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OH&S Advisory Services
OH&S Helpdesk
This is one of the most useful benefits of your subscription to the OH&S Handbook – and it’s completely free; yours to use as regularly as you want.
Here’s how it works…
Whenever you have a safety issue at work – however small – and you need to be absolutely sure you’re on a sound footing before acting, just email our helpdesk with your short query and our safety experts will get back to you, with an answer, within 72 hours – GUARANTEED.
It doesn’t matter which section of OH&S legislation your question relates to – or how insignificant you think it is. By emailing the OH&S Helpdesk, you’ll know you can be 100% sure of the action to take, and you’ll be able to move forward with complete confidence.
This is a FREE service. We won’t charge you a cent for our time or our expertise. And all of our advice will be accurate, up-to-date and fast.
Most of the time our team will get back to you by return of email, but on the occasions we can’t, we’ll take no more than 72 hours to find you the answer you need.
To give you an idea, here’s some sample questions our email helpdesk has fielded in recent weeks – and how we responded to them…
Question: “How often do I need to check my employees’ Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)?”
Answer: PPE should be regularly tested and checked to ensure that it continues to provide maximum protection. However, some items of equipment need to be checked more regularly than others. How often you need to check your PPE will depend on:
- How easily the equipment can be damaged.
- How hazardous the activity is.
- What the serviceable life of the equipment is.
For example, safety helmets may need to be examined every week for dents, cracks, etc.
For example, breathing devices should be checked regularly to make sure that quantity and quality of supplied air is suitable.
All PPE has a maximum lifespan depending on the above factors. Some manufacturers and suppliers specify timeframes for replacement of PPE.
Question: “I often hire contractors who have their own employees. Am I still responsible for the health and safety of my contractors’ employees?”
Answer: Under OHS legislation, you have a responsibility to provide a working environment that is safe and without risks to health. This means that you are responsible for all safety hazards that exist on your premises, even if those hazards are introduced by external contractors.
Essentially, you owe the same health and safety duties to your contractors’ employees as you do to your own employees if they are working on your site. And you should also remember this – if an employee of one of your contractors is injured on your site, both you and the contractor can be held responsible. This is known as concurrent liability.
Imagine hiring a top OH&S firm… having them at your beck and call around the clock… and NEVER getting an invoice!
That’s what the OH&S Helpdesk gives you. That alone is worth the small subscription cost.
