I have just started a small business and employ less than ten staff. There are so many new things I need to get my head around. One of my employees told me that I was not complying with the occupational health and safety laws.
Lawyer Answers (1): Answers from lawyers are general preliminary responses. They are not formal legal advice and cannot taken account of all your circumstances. They do not create a lawyer–client relationship.
Answer by LegalEagle™ staff, Bronte 2024 NSW
- Occupational health and safety laws are in place to make sure businesses are run in a way that ensures the safety of all employees.
- There are laws at local, state or territory and federal level.
- The penalties usually range from fines through to imprisonment depending on the seriousness of the offence.
- If you do not comply with these laws then you as an individual or your business may be prosecuted for occupational health and safety offences.
- In your situation it sounds as though you need some more information about how the law applies to the staff in your business.
- The Commonwealth Government provides information on this website: http://www.australia.gov.au/topics/health-and-safety/occupational-health-and-safety.
- You can find more information about your work place health and safety obligations on this government website: http://www.business.gov.au/business-topics/employing-people/workplace-health-and-safety/Pages/default.aspx.
- You can also look on your state or territory government websites and your local council to find out more about what laws apply in your situation.