Work Health & Safety
Work Health and Safety Management
The NSW RFS is committed to ensuring the health and safety of its members and others to whom it owes a duty of care under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011. This commitment is detailed in the NSW RFS Work Health and Safety Statement.
The NSW RFS has a Health and Safety Management System outlined in SS 7.1.6 Health and Safety Management System and supported by the Health, Safety and Welfare Handbook to assist in:
- continually improving WHS performance,
- creating a framework for WHS due diligence,
- managing health and safety risks,
- eliminating work-related injuries and illnesses, and
- ensuring compliance with all applicable Work Health and Safety legislation, codes of practice and standards.
Our regulator, SafeWork NSW, provides advice and resources to support people to work safely and comply with legislative requirements. The SafeWork NSW website provides a wide range of resources including links to various codes of practice.
Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs)
HSRs PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE
In raising awareness of safety matters, and encouraging a strong safety culture within the NSW RFS.
Your HSR can assist you and the NSW RFS to achieve a safer workplace by:
- Regularly discussing safety matters with members, managers and other workers;
- Assisting members to follow NSW RFS work health and safety procedures;
- Encouraging members to work safely, and to look out for the safety of others;
- Encouraging the timely reporting of injuries, safety incidents and hazards; and
- Supporting and assisting staff and members; for example, with joint site inspections, safety presentations at brigade, district and area command meetings, etc.
For members of the South West Slopes, the elected HSR for the district is Gary Slater. Gary is a current elected Group Captain within the Hilltops LGA. You can contact Gary by reaching out via email at hsr.southwestslopes@rfs.nsw.gov.au or by contacting the Harden FCC on 02 6386 1700.