Thread: How not to do it.

Originally Posted by BobL

At work the new State OHS regs and legislation is being enforced. Basically it says that anyone that sees a potential OHS problem and knows what the safety issues are and either does nothing about it (personally) or does not report it, is legally at least in part liable for anything that arises from that circumstance.

This had me wondering at the wood show where I could see what the Westford demonstrators were doing involved a potential problem, am I liable if that guy sliced his knee in half? I guess the difference is one is a work place environment and the other is not. If the general public is not affected my approach is to let Darwinisn take its course.

Believe me, the day will come when your fears become reality.
We are already seeing the beginning of it with regard to the serving of alcohol at various venues. A good idea in itself, but with far reaching connotations.
I like the concept of stepping up and saving your mate if you see a suspect situation. But what if your mate doesn't want to be saved?
What I find particularly disappointing is that the venue I mentioned earlier was inspected by Workplace Standards before the show started, yet they, (Workplace Standards), never deemed cetain zones to be off limits to the public and have missed many unpropped tip truck bodies over the years I might add. Obviously they cannot predict how a machine will be operated, but there are just some areas never safe to stand while milling etc.
The new buzz words are accountability and duty of care, meaning that the way forward is to apportion blame to anyone who cannot prove their innocence and thus dodge blame.
Great isn't it, a lawyers paradise.