Assessment - Student Information

Every employer has a 'Duty of Care' to provide a working environment that is safe and without risk to the health and welfare of their employees as far as is reasonably practicable. Duty Holders, as described under the OHS act, consists of Employers, employees, self employed persons, Labour hire companies, persons who manage / control the workplace, designers of plant and buildings or structures, manufacturers and suppliers of plant or substances, persons installing, erecting or commissioning plant, and all other workers.

In fact, any person who has duties as described under the OHS Act has an obligation to take all reasonable steps to identify and understand the hazards and risks within the reasonable state of knowledge which relates to the duty.

Breaches of the OHS Act & OHS Regulations are enforced under 'Statute Law'. Non-compliance may be treated as a crime with prosecutions occurring in Magistrates / County I Supreme Court and the possibility of a criminal record if found guilty.

In the advent of a serious injury or death occurring, prosecution may be invoked and could result in a jail term in the case of a natural person of up to 5 years imprisonment if found guilty of an indictable offence. Any occurrence of one or more of these outcomes would be extremely devastating to any employer, person or company and may mean the end of that company's operations.

You are to thoroughly research and provide comment on OHS Hazards & Risks specific to the Building and Construction industry. Your research should reflect current workplace issues, and

-Incorporate research from a range of sources such as

• Industry guidelines, codes and standards
• Industry best practice
• Relevant personnel (OHS Specialists / key stakeholders I etc)
• Legislative requirements

-Consider / identify hazards such as

• sources or situations with a potential for harm in terms of human injury or ill health
• damage to property
• damage to the environment, or
• a combination of these to protecting people

-Consider workplace issues that may contribute to workplace hazards

-Provide comments on hazard I risk minimisation strategies that can be / are used within the industry.

You are to submit your assessment in the form of a detailed written report (minimum 1500 words).