Failure to supervise is an indictable offence.

admin • January 28, 2025

Section 21 of the Victorian Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 - Duties of employers to employees dictates that employers must provide ‘supervision to employees as is necessary to enable those persons to perform their work in a way that is safe and without risks to health’.


Failure to do so is an indictable offence.


Who must be supervised?

It is the legal responsibility of the employer to provide supervision in order to ensure workers are following safety instructions and working safely – but who does this include?

The legal obligation to supervise extends to any person to which the employer has a duty to provide a safe workplace. This includes:

-         Direct workers – full time, part time, or casual

-         Labour hire workers

-         Independent contractors

-         Employees of independent contractors


Who can be a supervisor?

In order to effectively supervise workers, the designated supervisor must be competent and trained to carry out this role. Before undertaking a supervisory role, the person should:

-         Be trained in OHS legislation

-         Be trained in workplace policies and procedures

-         Understand all the obligations under OHS laws

-         Understand what the workers’ experience and skills are

-         Understand the tasks being carried out and what safety requirements apply to these tasks

-         Understand the level of training required for workers to safely undertake these tasks

-         Have authority to make decisions and act on OHS issues immediately

-         Be resourced to carry out their OHS supervisor obligations effectively and meaningfully

The supervisor should not only receive training before becoming a supervisor but should also attend regular refresher training.


Do you want to know more about supervision and whether your workplace is meeting its’ legal obligations? Take a look at Safety supervision: Creating an environment for effective supervision | WorkSafe Victoria

 

By admin June 24, 2025
At BeSafe Victoria, we live, eat and breathe safety education. Why? Because we believe it is the key to workplace safety. We see and hear the on-the-ground OHS stories from our participants on a daily basis, both during training and while providing follow-up support. It is remarkable to see the transformation that occurs during a training course, as participants grow their safety knowledge and become empowered to influence their own safety and that of their workplace. In regional Victoria, it is not uncommon for OHS Literacy to be very low. This is not in all workplaces, but certainly our experience shows that many workers have received very little or no training in OHS. By gaining an understanding of OHS, we can empower individuals to keep themselves safe. This includes in understanding their rights, recognising hazards, mitigating risks and knowing when to say no to unsafe work. Training an individual also means that they can bring this new knowledge to their workplace, leading to positive improvements in safety outcomes for their colleagues. Safety training has broader implications too – it can inspire conversations with family and friends, creating a ‘ripple effect’ of improved safety awareness in the community. We often see participants who deeply care about safety and have put their hand up to become a Health and Safety Representative (HSR) in their workplace. These participants come in with the drive and walk out with the tools and the passion they need to make a really tangible difference in their workplace. We know of many stories of trained HSR’s who go on to transform the safety of their workplaces. Whether we are duty holders, supervisors, HSR’s, or employees – we all have a role to play in the safety of our workplace – and with the right knowledge, we can make a positive contribution.  What truly underpins a safe work environment? The answer lies in education .
By admin June 17, 2025
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