QUAD bike safety is an important topic. This is particularly so in our community where there are farms and rural workplaces that often use quad bikes. The reality is that quad bikes are a major risk area for serious injury or death. Safe Work Australia compiles the data relating to quad bike fatalities. In the eight years from 2011 to … Read More
Employer and individual liability for workplace safety
LAST week I spoke about an employer’s duty to manage risks to the mental health of its workers. Of course, an employer must also manage risks to their workers’ physical safety. If they fail to comply with their obligations, the employer is at risk of being prosecuted by Workplace Health and Safety (“WHS”). This may include the individual with responsibility … Read More
Mental health in the workplace
AN EMPLOYER has a duty to manage risks to the mental health of its workers. It arises under both common law and Queensland legislation, primarily the Work Health and Safety Act 2011. If you are an employer you need to ensure your workplace is mentally healthy and that you are adequately managing risks within your organisation to the mental health … Read More
Household Worker insurance?
AS BUSY individuals, we sometimes pay cleaners, babysitters, gardeners and others to help us at home. There is a common misconception these people are always contractors, as opposed to employees. But that may not be the case. You have a duty of care to entrants on your property to take reasonable steps to avoid exposing them to risk of injury. … Read More