Safety first for property managers

Commercial building and property managers have a shared responsibility with tenants regarding WHS. They need to make sure that the property is safe for tenants and that any potential health, safety, and hygiene risks are mitigated.

If you are one of the following groups you may have obligations under your relevant state WHS act:

1. Engage workers to do work on the common property
2. Employ caretakers, building managers, facilities managers, handymen
3. Utilise service contractors
4. Have higher-risk infrastructure that may pose a risk to the health and safety of Occupants or Visitors, e.g. machinery, elevators.

Some of the specific responsibilities of building managers when it comes to WHS include:

• Conducting risk assessments and implementing control measures
• Maintaining safety equipment and making sure it is in good working order
• Providing information and training to tenants on WHS issues
• Investigating accidents and incidents, and taking corrective action where necessary.

WHS should be a top priority for building managers, as it can have repercussions beyond just legal penalties – WHS incidents can make it challenging to find tenants, and leases can be broken.

It may make it difficult to get insurance with reasonable premiums or force the insurer to request a health and safety inspection that may lead to exclusions.

Reputational damage is also possible – no one wants their building to be known as the one with a high rate of accidents.

So, make WHS a priority in your building – it's good for business and the right thing to do.

A safety management system is one of the best ways to manage building safety. A safety management system will help you identify potential risks and hazards and implement controls to mitigate those risks. It will also help you track WHS training, accident and incident investigations, and more.

If you need help getting started with a safety management system, get in touch with SafetyDocs today. We can help you implement a system tailored to your specific needs and ensure that you comply with all relevant WHS legislation.

Author - Craig Cruickshank is the HSEQ Advisor and Senior Technical Writer at SafetyDocs by SafetyCulture

Available for instant download and supplied in fully editable MS Word format for use in your business.

Please note that the above information is provided as a comment only and should not be relied on as professional, legal or financial advice.