Occupational Health & Safety
Motorcycling Australia OH&S
Motorcycling Australia recognises the importance of providing all stakeholders, employees’ volunteers, officials, contractors, visitors and participants with a safe and healthy work environment under their control. As such an Occupational Health and Safety Policy has been created.
OH&S for Promoters, Clubs & Venues
In today’s heavily legislated environment, clubs, venues, and events are defined as a workplace. It is important to understand the legal obligations and issues associated with workplace health and safety when running an Event.
Knowing and understanding the legal obligations and the issues associated with workplace health and safety will help you take steps to avoid the unnecessary costs and damage to MA’s image associated with workplace injury and illness.
The OHS Act (which is different for each state) spells out the duties of different groups of people who play a role in workplace health and safety. The key principle that we should be aware of is the ‘duty of care’ that we have in providing a safe place of work for employees, officials and volunteers.
Promoters, on behalf of MA should take appropriate measures to ensure that no person suffers harm or injury to their health and safety from the way in which MA undertakes its activities.
If a volunteer or official is held in breach of the OHS Act or Regulations, then MA may also be held in breach of the law.
Promoters must ensure that employees, volunteers and officials are not exposed to risks to their health or safety arising from the conduct of MA’s undertaking while they are at a Track or Event.
The Promoter and Race Officials must take reasonable care to identify foreseeable hazards, assess risks and eliminate (if not reasonably practicable to eliminate, then control) any hazards that could harm the health and safety of any person legally at the track or event.
It is important that employees, officials and volunteers have knowledge in health and safety matters related to the work they are performing. For this reason, it is advisable to provide volunteers with health and safety debrief and to inform them that such debrief is part of the process of volunteering.
The following information will help you construct the debrief, which should take place every morning during the Event.
Volunteers and MA
MA recognises that volunteers from the community make a valuable contribution to MA Events and activities. Through their commitment and energy, volunteers enrich the fabric of motorcycling Events.
Volunteers while not considered to be employees of MA are still owed a statutory duty while undertaking activities on behalf of MA.
Before volunteers are permitted to undertake an official activity of behalf of MA, the promoter will need to evaluate the activities that will be undertaken to ensure the following:
- The activity is suitable for the volunteers.
- The activity does not place volunteers at risk to their health and safety.
- The volunteer has the physical capacity to undertake the activity.
- The volunteer has the knowledge and skills required to undertake the activity in a safe manner.
When satisfied that the activity is appropriate for volunteers, the promoter is to ensure the following matters are addressed before the activity is commenced:
- The potential hazards have been identified.
- A targeted risk assessment has been completed.
- Consultation has been undertaken with the volunteers regarding safe work methods.
- Appropriate risk management procedures have been developed.
- Volunteers have been provided with information, instruction and training with regard to risk management procedures.
- Any equipment to be used by volunteers is safe.
- There is in place a system of work for the safe handling, use, storage and transport of equipment or any substances to be used in the activity.
- At the location of the activity there are safe means of entry and exit which are identified to the volunteers.
- Arrangements are in place for the appropriate monitoring and supervision of the activity.
- Records are kept of attendance, tasks undertaken and information on incidents including near misses.
MA also has a responsibility to ensure volunteers are provided with appropriate training which, depending on the activity, may include the following:
- OHS induction training (debrief)
- Hazard identification
- First aid
- Responding to an emergency
- Use of communication equipment (flags, radios etc)
- On the job training in specific risk management procedures as required
Debrief:
It is important to highlight that while undertaking activities on behalf of MA, volunteers also have responsibilities for health and safety.
In particular, volunteers through their actions or omissions are not to place themselves or other persons at risk while undertaking Event related activities.
Depending upon the nature of the activity, the responsibilities of volunteers may include the following:
- Be aware of and follow the approved risk management procedures for the activity.
- Follow the directions of the person in charge of the activity.
- Be aware of their OHS responsibilities.
- It is not acceptable to undertake activities under the influence of alcohol or any other drug that will prevent you from performing duties in a safe manner.
- Use equipment in accordance with the correct procedures.
- Bring to the attention of the appropriate official any matter which could affect the safe undertaking of the activity.
- Report to the appropriate official as soon as possible any incidents, accidents, illnesses, or near misses which relate to health and safety of the voluntary activity.
Volunteer Compliance
MA acknowledges the valuable contribution made by volunteers. Although MA facilitates a robust safety program, it is important to note that to achieve compliance, volunteers also have a responsibility not to place themselves and others at risk through their activities.
It is a condition of being accepted to undertake an official position that volunteers follow all reasonable directions in regard to ensuring a safe and healthy place to undertake the activity.
With regard to volunteers, MA considers the following procedures shall be observed by volunteers, this should be highlighted during the debrief:
- Be aware of the proper risk management procedures for the activity.
- Do not deviate from the correct procedures or take short cuts.
- Use personal protection equipment as part of the risk management procedures.
- Refrain from inappropriate behaviour which could place self or other persons at risk.
- Observe the safety signs.
- If uncertain as to the proper procedures, seek advice from the appropriate Official.
- Attend the officials briefing as required.
For more information please refer to MA’s Occupational Health & Safety Policy.
If you are not sure - touch base with the OHS enforcement in your state with any queries you may have in relation to OHS requirements. You can also contact MA’s Risk and Compliance Manager to help guide you in terms of OHS direction.
State | Organisation | Online Info | Telephone |
NSW | Work Cover NSW | (02) 4321 5000 | |
NT | Worksafe NT | Web: www.worksafe.nt.gov.au/ | 1800 019 115 |
QLD | Queensland Government Work Safe | 1300 369 915 | |
SA | Safe Work SA | 1300 365 255 | |
TAS | Workplace Standards Tasmania | Web: www.wst.tas.gov.au/ | 1300 13 55 13 |
VIC | Worksafe Victoria | Web: www.workcover.vic.gov.au | 1800 136 089
|
WA | Department of Commerce - Worksafe | Web: www.commerce.wa.gov.au/WorkSafe/ | 1300 307 877 |
More information about Volunteers
Related Links
Please click on the links below to find out more about Risk & Safety:
Risk Management | |
Volunteer Safety | |
