OHS News

Fatigue is one of the most under-documented hazards in Australian workplaces. Not because it's obscure or difficult to understand, but because it doesn't look like a hazard. It looks like hard work. It looks like dedication. And in a lot of small businesses, it's treated as a badge of honour. That framing is a problem. Not just for the workers carrying it, but for the business under WHS law.

If a product carries a hazard pictogram on its label, the law treats it as a hazardous chemical, and that brings a few duties with it. Here is the plain-English version of what those duties are, who they apply to, and how to get on top of them without turning it into a week of paperwork.

Every state and territory in Australia places active obligations on employers to support an injured worker's return to work. Those obligations go well beyond paperwork. They involve providing suitable duties, consulting with the worker and their treating doctor, developing a documented return-to-work plan, and in some cases appointing a return-to-work coordinator. Getting this right matters for the worker's recovery and for your business.