The result of these new definitions is that every person conducting
a business or undertaking must fulfil their health and safety duties
to anyone who may be affected by its operations, including volunteers.
Most businesses will already have practices inplace, but fail to
adequately document what they are doing which leaves their
business at risk of poaaible fines.
One of the major points of safety legislation is to identify, assess,
control and review hazards to help provide a safe workplace. The
key to meeting this requirement is to start now with a workplace
audit and action plan, supported by training to ensure managers
understand what safety standards they are obliged to uphold.
Businesses will also hold greater responsibility for monitoring
workplace conditions and worker health. Discriminatory, coercive
or misleading conduct in relation to safety matters will attract civil
and criminal penalties. Significantly higher penalties will also apply
not only after a workplace incident but if a random audit identifies
a business that has failed to put in place adequate safety plans.
Companies can be fined up to $3 million, while officers can be
fined up to $600,000 and a five-year jail term.
Occupational Health and Safety legislation requires employers
to be able to demonstrate that they have in place, as far as
reasonably practicable, the necessary systems, policies,
procedures and safe work practices to safely manage risks and
minimise harm.
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Whether a company is having trouble retaining and motivating
staff, struggling with employee expectations, navigating the
minefield of compliance (IR and WHS), or looking to develop
or maintain a market-leading business with outstanding human
capital practices and sustainable strategies, KMS partners with
organisations to help to get the most out of the most valuable
company asset – your people.
With our help, employers can implement a proactive Human
Resources and Work Health Safety Plan that optimises staff
performance and creates a safe work place which keeps the
company on track and compliant. At KMS we are all about
minimising risk and maximising growth.
The biggest cost for business, and its biggest asset, is its people.
We are proud to announce that the Managing Director of KMS,
Maureen Kyne, and General Manager, Kathy Hall, will be at this
year’s AWA conference in Canberra. Over the next few months
KMS will be in touch with AWA members through the newsletter
and quarterly magazine keeping you up to date with all Human
Resources (HR) and WHS issues.
k
With extensive experience in enterprise compliance assessment,
planning, implementation and support, KMS’ strategic approach
to compliance for WHS, HR and IR delivers maximum return on
your company’s investment.
Our services and systems monitor and maintain compliance to
support business objectives, determine proper legal and ethical
behaviour and alert management when there is a danger of
non-compliance to minimise legal and financial exposure.
Maureen Kyne founded KMS to meet the needs of business.
KMS has an effective Online OHS and HR Management System
that can complement your business by reducing compliance
costs, reducing stress and protecting your insurance coverage.
This system is a 100% hosted system, so there is no need for
complicated IT infrastructure as it has a secure server with 24/7
access from anywhere. KMS also keeps you up-to-date with
automatic online updates to ensure you remain compliant with
today’s ever changing legislation. We will have more about both
systems in ensuing issues.
KMS has professional and qualified consultants providing
businesses with practical services and advice. We are proud
of our strong and established reputation of objectivity and
practicality. We use evidence-based methodologies, with a
suite of services that deliver tangible and measurable returns
for organisations, large or small. Our clients are organisations
of all sizes, operating in many locations nationally and from all
industries.
Visit KMS on www.kmsolutions.com.au
16 www.awa.org.au Winter 2013