OHS Law - Managing Visitors and Contractors in the Workplace

From time to time various people enter your workspace for a whole variety of reasons, they may be delivering equipment or outside contractors here to repair a machine or fix a broken light, they may also be just visiting, here for a look around.   Whatever their reason for being in your workspace, while they are here they are entitled to the same protections from risk of injury as you are.You are familiar with your workspace and what happens within it, what the risks are of injury and what safety measures are in place to prevent such an injury occurring. It is probable the delivery man, contractor or visitor has been given a site induction before being allowed to enter your workspace, ensuring this happens is your employer’s responsibility, but it must be remembered these people are not familiar with your workspace, with what you do, and so may inadvertently place themselves at risk of injury. Just as you are entitled to expect to go home at the end of the working day without having injured yourself while at work, so too are those delivery people, contractors and visitors entitled to expect to leave your workspace unharmed. If you notice any of these visitors inadvertently placing themselves at risk, perhaps by standing in a high traffic spot or handling equipment they shouldn’t be, or that they are not wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment such as a high visibility vest or safety glasses speak to them straight away.Don’t wait until an injury occurs knowing you could have done something to prevent it.

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