Work Well Being And Protection Prerequisites For Businesses Trying To Get NSW Govt Operate

New Perform Well being & Safety Necessities

In September 2013, the NSW Governing administration released the "Work Health medical assistant pay  Security Management Systems and Auditing Guidelines (Edition 5)".

Purpose of the WHS Management System & Auditing Guidelines

These guidelines seek to enable NSW govt agencies which undertake construction and infrastructure projects to function with the construction industry to:

Improve basic safety outcomes for all construction industry participants; Provide a consistent, minimum standard for construction providers looking for NSW govt construction projects; Facilitate a security management systems approach by construction contractors; Increase productivity and efficiency by improving planning and reducing incidents; Support NSW governing administration agencies in demonstrating they are meeting their obligations under Function Health and fitness and Protection (WHS) laws.

The Guidelines require that all contracts valued at $1 million or more must require tenderers to provide evidence of an acceptable corporate WHS Management System (WHSMS).

Who is Exempt?

Those contractors who have already been certified under the previous program or the federal scheme may be deemed acceptable. New entrants or those who have left their accreditation lapse must apply under the "Work Wellbeing and Safety Management Systems and Auditing Guidelines Edition 5".

Next Steps

If your interested in the scheme your next steps are:

Seek a well being and security consultancy that can assist your organise to design, develop and implement a WHSMS which meets the requirements. Seek an Authorised Assessor that can conduct an audit of your WHSMS against the criteria contained within the 5th edition NSW Govts Well being and Security Management Systems and Auditing Guidelines.

Choosing a Perform Overall health & Safety Consultant

According to WorkSafe SA in their publication "How to Select an OHS Consultant: A Guide for Managers", the OHS Management Consultant acts as the link between the business and the technical aspects of an Occupational Wellbeing & Security Management System (OHSMS).

This assists in compliance with legislative requirements and maintenance of adequate do the job health and fitness and safety (WHS) standards. In particular, the OH&S consultant may provide advice and assistance in the following areas:

legislative obligations strategic planning WHSMS policy development hazard management principles effective OHS communication consultation with workers OHS committees and WHS representatives designation of functional responsibilities cost evaluation and control identification of specialist needs performance appraisal OHSMS auditing rehabilitation policy and claims management systems for the reporting, recording and analysis of injury statistics development of emergency response systems mechanisms for the identification, assessment and control of risks.

OHS qualifications are diverse and include law, personnel management and industrial relations. Post-graduate qualifications in OHS are essential for a good consultant, as is substantial experience in the field.

Peter Gaul is Principal Consultant of OSHEM Solutions, an Australian Environmental, Health and Basic safety Consultancy.

OSHEM Solutions provides a range of services including management system design, development and implementation, workplace security auditing, environmental auditing, workplace inspections, industrial incident investigation and technical writing.