Tuesday 9th March 2021

Workplace Safety News – Tuesday 9th March 2021

Today's roundup covers two significant developments in Australian workplace safety: a new campaign targeting sexual harassment and updated guidance on Covid-19 vaccination requirements for businesses.

WorkSafe Victoria to Focus on Stamping Out Workplace Sexual Harassment

WorkSafe Victoria commenced a campaign today to raise awareness of sexual harassment in workplaces across the state. The initiative aims to educate employers on their responsibilities while encouraging workers to call out unacceptable behaviour. This campaign will run across digital, print, radio and social media channels for a month.

The Australian Human Rights Commission's latest survey showed one in three people had experienced sexual harassment at work over the past five years. WorkSafe Health and Safety Executive Director Julie Nielsen said, "Let's be very clear – a workplace where sexual harassment is tolerated is an unsafe workplace."

WorkSafe's "Let's Be Very Clear" campaign focuses on groups more likely to experience harassment, including:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers
• Culturally and linguistically diverse and migrant workers
• Young workers
• Workers with disability
• Workers who identify as LGBTQIA+

For further details on this initiative, visit the WorkSafe Vic website.

Customers May Have to Prove They Have Had the Covid Jab

New guidance published by Safe Work Australia on Friday allows businesses to require customers and visitors to prove they've been vaccinated against Covid-19 as a condition of entry.

According to Safe Work Australia, employers are unlikely to be required by WHS law to make staff get vaccinated. However, public health orders on this matter remain undetermined at present.

Australia's work health and safety regulator noted that although employers carry a duty to eliminate, or where not possible, minimise, so far as reasonably practicable, exposure risk to Covid-19 in workplaces, that duty doesn't extend to mandating vaccines for staff.

Safe Work Australia stated it was unlikely WHS laws require businesses to ask for proof of vaccination; however, employers might still choose to require this as a condition of entry to premises.

Australia's Covid-19 vaccination policy confirms jabs aren't mandatory, meaning individuals may choose not to vaccinate. Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce has agreed vaccination is likely to become a travel requirement in coming months.

For the complete story, head to The Guardian website.

Stay Informed on Workplace Safety Developments

Keeping pace with regulatory updates helps employers maintain compliant, safer workplaces for every team member. Check back for more news and information affecting Australian businesses.

Catch up on other recent updates, including Tuesday 2nd March 2021, Tuesday 23rd March 2021, and Tuesday 30th March 2021.