Inductions

Inductions are an important information sharing session that helps to familiarise people with the locations, equipment, materials, processes and tasks they may encounter while working at or visiting a site for the first time.

For more information visit the Effective inductions webpage.

Consulting workers

A person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) must, so far as reasonably practicable, consult with workers who are likely to be directly affected by health and safety matters. This includes giving workers a reasonable opportunity to express their views or raise issues about work health and safety at the workplace. 

• If there is an agreed consultation procedure then the consultation must be in accordance with those procedures. 
• If a health and safety representative (HSR) represents workers, the consultation must involve the HSR. 

For more information visit the Consultation and worker representation webpage.

At risk workers

Some workers may be at greater risk of injury or illness at work and need extra support and consideration to stay healthy and safe.

Every worker requires support to work to their capacity and stay healthy and safe. However, there are groups of workers who are most at risk of being injured at work, such as:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers
• culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) workers
• labour hire workers
• migrant workers
• young workers
• older workers.

Older workers

There are a number of steps you can take to ensure safety for older people in the workplace.

• It is important not to stereotype or make assumptions. Consulting with all workers, including older workers, is the best way to identify safety risks in the workplace and possible controls.
• Keep in mind that many older workers may work part time, so consider the best times and days to arrange a safety chat.
• Review health and safety management practices and think about how you can design safe work to meet the changing needs of workers.

Younger workers

Young workers, due to their inexperience in the workplace, may not notice when a situation becomes dangerous. They may also be less sure about asking questions or raising health and safety concerns.

There are a number of steps you can take to ensure health and safety for young workers.

• Ensure an appropriate level of supervision relevant to the task they are performing
• Provide safety inductions, training sessions and support
• Use the ‘tell me, show me, watch me’ approach to new tasks
• Identify a mentor who can provide feedback and support.

See the New and young workers webpage for resources and guidance, including information for migrant workers.

Guidance for PCBUs

• The meaning of ‘person conducting a business or undertaking’ (PCBU): Interpretive guideline
• PCBU responsibilities - information sheet and information in other languages
• What is a PCBU? [YouTube video] [Word transcript]