Key Principles of the OHS Act 2004 (Vic)

The OHS Act 2004 requires that:

•      All employees – staff, students including visitors, contractors, general   public – should have the highest level of protection against risks to health and safety

Duty of employer:

•      Those who manage or control things that create health and safety risks in the workplace are responsible for eliminating those risks or reducing those risks so far as reasonably practicable.

•      Employers should be proactive in promoting health and safety in the workplace

•      Information and ideas about risks and how to control them should be shared between employees and employers

•      Employees are entitled – and should be encouraged – to be represented in relation to health and safety issues.

The duty of employee is to take reasonable care:

·        For his or her own health and safety

·        For the health and safety of others who may be affected by the employee’s act or omissions at the workplace

·        To co-operate with the employer over health and safety matters.