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Employers have a variety of obligations in relation to the working environment. These particular requirements relate to:
Clause 45 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 2001 (OHS Regulation 2001) states that employers must:
- provide sufficient working space to allow people to work safely
- ensure that floors and surfaces are constructed and maintained to minimise the possibility of slips, trips and falls
- ensure that people are able to move about a place of work safely and unhindered.
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Clause 46 of the OHS Regulation 2001 states that employers must:
- provide adequate lighting to allow workers to work safely, move safely, and enter and exit the workplace safely (including from emergency exits)
- ensure that there is not excessive glare or reflection
- ensure that lighting allows persons who are not workers to move safely within the place of work.
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Clauses 47 and 48 of the OHS Regulation 2001 state that employers must:
- provide adequate ventilation and air movement in indoor environments that may become hot
- provide adequate access to heated or sheltered areas and warm clothing or other personal protective equipment if employees are exposed to cold
- provide appropriate work and rest regimes relative to physical fitness, general health, medication taken and body weight appropriate for both hot and cold working environments.
For more information, see the Code of Practice: Hot and Cold Working Environments, at the bottom of this page.
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Clause 49 of the OHS Regulation 2001 states that employers must:
- not allow exposure to noise levels that exceed an eight-hour noise equivalent of 85 dB(A) or peak at more than 140 dB(C).
See the bottom of this page for information on:
- Australian Standards on noise management (standards must be purchased from Standards Australia)
- Code of Practice: Noise Management and Protection of Hearing at Work
- Frequently asked questions.
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Nanotechnology
As the nanotechnology industry continues to grow and develop, increasing numbers of NSW employers and workers are likely to consider how they might deal with this rapidly emerging technology.
The national approach to nanotechnology has seen state-based jurisdictions adopt the Australian Federal Government's written advice and guidance. This approach ensures that each state and territory has a consistent approach to nanotechnology.
The following websites may provide further information and advice.
 SafeWork Australia - Nanotechnology and Occupational Health & Safety
Department of Innovation, Industry, Science & Research
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Other obligations
The OHS Regulation 2001 also states that employers have responsibilities in relation to:
- atmosphere – keeping exposure to atmospheric contaminants as low as practicable and maintaining adequate ventilation (clauses 50–55)
- working at heights – prevention of falls, falling objects, scaffolding, lifts, brittle or fragile roof, building maintenance (clauses 56–61)
- fire prevention (clause 62)
- electricity (clauses 63–65)
- confined spaces (clauses 66–78)
- manual handling (clauses 79–81).
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