This means that an employee`s mental health condition cannot be shared with someone without their permission, unless there is a direct risk to their health and safety or that of others. All information may only be used for the purposes for which it was disclosed, such as arranging workplace adjustments to assist the employee. „Mental health can affect anyone at any time. Every workplace has a duty to do everything in its power to support employees by giving them access to professional support and a certain level of understanding of how to deal with this issue. „Employers have a legal responsibility to ensure a safe and healthy workplace. As an employee, you have rights and you have responsibility for your own well-being and that of your colleagues. This article explains what these responsibilities are and how you can fulfill them. Appropriate adjustments are changes in an employee`s workplace or role to help them stay or return to work after an absence. These changes can be temporary or permanent and are required by law as long as the employee can meet the basic requirements of the job – the elements that cannot be changed. WH&S laws protect your right to a safe workplace, but you also have responsibilities under the same legislation.
You need to take care of yourself and others and work with your employer on health and safety issues. This applies to all employees, whether they have a disability or not. Sikhs who wear turbans can legally refuse to wear head protection for religious reasons, but Sikhs who do not wear turbans must wear head protection. It also makes economic sense (p. e.g., retain qualified or experienced employees) make temporary adjustments to employees even if they cannot meet the fundamental requirements of their role. However, this is not a legal obligation. If your mental health condition does not affect the way you do your job, you are not legally required to inform your employer. This is true whether you are a current employee or a potential employee who goes through the recruitment process.
Your most important duties as an employee are: You also have specific health and safety obligations and responsibilities, including: You are the first line of defense against unsafe practices. If you are aware of unsafe conditions or behavior, faulty equipment or other hazards, it is your responsibility to warn your employees to protect them from damage. You must report all dangerous actions, dangerous conditions, illnesses and injuries of the person concerned in your company. In practice, this means it`s important to proactively identify conflict, gossip and bullying in the workplace and act quickly to resolve issues. People go to work every day and expect not to be injured. As an employee, you have the right to a safe and healthy work environment, but employers are not the only ones responsible for your safety, you are too. By taking on these six employee safety responsibilities, you make your workplace a safer place for you and your colleagues. The overall test is whether the employer`s claims serve a „legitimate” purpose. For example, it may be legitimate to ask an employee questions about their medications if the work involves the use of machines. Employers have the right to ask certain questions about the mental health status of an employee or potential employee if it is legitimate, necessary and desirable. This can be: OSHA`s general duty clause states, „Each employee must comply with occupational health and safety standards, as well as all rules, regulations, and orders issued under this Act that apply to their own actions and conduct.” This means that by law, employees must follow OSHA rules and regulations when performing work operations.
To find out if your employees need personal protective equipment, please see: your employer must not expose you to avoidable risks at work, and if you have reported risks without receiving a response, you can get confidential information and advice from the free Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland helpline. If you work through a group training organisation or employment agency, you can also report any health and safety issues in the workplace to them. Discrimination can happen in the workplace: every time you successfully take a risk while doing work, your LOAR increases. You start to think, „I`ve done it a hundred times and nothing has happened to me. I will continue to do so. Nothing will happen to me. You need to learn how to reduce your LOAR and incorporate safety procedures when planning your work to eliminate risk. The acceptable level of risk is the „warning light” threshold available to each employee, which defines the level of risk an employee is willing to assume or accept to perform a task or operation before they determine that the risk is too great. You should take care of your health and safety, no matter where you are or what you do.
This is especially true in the workplace, where your actions can affect both your own safety and that of others. It`s important to work with your employer, make sure you get the right training for your job, and understand and follow your company`s health and safety policies. In addition to your company`s policies, there are generally accepted work practices and safe laws that you must also follow. Under Australia`s Privacy Act (Cth) and similar laws in some states and territories, employers must maintain the confidentiality and privacy of every employee. If you have concerns about occupational health and safety, you should first discuss them with your employer or immediate supervisor. If you have a security guard, they could be your first point of contact. If you have an employee representative, such as a union representative, they may also be able to help you. This act recognizes that employees also have a responsibility for their own health and safety. A safe work environment is a reasonable expectation that employees have of their employers. Employees want their employers to protect them from workplace hazards, but it is important for employees to realize that they also have a role to play in maintaining a safe workplace. In some jobs, not using PPE can be grounds for disciplinary action or even dismissal.
However, you can refuse to wear PPE if it compromises your safety because it does not fit properly, for example. In addition, under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth), your ability to work safely is an „inherent” or essential requirement for any job. If your disability could reasonably be considered a risk to the health and safety of others at work, your failure to notify someone of that risk could constitute a breach of your obligations under WH&S legislation. Australia`s Discrimination on the Basis of Disability Act (Cth) and equivalent state and territory laws make it illegal to discriminate, harass or harass persons with disabilities – among others; temporary, permanent, past, present or future mental illness, real or only suspected of mental illness. If you hold a temporary work visa, permanent resident or Australian citizen, you are subject to occupational health and safety laws. These laws apply to all workplaces. Make sure you are familiar with your company`s emergency plan and participate in emergency drills so that this information is always fresh in your head. Attend health and safety training as it becomes available, as well as monitoring programs and inspections that apply to the work situation.
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