What you need to know about OSH

Every employee has the right to be safe at work. Businesses must take ‘all practicable steps’ to ensure that workplace hazards are identified and controlled correctly, and safety systems are constantly reviewed. This guide offers you a brief overview of your obligations, the benefits of providing a safer work environment and where you can get help.

Benefits of a safety policy

All businesses need to be aware of the requirements and regulations in the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992. If there is the chance that either you or one of your employees could be harmed by hazards or working conditions within your business, then you could be prosecuted and fined. The Department of Labour’s Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) website, www.osh.dol.govt.nz, features some of the recent court cases and penalties imposed.

But rather than focusing on the negative results of failing to observe the law, it’s more productive to note the real benefits of a safe working environment:

• Your business will suffer less downtime and absenteeism caused by injuries or unhappy workers
• A safe work environment leads to happier and healthier staff, and the resulting word of mouth - that your business is a pleasant place to work in - will make it easier to recruit quality staff
• This in turn is likely to lead to better productivity and a better impression on customers and suppliers alike, helping to build credibility and a responsible image
• A good risk assessment and management policy will save you and your management team from unnecessary stress and worry, and distraction from the day-to-day task of running the business.
• Good safety practices (such as a requirement to wear hard hats in certain areas, or to only operate machinery when safety guards are in place), together with proper training and clearly stated procedures and policies could save your business substantial amounts of money in penalties.