Occupational Health and Safety
The safety and well-being of your child is paramount. Your child may ask you for advice if they observe unsafe practices or suffer an injury.
Students need to notify their employer or supervisor immediately upon suffering a workplace injury.
First-time workers will need training on how to handle tools and behave safely in the workplace. Take the time to teach student safety from the beginning. Encourage your child to learn get OHS information from induction programs and manuals so that they start out in the job safely.
If an accident occurs, employers must keep a Register of Injuries. It must show the name of the injured person, the date that the injury occurred, and the cause of the injury. It is important that there is a written record in case there are any longer-term consequences (like a recurring or ongoing injury).
Students are eligible to make claims under Workers' Compensation for lost wages and medical costs. Provide the correct forms. If you don't have them, contact WorkCover NSW on 13 10 50.
If there are any OHS problems at work
Any incident or accident or safety matter must be reported to the supervisor, manager or employer. The employer has a legal obligation to ensure that the workplace is safe for all employees.
If the reported problems aren't fixed, the worker might need to contact their union rep, employee OH&S rep, union, or WorkCover NSW - - The NSW Government organisation responsible for enforcing Occupational Health and Safety law.
If they need to report work related health and safety incidents to WorkCover NSW:
http://www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/QuickLinks/IncidentNotification/Default.htm
For assistance and advice from WorkCover, call 13 10 50.
The WorkCover website includes a section especially for young workers:
http://www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/Workers/YoungWorker/default.htm
It includes a Guide for Young Workers in Hospitality:
http://www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/Publications/Industry/Hospitality/YoungWorkersGuide.htm
If your child is injured at work
The first thing to do is get any medical attention needed.
The incident and injury must be reported to the appropriate person in charge - their supervisor or boss.
The injury must be recorded in the Register of Injuries which the employer must keep. It must show the name of the injured person, the date that the injury happened, and the cause of the injury. It is important that there is a written record, in case there are any longer-term consequences (like a recurring or ongoing injury).
If time off work because of the injury is needed, or there are medical costs associated with it, they will need to make a claim under Workers' Compensation. The employer should provide the correct forms. If they don't have them, contact WorkCover NSW on 13 10 50.
When the injured worker goes to the doctor, they need to make sure to tell the doctor that the injury happened at work.
More information:
WorkCover Fact Sheet "What To Do If There Is An Injury":
Click here
Workers Health Centre - Sydney
http://www.workershealth.com.au
WorkCover NSW - Young Workers site
http://www.youngworkers.com.au/
Download a Guide for Young Workers in Hospitality from WorkCover NSW:
Click here
Information from NSW WorkCover about Violence in the Workplace
Click here