HST1152: Introduction to Occupational Health and Safety - Research Report

Internal Code: MAS6939

Research Report:

Imagine you are employed by an organization of your choice, as a member of the Occupational Health & Safety Committee. Your organization has accepted an invitation to attend the Perth Safety Summit and your direct Supervisor has been asked to facilitate a session at the Summit Conference. The topic is how major historical events have helped shape Occupational Health & Safety/Work Health Safety (OHS/WHS) laws in Australia. Consequently, you have been asked by your Supervisor to research the following topic for this Safety Summit so s/he has all current and credible information to provide a knowledgeable and informative session at the Summit conference. Your research paper will help guide your Supervisor for this Safety Summit session and must be of sound academic quality; using peer-reviewed sources. Questions: • A brief background of ‘your’ organization (industry/number of employees etc) • A description of two historical events that have helped shape OHS/WHS Laws in Australia. • Describe how these historical events are relevant to your chosen workplace/industry (For instance: The Pipa Alpha Disaster is relevant to the Oil and Gas industry etc). • Include how these events have helped develop current OHS/WHS Laws in Australia and why these events are/were important in terms of the OHS/WHS Legal Framework. • Describe how these events shaped the Duty of Care concept we know today. • Outline which relevant OHS/WHS Laws and Guidance Materials that OHS professionals would use within your organization. • Include the differences between Common and Statute law and how these laws are derived.