OHS DESIGNATED EMPLOYEE UNDERTAKING

[Insert company name here] SHEQ COMPLIANCE SOLUTIONS

EMPLOYEE UNDERTAKING

[Insert company name here] recognises and accepts its responsibility as an employer and commit ourselves to provide a safe and healthy workplace and work environment for all our employees and others (clients, visitors, contractors and the public) and is further committed to achieving and maintaining the highest standard of Health and Safety at all times and to eliminating conditions and incidents that could result in personal injury, mortality or ill health. 

The organisation requires its activities within the workplace to conform to relevant legislation and parameters of good, established safe method statements and risk assessments.

1.We undertake to provide employees and other stakeholders with guidance on and training in hazard identification, risk assessment and control of OHS related matters in the workplace. 

2.Effective management of OHS risks depends on the commitment and cooperation of everyone in the organisation - we are committed to consulting with staff in a meaningful and effective manner on all OHS issues, enabling each member of staff to contribute to decisions that may affect their health, safety and welfare at work. 

3.Executive management expects that all employees comply with the occupational health and safety policies, procedures and guidelines of [Insert company name here] and to conduct themselves in a legal and safe manner, not placing themselves or others at risk by way of their actions or lack there-of.

4.Designated members of management are responsible for the health and safety of employees and other people working under their direction. 

5.We will remain proactive by anticipating, recognising, evaluating and controlling all unhygienic and unsafe situations that could result in incidents or disruptions of work and we will promote positive mental, physical and social wellbeing within the organisational structures of [Insert company name here]. 

6.We acknowledge that we are also responsible for providing a safe and healthy environment for our visitors and members of the public who come onto our premises or are affected by the activities of [Insert company name here]. 

7.Contractors working on any premises of [Insert company name here] are also required to conduct their activities in an OHS compliant manner that will ensure the safety, health and welfare of all stakeholders. 

As a business operating in the retail environment, with responsibilities to the wider community, [Insert company name here] is committed to provide its employees and stakeholders with appropriate occupational health and safety instruction, practical work and role models. 

In addition to this, mechanisms for monitoring the OHS System including audits, risk assessments, analysis of OHS workplace committee inspections and incident investigations are in place to not only ensure ongoing compliance with the OHS Act but also create a working environment that is safe and healthy for all stakeholders.

We cannot achieve our OHS objectives alone and therefore, as an employee of [Insert company name here], in terms of section 14 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, it is your duty to:
?Cooperate with management or other designated persons on any premises of [Insert company name here] to ensure that you comply with all the duties or requirements as required in terms of the OHS Act and relevant in-house rules. 
?Carry out all lawful orders given to you and obey the health and safety rules and procedures laid down by [Insert company name here] for the premises. 
?Take all reasonable care not to harm or endanger yourself or other people around you, or interfere with their health and safety. 
?Report any unsafe situations or conditions that may affect your health and safety to your relevant designated responsible person who will ensure action is taken within a reasonable period of time. 
?Report any incident that has or could have affected your health and safety to your relevant designated responsible person.  An incident includes; near hits, damage, injuries, illness, disease or mortal incident in the cause of your employment.

Please note the following general rules:
?In order to ensure safety in the workplace, there shall be no stacking of goods on top of cupboards, in aisles or in front of emergency equipment, emergency exits, and electrical distribution boards. 
?Workplaces must be kept clean and tidy. 
?If using the services of an outside contractor(s) to do installation / maintenance work on the premises, a “HEALTH AND SAFETY CONTRACT BETWEEN EMPLOYER (The Company) AND CONTRACTOR” [Section 37 (2) of the Act] must be completed prior to commencement of any work.

Click here for access to an example of the “HEALTH AND SAFETY CONTRACT BETWEEN EMPLOYER (The Company) AND CONTRACTOR” document

?If using the services of an outside contractor(s) to do installation / maintenance work on the premises, a “HEALTH AND SAFETY FILE” [Const. Reg. 5 (7)] must be presented prior to commencement of any work on site.

Click here for access to an example of the standard content of a “HEALTH AND SAFETY FILE” document?

Ensure that every contractor is registered and in good standing with the compensation fund or with a licensed compensation insurer prior to any work commencing on site.  [Const. Reg. 5 (3) (f)]

Click here for access to an example of the certificate of registration with the compensation fund.

Familiarise yourself with the Evacuation Procedures of [Insert company name here] and know where your assembly point is. 

Compensation:
?Every employee is entitled to the prescribed compensation benefits when injured, a disease is contracted or if killed in the course of their employment with certain limitations. 
?If you are injured in the course of your employment, report it to a Branch Manager and insist that they generate an incident report. Failure to do so could make any compensation claim invalid. 
?If you are injured in an accident on your way to or from work, report it. Under certain conditions compensation is applicable. 
?As an employee you will not be entitled to compensation and may be held criminally liable for your act, if it is proved that you acted either without permission, operated out of your scope of authority, were found to be under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs at the time or if you acted illegally in the course of your employment.

Further details pertaining to the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act may be obtained from your Branch Manager.