Health and Safety Policy Summary

Visionwest Health and Safety Policy – Summary

Visionwest is committed to creating and maintaining a safe and healthy work environment for all staff, volunteers, and visitors.

The Health and Safety policy emphasises eliminating or minimising workplace risks wherever and whenever staff have the ability or reasonable expectation to influence and control those risks.

Key Commitments

Visionwest will, as far as reasonably practicable:

Provide and maintain workplaces, facilities, equipment, and systems of work that are free from health and safety risks.
Ensure safe use, handling, and storage of equipment, substances, and structures.
Offer adequate welfare facilities and safe access for staff performing their roles.
Deliver necessary information, training, instruction, and supervision to protect individuals from work-related risks.
Monitor staff health and workplace conditions to prevent injury or illness.
Consult, cooperate, and coordinate with other PCBUs (Persons Conducting a Business or Undertaking) where overlapping duties exist.
Engage staff in health and safety matters and encourage ongoing participation.
Drive continuous improvement through an annual health and safety plan with clear objectives, KPIs, and timelines approved by senior leadership.

Staff and Volunteer Responsibilities

All employees and volunteers will be informed of this policy during orientation and induction, with access to guidelines in their handbook.
Hazards will be identified, recorded, controlled, and reviewed in line with the Work-Related Injuries, Illnesses, Incidents, and Hazards Policy.
Staff must take reasonable care for their own health and safety and avoid harming others. They must follow instructions, cooperate with policies, and use protective equipment provided.
Non-compliance with health and safety rules may lead to disciplinary action.

Procedures

Visionwest promotes active staff involvement by:

Including health and safety as a standing agenda item in meetings.
Encouraging staff recommendations and consultation on workplace changes.
Providing access to current health and safety information and resources.
Establishing participation systems such as Health and Safety Representatives and Committees.
Annual Review and Planning – conducting annual hazard reviews and integrating health and safety planning into the organisation’s annual cycle.
Training and Development – delivering role-specific training through internal or external providers.

Supporting Documents

Key resources include emergency and continuity plans, employee handbooks, committee terms of reference, improvement plans, induction materials, training models, pandemic plans, and incident reporting forms.