Often finding the information that you need to succeed as a Small to Medium Sized business is difficult to get you hands on. We want to invite people to contribute information they have found important or critical to their success. So, if you have a resource that you can recommend for others then please add in in the comments area below and we can add it to this online resource kit. Often this information is legislative -so we'll add as much information and links to good information here that we possibly can...Cheers.
Resource Links
AUSTRALIA
https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/ -
SWA is an Australian government statutory body established in 2008 to develop national policy relating to WHS and workers’ compensation.
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We are jointly funded by the Commonwealth, state and territory governments through an Intergovernmental Agreement. We perform our functions in accordance with our Corporate plan and Operational plan, which are agreed annually by Ministers for Work Health and Safety.
https://www.accc.gov.au/focus-areas/information-for/small-business - The ACCC promotes competition and fair trade in markets to benefit consumers, businesses, and the community. We also regulate national infrastructure services. Our primary responsibility is to ensure that individuals and businesses comply with Australian competition, fair trading, and consumer protection laws - in particular the Competition and Consumer Act 2010.
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UNITED KINGDOM
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As an employer, you’re required by law to protect your employees, and others, from harm.
Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, the minimum you must do is:
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identify what could cause injury or illness in your business (hazards)
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decide how likely it is that someone could be harmed and how seriously (the risk)
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take action to eliminate the hazard, or if this isn’t possible, control the risk
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Assessing risk is just one part of the overall process used to control risks in your workplace.
For most small, low-risk businesses the steps you need to take are straightforward and are explained in these pages.
NEW ZEALAND
https://worksafe.govt.nz/laws-and-regulations/
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https://worksafe.govt.nz/laws-and-regulations/acts/hswa/
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The Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA) is New Zealand’s workplace health and safety law.
It introduces new responsibilities for managing the work-related risks that could cause serious injury, illness or even death. HSWA recognises that to improve our poor health and safety performance we all need to work together. Government, businesses and workers must establish better leadership, participation in, and accountability for people’s health and safety.
Everyone who goes to work should come home healthy and safe. To achieve this, HSWA provides a new way of thinking.
The Health and Safety at Work Act:
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ensures everyone has a role to play
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makes everyone’s responsibilities clear
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focuses on managing work risk
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requires those who create the risk to manage the risk
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requires businesses to engage with workers and enable them to actively participate in health and safety
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allows flexibility in managing health and safety risks.
USA
https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/safety-health
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Three U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) agencies have responsibility for the administration and enforcement of the laws enacted to protect the safety and health of workers in America.
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Occupational Safety and Health Administration
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OSHA administers the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act.
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Safety and health conditions in most private industries are regulated by OSHA or OSHA-approved state plans.
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Nearly every employee in the nation comes under OSHA's jurisdiction with some exceptions such as miners, some transportation workers, many public employees, and the self-employed.
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Employers subject to the OSH Act also have a general duty to provide work and a workplace free from recognized, serious hazards.
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OSHA also administers the Whistleblower Protection program, ensuring an employer cannot retaliate by taking "adverse action" against workers who report injuries, safety concerns, or other protected activity.