Australia Develops New National Strategy to Tackle Climate Risks at Work
Published
Safe Work Australia, the national body responsible for workplace health and safety, is developing a new national strategy to deal with climate risk. The organisation has described climate risk as an "immediate" issue for work health and safety (WHS), which means it needs attention now rather than in the future.
Climate risk can affect workers in many ways. Extreme heat, severe storms, bushfires and floods can all make jobs more dangerous. Outdoor workers, such as construction staff, farmers and delivery drivers, may be especially exposed. Employers have a legal duty to keep their staff safe, so the new strategy is expected to focus on how businesses can plan for these conditions and protect their workers.
The strategy is still being developed, and details about its final content have not yet been confirmed. Safe Work Australia is working with governments and other stakeholders to create a national approach that can be used across all states and territories. Because workplace safety laws are shared between different levels of government, a consistent national framework could help employers understand their responsibilities more clearly.
For Australian workers and employers, the plan shows that climate change is increasingly being treated as a direct workplace safety matter. Further information about the strategy is expected in the coming months.
Sources: Human Resources Director
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