Here is the ergonomics legislation from
Australia
The information here was collated from publicly available online sources by Ergo Global ergonomist, Fiona Tan. Some parts may have been edited for clarity or layout.
The Duties of
The Employer
- Workstation Setup - Employers must ensure that DSE workstations are set up correctly, taking into account factors such as the height and angle of the screen, the positioning of the keyboard and mouse, and the design of the chair.
- Ergonomic Design - Workstations should be designed in accordance with ergonomic principles to minimize the risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and other health issues.
- User Training - Employers should provide training to workers on how to set up and use their DSE workstations correctly to minimize health and safety risks.
- Regular Reviews - Employers should conduct regular reviews of DSE workstations to ensure they continue to meet ergonomic standards and do not pose health and safety risks. These reviews may be conducted annually or more frequently depending on the circumstances.
- Adjustments - Employers should ensure that workers can easily adjust their DSE workstations to suit their individual needs and preferences.
- Record-Keeping - Employers may be required to keep records of DSE assessments and any actions taken to address identified issues.
- Equipment Provision - For employees working from home, employers may be required to provide equipment, such as ergonomic chairs or keyboards, to ensure their health and safety.
The Duties of
The Employee
-
While at work, a worker must:
(a) take reasonable care for his or her own health and safety
(b) take reasonable care that his or her acts or omissions do not adversely affect the health and safety of other persons
(c) comply, so far as the worker is reasonably able, with any reasonable instruction that is given by the person conducting the business or undertaking to allow the person to comply with this Act
(d) co‑operate with any reasonable policy or procedure of the person conducting the business or undertaking relating to health or safety at the workplace that has been notified to workers.
Penalties
31 Reckless conduct—Category 1
A person commits a Category 1 offence if:
(a) the person has a health and safety duty; and
(b) the person, without reasonable excuse, engages in conduct that exposes an individual to whom that duty is owed to a risk of death or serious injury or illness; and
(c) the person is reckless as to the risk to an individual of death or serious injury or illness.
1) In the case of an offence committed by an individual (other than as a person conducting a business or undertaking or as an officer of a person conducting a business or undertaking), either one or both of:
5 years’ imprisonment
2) In the case of an offence committed by an individual as a person conducting a business or undertaking or as an officer of a person conducting a business or undertaking, either one or both of:
5 years’ imprisonment
3) In the case of an offence committed by a body corporate:
32 Failure to comply with health and safety duty—Category 2
A person commits a Category 2 offence if:
(a) the person has a health and safety duty; and
(b) the person fails to comply with that duty; and
(c) the failure exposes an individual to a risk of death or serious injury or illness.
1) In the case of an offence committed by an individual (other than as a person conducting a business or undertaking or as an officer of a person conducting a business or undertaking):
2) In the case of an offence committed by an individual as a person conducting a business or undertaking or as an officer of a person conducting a business or undertaking:
3) In the case of an offence committed by a body corporate:
33 Failure to comply with health and safety duty—Category 3
A person commits a Category 3 offence if:
(a) the person has a health and safety duty; and
(b) the person fails to comply with that duty.
1) In the case of an offence committed by an individual (other than as a person conducting a business or undertaking or as an officer of a person conducting a business or undertaking):
2) In the case of an offence committed by an individual as a person conducting a business or undertaking or as an officer of a person conducting a business or undertaking:
3) In the case of an offence committed by a body corporate:
The information on this page comes from...
Work Health and Safety Act 2011
Model Work Health and Safety Regulations
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