Health and Safety

All workers, no matter what the employment arrangements, are covered by health and safety laws. The detail varies a little between states/territories but the basic rights and obligations are the same

Your employer must tell you:

•    How to do your job safely ·
•    About risks to your health and safety from current or proposed working practices
•    About things or changes that may harm or affect your health and safety
•    What is done to protect your health and safety
•    How to get first-aid treatment·
•    What to do in an emergency

You must, like every worker:

•    Make sure that you do not put your own health and safety at risk, or that of people that might be affected by what you do (or don’t do)
•    Co-operate with others on health and safety, and not interfere with, or misuse, anything provided for your health, safety or welfare
Your employer must provide, free of charge:
•    Training to do your job safely
•    Protection for you at work when necessary (such as clothing, shoes or boots, eye and ear protection, gloves, masks etc.)
•    Health checks if there is a danger of ill health because of your work eg if you are using isocyanates in two pack paints

You have the right, like every worker:

•    To work in places where all the risks to your health and safety are properly controlled
•    To stop working and leave the area if you think you are in danger
•    To inform your employer about health and safety issues or concerns ·
•    To contact your local health and safety authority if you still have health and safety concerns and not get into trouble

You also have the right to:

•    Help elect a health and safety representative [HSR]
•    To be elected as a health and safety representative [HSR]
•    And of course to join a trade union

Want to find out more call your union today on 1300 732 698.