One-quarter of employers need better safety support

A report by Safe Work Australia reveals that managers, particularly in small business, need support to help them improve work health and safety compliance.

The report examines how employers perceive their own approach to safety within an organisation, particularly the issues of empowerment and justice and whether employers believe they empower workers to influence health and safety.

Overall, most employers perceived that they managed health and safety empowerment and dealt fairly and justly with health and safety incidents in their businesses.

However, up to 25% of employers indicated they did not frequently empower their workers through active consultation around safety and did not always treat their workers justly, especially when investigating accidents.

Small businesses in particular were less likely to perceive that they displayed health and safety empowerment and justice frequently in their workplace.

Safe Work Australia CEO Michelle Baxter said that small businesses account for more than 95% of all Australian businesses and are responsible for the health and safety of approximately 4.8 million workers.

“State and territory work health and safety regulators all have a range of resources to assist small business owners, including free advisory services, information sessions, rebates, fact sheets and tools,” said Baxter.

“Any small business looking for help with their health and safety obligations can contact their local regulator to discuss practical approaches to improving their safety practices.”

Image credit: ©Igor Stevanovic/Dollar Photo Club