a range of psychosocial hazards.
NEW IN 2023 - Campaign against deadly silica dust
Click here for a factsheet and we invite you to visit the national campaign website and sign a petition here
You can also download posters for your workplace via the above link.
Covid-19 Information
COVID-19 Workplace Resources are freely available here.
Work Health and Safety Reps Conference 2022
Click here to view videos and slides from our latest Safety Reps Conference
NEW IN 2022: Work Health and Safety Act
WA's new Work Health and Safety Act 2020 and Regulations, came into effect on 31 March, 2022. Click here for the latest - including links to our new Act & Regulations.
You're warmly invited to join in to a free information session - click here for more info.
If you'd like to read more about the campaign leading up to our new safety act, please click here.
You may also like to read news from our Work Health and Safety Network page here.
If you would like to be kept up-to-date by email about Work Health and Safety issues, please sign onto our email list here.
Health and Safety Representatives + Safety Training
Why do workers need to be represented by safety representatives in the workplace?
In October 1995, the government changed the Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Act so that occupational safety and health matters could not be dealt with as an industrial issue. The Industrial Relations Commission cannot deal with workplace safety and health issues. This change placed a far greater emphasis on the role of a safety and health representative in a workplace. Our new Work Health and Safety Act of 2020 (which came into effect from 31.03.22) further enhances the role of Health and Safety Representatives (HSR) - (which replaces the term Safety and Health Representative).
Health and Safety Representatives have powers to perform their role under the law. This is in contrast to the role played by union delegates. Both roles complement each other however. Health and Safety Representatives powers and functions are listed in section 68 of the Work Health and Safety Act. Learn more by clicking here
Safety and health representatives are key players on safety committees and must comprise at least 50% of the committee. They also have the ability to issue a Provisional Improvement Notice (PIN). Click here to learn more about PINs. Representatives have a significant role in the resolution of issues in the workplace.
At this point in history it is particularly important for unions to continue to establish and maintain a substantial role in the workplace. Worker surveys conducted throughout Australia consistently show OH&S as one of the highest rated priorities for workers.
To find out more about the important role of a Safety Rep, including Training for Safety Reps, click here.
If you are not a member of a union but wish to join, please click here.
Occupational/Work Health and Safety Agencies
There are a number different agencies who oversee occupational/work health and safety in Western Australia. All have separate areas of jurisdiction within Western Australia.
These agencies are
- WorkSafe WA (+ Work Health and Safety Commission)
- Resources Safety
- National Office Petroleum Safety Administration (NOPSEMA)
- Comcare
WorkSafe WA
WorkSafe | Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (commerce.wa.gov.au)
WorkSafe is the WA Government Agency responsible for health and safety in WA Workplaces. The vast majority of workers in WA are covered by WorkSafe.
WorkSafe enforces the current Work Health and Safety Act 2020 and has the power to inspect work sites and investigate health and safety breaches.
Work Health and Safety Commission
UnionsWA has three representatives on the Commission for Work Health and Safety and they work hard to argue for best practice laws and regulations and to ensure a genuine voice for workers.
Resources Safety
Latest News: Legislative framework for resources safety and health (dmp.wa.gov.au)
Historical:
Resources Safety covers employees in the minerals industry and enforces the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 (WA) and Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations 1995 (WA).
Workers in the Resources Industry as well as workers in some port operations are covered by this agency.
National Office Petroleum Safety Administration
The National Office Petroleum Safety Administration is responsible for all offshore areas within commonwealth waters.
Comcare
Comcare is responsible for Australian Government employees including defence and other federal public servants as well as organisations that self-insure under the scheme.
A list of current self-insured organisations can be found here.
