What are my health and safety obligations?

Your health and safety obligations will differ depending on your state, but employers are all obligated to provide the following:

• Safe premises.
• Safe machinery and materials.
• Safe systems of work.
• Information, instruction, training and supervision.
• A suitable working environment and facilities.

Businesses operating in a normal office environment will need to follow basic health and safety procedures, but there are some industries where the potential of risking injury or disease is so prevalent they have their own codes.

Some of these include the construction industry, which requires workers to use specific protective equipment in several different situations, while the pharmaceutical and scientific industries also require very specific types of protective gear.

Occupational health and safety standards differ from state to state, so you’ll need to contact your state-based OHS regulator to be aware of your obligations.