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Safe Business

Frequently Asked Questions

Construction - Top

Can the owner be a principal contractor?

Do all construction sites need an OHS management plan?

Does every construction site need an OHS committee or OHS representative?

What are the requirements for working at heights?

What are the responsibilities of the subcontractor?

What does the principal contractor do?

What happens if the owner does not appoint a principal contactor?

What sort of OHS management plan is required?

When do I need to appoint a principal contractor?

Who must develop the OHS management plan?

Duty Of Care - Top

As an employer how do I meet my duty of care obligations?

What are the penalties for failing to meet the duty of care obligations?

What is duty of care?

What is the Six Step Approach to duty of care?

Electrical - Top

Are there any special requirements for construction work?

Are there any special requirements for hired electrical equipment?

Are there any special requirements for serviced or repaired electrical equipment?

Do I have to 'test and tag' my desktop computers and office electrical equipment?

Does all electrical equipment have to be tested and tagged?

How often should I inspect and test my electrical equipment?

What electrical equipment should be inspected, tested and tagged?

Who can inspect and test electrical equipment?

Why must I inspect, test and maintain my electrical equipment?

First Aid - Top

What are the first-aid requirements for my workplace?

What are the legal requirements for the training of first aid personnel?

What are the minimum requirements for first aid kits?

What needs to be included in the first aid kit or first aid room?

Forklift Trucks - Top

Are there any forklifts which do not require a licence?

Can I attach a cage/work platform to a forklift to lift people?

Can I lift a person on a pallet which is on the tines (forks)?

Do seat belts have to be used if they are fitted in the forklift?

Does a forklift require a reversing beeper or lights?

How high in the air can the tines (forks) be when I am travelling?

How long does my Certificate of Competency last?

What is a forklift truck?

What is forklift operator certification (Certificate of Competency)?

What is the maximum speed a forklift can travel?

Injury Management - Top

Must an employer provide suitable duties to an injured worker?

My doctor has given me a medical certificate stating 'fitness for suitable duties'. What does this mean?

What happens if an employer cannot provide suitable duties to an injured worker?

What is the role of the nominated treating doctor?

What is the role of the rehabilitation provider?

What is the role of the return-to-work coordinator?

What responsibilities does an employer have in relation to injury management?

Machinery - Top

I am intending to buy new equipment. Where can I find information about machine guarding?

Must all plant be registered?

My plant design or item of plant was registered in another State. Does it need to be registered in NSW as well?

What are the particular risk control measures for guarding outlined in the Regulation?

What is a guard (also called “machine guard”)?

What sort of information must be provided for plant?

Where can I get more information on plant?

Who has obligations in relation to plant?

Who has responsibilities in relation to guarding?

Why is plant registration necessary?

Manual Handling - Top

Can my employer force me to lift something that is too heavy for me?

Is there a code of practice for manual handling in NSW?

What are an employer’s obligations in relation to manual handling under the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 2001?

What are the present weight limits for lifting?

What is the current legislation on lifting/manual handling?

What training should be provided to workers and management regarding manual handling?

Notification - Top

Do incidents that occur while travelling to or from work need to be reported to WorkCover?

How and when is an incident notification made?

If there is a work-related incident involving an injury or illness to a worker, who do I notify?

Must I keep a Register of Injuries at my workplace?

Must I notify work-related incidents involving non-workers?

What information is required when making an incident notification?

What other reporting requirements do I have as an employer?

What records do I keep about the incident notification and for how long do I keep them?

Who can make an incident notification?

OHS Consultation - Top

How do I set up an OHS committee?

What action can I take as an employee if I am unhappy with the performance of my OHS committee?

What functions do the members of an OHS committee have?

What is OHS consultation?

What is the purpose of an OHS committee?

When should the establishment of OHS committees, election of OHS representatives or other agreed arrangements take place?

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)- Top

Can I expect an employee to pay for the replacement of personal protective equipment (PPE) if they lose it?

How do I determine whether or not to use personal protective equipment (PPE) in the workplace?

What happens if an employee refuses to wear personal protective equipment (PPE)?

What is personal protective equipment (PPE) and what are some of the types?

What is the employer's obligation if the PPE does not comfortably fit all workers who have to wear it?

Risk Management - Top

I have a number of hazards that are the same but occur in different places. Do I have to do a separate risk assessment for each of them?

What if the employer uses a supervisor or employee or consultant to undertake the risk management on their behalf?

What is a hazard?

What is risk assessment?

What is risk control?

What is risk management?

Who is responsible for risk management?

Who should be involved in risk management?

Spray Painting - Top

Are there particular risk control measures for spray painting?

Are there substances that I cannot use in the spray painting process?

Workers Compensation Benefits - Top

What benefits are available to injured workers?

What must a worker do if injured at work?

Workers Compensation Claims - Top

How do I claim workers compensation?

How should an employer deal with a workers compensation claim?

Is there a time limit for making a workers compensation claim?

What happens after my injury has been notified?

When can you claim workers compensation?

Who is eligible to claim workers compensation?

Workers Compensation Insurance - Top

Can a sole trader or partnership take out workers compensation insurance for themselves?

How are workers compensation premiums calculated and how are they paid?

How do I distinguish between an employee and contractor?

I am an employer based interstate with workers in NSW. Is a NSW workers compensation policy required?

If I engage ONLY Contractors, do I need a workers compensation policy?

If there is an accident at my workplace, will my workers compensation premium be affected?

Is it imperative for a Pty Ltd company to take out workers compensation insurance?

What is the cost of a minimum premium policy?

What protection is there from increased premiums if I'm a small employer?

When and how can I cancel my workers compensation insurance policy?

Will a workers compensation policy cover voluntary workers or work experience students?

Workplace Complaints - Top

How do I make a workplace complaint?

If I make a workplace complaint, will it remain anonymous?

What happens once I have made an official complaint?

What is the role of the union official in relation to the investigation of a workplace complaint?

What is the role of the WorkCover Inspector in investigating workplace complaints?

* Further information, publications and FAQs can also be found on the WorkCover website.