Why do I need a Health and Safety Plan?

The following are extracts from the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA) which came into force on 4th April 2016) pages 40 & 41:

• An "Officer"  is generally defined as; anyone who has a significant influence over the business or entity (PCBU) e.g.  An Owner, Director, General Manager, CEO etc 
• "Officers"  have a Duty to exercise "due diligence" to ensure that the PCBU (entity) complies with their duties or obligations

Part 2  -  Section 44  of the Act;  Duty of Officers

If a PCBU has a duty or an obligation under this Act, an officer of the PCBU must exercise due diligence to ensure that the PCBU complies with that duty or obligation.

Part 2  -  Section 44 - paragraph 4. 

In this section, due diligence includes taking reasonable steps -

1. to acquire, and keep up to date, knowledge of work health and safety matters; and
2. to gain an understanding of the nature of the operations of the business or undertaking of the PCBU and generally of the hazards and risks associated with those operations; and
3. to ensure that the PCBU has available for use, and uses, appropriate resources and processes to eliminate or minimise risks to health and safety from work carried out as part of the conduct of the business or undertaking; and
4. to ensure that the PCBU has appropriate processes for receiving and considering information regarding incidents, hazards, and risks and for responding in a timely way to that information; and
5.  to ensure that the PCBU has, and implements, processes for complying with any duty or obligation of the PCBU under this Act; and
6. to  verify the provision and use of the resources and processes referred to in paragraphs (c) to (e)

How do I  "verify" I have done my duty under paragraphs c, d, and e?

Answer:

• Keep good records

• Have a Health and Safety Plan with the forms you need to keep good records
   

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(as at Dec 2016)