Occupational Health & Safety

Victorian employers and workers share the responsibility and a duty of care for a safe environment and work practices. This is outlined in the following legislation: Occupational Health and Safety Act (1985) and later amendments,
Accident Compensation (WorkCover Insurance) Act (1993).

Each disability service will have policies and procedures relating to workplace safety, from travel arrangements to emergency situations such as accidents and fires. As a new employee you are expected to be aware of these policies and procedures. It is part of your duty to recognise and minimise any risks in your workplace and to notify accidents, injury or risky situations to your supervisor or other appropriate person in your organisation. This is particularly important for disability support workers because often their workplace extends beyond the employing organisation. In many cases, their workplace includes the home of the person with the disability, community settings, public events and the use of public or private transport.

The Occupational Health and Safety Act, Victoria (1985) establishes:

  • the employer’s responsibility to provide a safe and healthy workplace environment and safe work practices
  • the worker’s duty to follow all organisational instructions relating to health and safety and to avoid putting themselves or other people at risk.

This applies to every workplace in Victoria, large or small, and all employees, whether full-time, casual or contracted. The Act requires that:

Employers are required to:

  • monitor the health of their employees
  • nominate an appropriate person to be the employer’s representative
    when health and safety issues arise
  • provide information to employees including the names of persons to whom an employee may make an inquiry or complaint in relation to health and safety.

Employees must:

  • take reasonable care of their own health and safety and the health and safety of anyone else who may be affected by their actions or omissions at the workplace
  • cooperate with the employer in relation to action taken to comply with the Act.

Under the WorkCover Act 1993 employers pay a compulsory insurance levy on workers’ salaries to help cover the costs of work-related accidents, injuries and illnesses, including loss of earnings and medical expenses.

Supporting Material