Health & Safety
A safer, healthier workplace for all. The health and safety of our workers is at the forefront of our mindset.
We are committed to achieving a safer workplace for all and recognise our moral and legal responsibility to provide a safe and healthy work environment for workers, contractors, customers and visitors.
Our approach to safety, health and wellbeing is multi-faceted and centred on doing the very best for our employees, contractors, customers, visitors and the community.
Safety Vision
Implementation of policies
The ambition of our safety policies is to severely limit the risk of injury, illness or damage and uphold workplace practices that exceed industry standards.
All policies and procedures in this space were introduced after thorough two-way communication between management and on-the-ground employees and are constantly evolving as workplace legislation and practices are updated.
The backbone of our policies remains the legislative and government requirements in our sector, which we then build upon to achieve industry-leading practices.
Austrans has been commended for its excellence in the following:
- Providing on-hand resources and educational tools to all employees
- Ensuring that all workplace and WHS policies and procedures are implemented
- Establishing measurable and reasonable targets to eliminate work-related injuries and illness
Incident reporting
To minimise the potential for accidents and maximise safety, we have implemented an incident reporting policy.
Employees, contractors, customers and visitors are encouraged to report incidents (or near misses). The details of all incidents (including investigations) are then accurately and comprehensively recorded. We require that all incidents, work-related injuries and illnesses, and near-miss events are reported immediately (as practicable) to allow actions to be taken to prevent a recurrence.
This policy is designed to achieve continual improvements to our operations, enabling us to monitor and review processes and procedures. By remaining alert to the potential for dangers and hazards, Austrans is working to ensure a safe workplace for all.
Risk management
Risk management is an integral part of the company’s approach to decision-making and accountability. All personnel within the company are responsible for the management of risks that relate to their particular area of work.
To achieve better risk management, we have implemented workplace health and safety management systems and procedures to ensure risks associated with the workplace or from activities related to the workplace are minimised for employees, contractors, customers and visitors.
As far as reasonably practicable, Austrans has endeavoured to manage exposure to risks by:
- Identifying hazards that will give rise to a risk;
- Assessing the risks that may result because of the hazards;
- Deciding on appropriate control measures to prevent, or else minimise, the level of the risks;
- Implementing risk control measures; and
- Monitoring and reviewing the effectiveness of the risk control measures.
By taking proactive measures to identify, manage and, where possible, remove hazardous risks, we hope to create a safe workplace for everyone.
Health and Wellbeing
Rehabilitation and return to work
Workplace-related injuries and illnesses can be an unfortunate part of life. Austrans encourages and supports all workers who suffer a work-related injury, illness or disability to return to work through the process of occupational rehabilitation. We enable our workers to do this by adopting appropriate rehabilitation and return to work procedures. We strive to assist workers to return to their pre-injury or illness occupation as early as possible, or alternatively, to access the services of an approved rehabilitation provider to consider options for a return to other gainful employment either with this company or another employer.
A secure workplace
Everyone has the right to feel safe and secure in the workplace. We are committed to providing a secure working environment fully compliant with State and National legislation. Austrans security procedures cover the protection of our people, infrastructure and systems. Security is a fundamental part of operations, incorporated into all business relationships and processes. Policies and procedures for personal and physical security are incorporated into our Safety, Security, Health and Environment Management System.
Drugs and Alcohol
Drugs and alcohol policy
Promoting healthy living is a key element in our health and wellbeing policies, especially when it comes to limiting or eliminating alcohol and drug usage.
Austrans employees and visitors to the workplace must not exceed zero blood alcohol content (BAC), a policy set by the company. Our workers must not be impaired by an illicit substance when entering the workplace. If suspected of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs, an employee will be excused from their duties and asked to undergo a test at their consent.
These policies aim to keep the workplace safe for our employees and contractors. As a rule, the consumption of alcohol at work is forbidden, except for authorised functions designated by management. During those work events, adherence to responsible drinking is imperative.
If a situation with alcohol or drug dependency becomes untenable with an employee’s working arrangements, Austrans will offer compassionate support to encourage the transition to a full-time recovery.
However, cases of suspected drug trafficking will lead to police involvement, and all employees will be made aware that random drug testing and/or screening will occur. Possession or trafficking of illicit drugs will result in immediate dismissal and removal from company workplaces.
Workplace Behaviour
Respect and safety
Everyone has the right to feel safe and respected in the workplace and go about their work free of bullying, harassment or other kinds of inappropriate behaviour.
All employees have a legal responsibility to care for their health and safety and that of others in the workplace. We expect our employees to treat everyone with respect and courtesy and not engage in acts that constitute inappropriate behaviour. Employees must be aware of the impact of their behaviours on others.
Employees found to have either committed or condoned inappropriate behaviour in the workplace may be subject to disciplinary action, including the termination of employment.
We do not tolerate the following forms of inappropriate behaviour in our workplaces:
- Bullying
- Discrimination
- Victimisation
- Harassment
- Sexual Harassment
These behaviours can create a risk to the health and safety of employees, which may result in employees sustaining a physical or psychological injury.
Austrans has policies covering these forms of workplace behaviour and procedures for complaints, mediation and investigation about such behaviour. All instances of such behaviour are reportable to the Safety & Compliance Manager or the General Manager.
We take our duty to provide a safe and healthy workplace for our employees, contractors, customers and visitors seriously. Austrans is committed to ensuring a harmonious and productive workplace where people are treated with mutual respect.
Response to COVID-19
Keeping business moving
Austrans diligently informs employees and contractors on the dangers of COVID-19 and excuses employees from duty where appropriate, dictated by Federal and State government policies and the recommendations of the World Health Organization [WHO].
Some of our COVID-safe measures include:
- Educating employees on the latest health advice
- Ensuring workers disinfect vehicles and maintain hygiene
- Strictly adhering to the latest self-isolation and quarantine legislation
- Encouraging our team to come forward with flu-like symptoms, resulting in on-site PCR tests
- Enforcing the latest travel advice, as issued by the federal and state governments
In the face of the pandemic, Austrans is committed to business continuity, helping to keep Australian business moving during these unprecedented times. Management will scrutinise and review policies regularly as circumstances change and evolve.