New national work health and safety guidance has been developed by Safe Work Australia.
The new resources provide practical guidance to businesses to help them prevent workplace sexual harassment, violence, aggression and domestic violence.
Under Australia's model Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws, employers must proactively manage risks to health and safety arising from work. This includes both physical and mental health. The new information provides guidance to anyone who has a WHS duty to protect the health and safety of workers.
Preventing workplace sexual harassment
The Australian Human Rights Commission's report on sexual harassment in Australian workplaces highlighted how prevalent sexual harassment is and the harm it is causing.
But there is a lot that employers can do beyond responding to complaints.
WHS duties require employers do everything they reasonably can to prevent sexual harassment from occurring at work, just like other risks to health and safety.
The new Guide: Preventing workplace sexual harassment is the first comprehensive WHS guidance in Australia to focus on preventing sexual harassment. The guidance supports business and organisations to meet their WHS duties with practical steps to identify risks and prevent sexual harassment in the workplace.
The guide is supported by information sheets for small businesses and workers:
- Preventing workplace sexual harassment - guidance for small business
- Workplace sexual harassment - advice for workers
