How Can You Have Amazing Wellness and Be Safe In Life?

Post 8 of the “My Health TODAY! on Mondays” series: How Will The New Workplace Safety Laws Affect Me and My Business Operations?

The final way that encourages the safe and healthy conduct of people within a workplace is penalties.

There are three grades of penalties under the WHS Act and each carries a different maximum level of penalty that can be applied to either a corporation or business, an Officer of a business or operation and all others with a responsibility for health and safety in the workplace (which is everyone else other than an Officer).

These are:

·         Tier 1: This is the highest category of penalty that can be applied. It covers those issues where there is/was a risk of death or serious injury or illness due to the reckless action or inaction of an Officer/ PCBU or Worker and that indifference did or could have led to the death and serious injury or illness to that individual;

·         Tier 2: This category is for those people who have a WHS duty under the Act and by failing to comply with exposes an people to a risk of death or serious injury or illness;

·         Tier 3: This category is for those people who have a WHS duty under the Act and who fail to comply with that duty.

Now for the really bad news, the actual penalties.

Tier 1

·         Organisations: $3,000,000;

·         Officers: $600,000 and/or 5 years imprisonment;

·         Others: $300,000 and/or 5 years imprisonment.

Tier 2

·         Organisations: $1,500,000;

·         Officers: $300,000;

·         Others: $150,000.

Tier 3

·         Organisations: $500,000;

·         Officers: $100,000;

·         Others: $50,000.

One thing to note, these fines are not covered by insurance. They came straight from you or the business.

Good health and keep safe out there.

Colin

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