Business and employer responsibilities (2024)

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Even if you're self-employed, you're legally responsible for the health and safety of yourself and everyone who visits your place of work. This includes workers, clients, visitors and volunteers.

What are my responsibilities?

As an employer or business owner, your legal responsibility is known as your primary duty of care in the Work Health and Safety Act 2011.

To meet your duty of care, you must:

  • provide a safe work environment
  • ensure safe use, handling and storage of machinery, structures and substances
  • make sure your facilities are well-maintained and at an acceptable standard
  • give your workers any information, training, instruction or supervision needed for safety
  • keep an eye on the health of workers and conditions at your place of work
  • keep an injury register
  • have a workers' compensation policy and a return to work plan.

Where do I start?

There are seven questions to ask yourself that will help you create a safer and healthier business.

Responsibility for safety starts at the top.

To develop a strong safety culture and show your commitment, you should:

  • lead by example
  • demonstrate that health and safety is a priority
  • build health and safety into your business plans.

Learn more about management commitment.

Register for the Injury Prevention and Management program.

Having a conversation with your workers lets you gain first-hand knowledge and experience that will help make your business safer and healthier.

Learn more about how to consult with your workers.

In every work environment, there are hazards that could cause workers harm. The word risk describes how likely that harm is to happen and how severe that harm could be.

Your business must have a clear process in place to remove or reduce risks to your workers.

Learn more about managing risks.

Your workers need to know how to report safety issues and hazards. Having a safety reporting process in place can help stop incidents from occurring.

Injury reporting system

You need to keep a record of all injuries and illnesses – even minor ones. Make sure your workers know how to report incidents, injuries or illnesses so you can take action straight away.

Importantly, some injuries, illnesses and incidents must be reported to Workplace Health and Safety Queensland by law.

Learn more about safety reporting processes.

Everyone needs to know how to do their job safely.

The information, training and supervision you give will make sure everyone in your place of work understands:

  • the possible health and safety risks of their work
  • the systems and control measures in place
  • how to work in a healthy and safe way
  • how to respond to emergencies.

Learn more about your training and supervision responsibilities.

A safe working environment means:

  • your place of work is designed to be healthy and safe
  • workspaces are safe and clean
  • emergency plans are in place and reviewed regularly
  • a fully stocked first aid kit is available
  • machinery and equipment operate safely
  • work is organised so that it doesn’t cause excessive fatigue, stress or conflict
  • mental health is a priority
  • chemicals are used, handled and stored safely
  • safety data sheets for hazardous chemicals are available and up-to-date.

Learn more about designing a safe work environment.

If you employ workers, you must have a current workers' compensation insurance policy, an injury reporting system and an effective rehabilitation and return to work program.

Learn more about workers' compensation and return to work.

Learn how to make return to work as easy as 1, 2, 3(PDF, 0.16 MB)

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Business and employer responsibilities (2024)

FAQs

How do you answer what are your roles and responsibilities? ›

How to answer "describe your current job responsibilities" in an interview
  • Remember the responsibilities listed in your resume. ...
  • Connect your responsibilities to the ones in the job posting. ...
  • Use details when explaining your larger and important projects. ...
  • Describe how you use your skills to benefit the company.
Mar 10, 2023

Which of the following answer options are your employer's responsibility? ›

Answer: Employers have the responsibility to provide a safe workplace. Employers MUST provide their employees with a workplace that does not have serious hazards and follow all OSHA safety and health standards. Employers must find and correct safety and health problems.

What are 3 responsibilities of an employer? ›

Provide a workplace free from serious recognized hazards and comply with standards, rules and regulations issued under the OSH Act. Examine workplace conditions to make sure they conform to applicable OSHA standards. Make sure employees have and use safe tools and equipment and properly maintain this equipment.

What are the roles and responsibilities of employers? ›

An employer's duties are the various responsibilities they have to their staff in the workplace. These may include the responsibility to ensure that the work environment is safe for staff, that they provide the legal minimum of benefits and pay, treat staff fairly and employ fair recruitment practices.

What are 5 examples of responsibility? ›

Ten examples of personal government responsibility
  • Register yourself as a voter and take part in elections.
  • Respect and obey the country's rules and laws.
  • Take good care of your health and safety.
  • Pay your taxes on time.
  • Don't litter or commit acts of vandalism that harm the environment.

How do you professionally say this is your responsibility? ›

Be polite but firm: Assert your stance with politeness. Use 'I' statements to keep the focus on your responsibilities. Avoid blame and focus on solutions: “It seems like this task is best suited for someone with expertise in X area; let's find the right person to ensure it's handled properly.”

What are 5 responsibilities of a worker? ›

Worker responsibilities
  • taking induction and training seriously.
  • knowing and following the health and safety requirements of your job.
  • following all reasonable instructions for doing the job.
  • following workplace procedures.
  • wearing personal protective equipment as required.
  • not putting yourself or your workmates at risk.

Which activity is the responsibility of every employer? ›

Employers have the responsibility to provide a safe and healthful workplace that is free from serious recognized hazards. This is commonly known as the General Duty Clause of the OSH Act. OSHA standards are rules that describe the methods that employers must use to protect their employees from hazards.

What is employer ethical responsibility? ›

In brief, they owe an ethical duty to employees to be a responsible employer. In a business context, the definition of this responsibility includes providing a safe workplace, compensating workers fairly, and treating them with a sense of dignity and equality while respecting at least a minimum of their privacy.

What is an employer example? ›

a person, company, or organization that pays people to work for them: The Air Force is the largest employer in this area.

What are 5 areas of employer responsibilities concerning fall hazards? ›

OSHA requires employers to:
  • Provide working conditions that are free of known dangers.
  • Keep floors in work areas in a clean and, so far as possible, a dry condition.
  • Select and provide required personal protective equipment at no cost to workers.
  • Train workers about job hazards in a language that they can understand.

Are companies responsible for their employees actions? ›

Under a legal doctrine sometimes referred to as "respondeat superior" (Latin for "Let the superior answer"), an employer is legally responsible for the actions of its employees. However, this rule applies only if the employee is acting within the course and scope of employment.

What is responsibility in a workplace? ›

What is Accountability and Responsibility in the Workplace? It's the obligation of employees to take ownership of and be answerable for their actions and decisions. This includes being held responsible for meeting deadlines, fulfilling job duties and expectations, and being liable for any mistakes or errors made.

Can I refuse to do something at work? ›

You may have a perfectly logical reason for refusing a work task and you should properly explain it to your supervisor. It's best to do so by stating the facts and letting the supervisor realize by themselves that the request they made is not feasible now.

What is an example of an employee and employer? ›

An employee works for an employer while an employer hires an employee. Employees are people hired by an employer, or a business, to perform specific jobs. For example, you might be employed by Target, Apple, or Netflix. So, an employer is a company or institution that hires an employee.

What are examples of roles and responsibilities? ›

What are examples of roles and responsibilities? Sales Manager: Role—Oversee and manage the sales team. Responsibilities—Develop sales strategies, set sales targets, train and mentor sales representatives, and monitor the team's performance. Software Engineer: Role—Develop and maintain software applications.

What are the examples of roles and responsibilities in life? ›

Parent, spouse, employee are different roles you are fulfilling. Work could be further refined into photographer, accountant, manager, business owner, or entrepreneur for example. Roles are a way of breaking down what you do on a daily, weekly, monthly, yearly basis into different groups or roles.

What are duties and responsibilities examples? ›

Examples of Responsibilities and Duties
  • Duties: A legal or moral obligation – It's every citizen's duty to abide by the law. ...
  • Responsibilities: Having control over someone or duty while dealing with something – An efficient manager takes responsibility for the team.

What is your role and responsibilities in the project interview question? ›

Explain your contribution to the project

Consider describing your specific tasks, any additional work you did and the impact of each of your responsibilities. You can also add whether you plan to contribute to the project in the future and how you might do so.

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