Responsibilities for work health and safety
Employees with disability have the same rights and responsibilities as employees without disability when it comes to work health and safety. As an employer, your organisation must provide a safe and healthy workplace to protect all employees against potential injury or harm.
Employees with disability may require some adjustments to ensure safety in the workplace, such as changes to work processes or equipment, or adjusting work schedules. These adjustments might include providing clear markings on steps or pathways, building a ramp to allow access to a building, or providing a parking space close to the premises for an employee who uses a wheelchair.
Ensure that employees with disability have access to safety information in appropriate formats, for example, screen reading software, enlarged font, audio and Braille.
You must also ensure that all employees are covered by workers’ compensation insurance. In the event of a workplace injury, your organisation must assist an injured employee to return to work safely. If you have an employee who is returning to work after an injury, he or she should be re-trained on all procedures, including safety and evacuation procedures.
Safe working practices should be reviewed and emphasised with all employees on a regular and ongoing basis.
Safe Work Australia
Safe Work Australia develops national policy for work health and safety and workers’ compensation – helping to improve WHS across Australia. Safe Work Australia does not regulate or enforce WHS laws. State and territory governments regulate and enforce the WHS laws in their jurisdiction. Check the Safe Work Australia website for more information on work health and safety, including contact details for state and territory regulators.
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