WorkSafe

The accommodation services industry can pose health and safety risks for workers and visitors. The work may be physically demanding and carried out under pressure, leading to a higher risk of injuries. Workers also engage with the public which can increase the risk of violence and harassment.

Accommodation services may include:

• hotels and motels
• caravan and camping grounds
• resorts, holiday rentals
• youth hostels.

Accommodation workplaces include areas where workers interact directly with patrons. For example:

While at work, workers must take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions.

Reducing the risks

It’s important that you brief your workers regularly on how to reduce risks in their day-to-day duties.

Risks to both physical and mental health in your workplace must be managed. If you are a PCBU, you must identify, assess and control hazards. The goal is to eliminate risks, and if that’s not possible, you must minimise the risks as much as you can.

Steps to manage risks

Identify hazards

Regularly check the workplace for potential hazards such as hazardous chemicals or manual handling risks.

Assess risk

Determine how likely the risks are and how severe the consequences of those risks.

Duties of a food outlet

Food outlets that operate as PCBUs are responsible for the health and safety of their own workers and any delivery riders they engage or interact with. They must also protect customers and others who may be affected by their operations.

Duties of a food delivery platform

If you operate a food delivery platform, you are also considered a PCBU and must therefore ensure the safety of your delivery riders, customers and other people affected by your operations.

If you are an employer, also known as a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU), you are responsible for ensuring that the workplace is safe and designed to allow safe movement and evacuation in case of emergencies. Key aspects to consider include:

Food delivery drivers

Food delivery workers, especially those in the gig economy with short-term temporary work, face unique risks from outdoor work, traffic and public interactions. Additional hazards for these workers include:

Protecting workers’ mental health is just as important as their physical health. A workplace that supports mental well-being not only safeguards workers’ health but also helps maintain a safe and productive environment.

What are psychosocial hazards?

Psychosocial hazards are factors in the design, management, or social interactions of work that can cause physical or mental harm. These hazards stem from:

Having conversations with your workers lets you gain first-hand knowledge and experience that will help build a healthy and safe workplace. Workers are much more engaged in the workplace if they understand the organisation’s objectives and their role in achieving these.  This can also foster trust in management and lead to improved productivity.

Consulting with workers and their representatives on health and safety matters is also a legal requirement under work health and safety laws.

Draft code of practice: Work health and safety management systems in the Western Australian public sector

The Work Health and Safety Commission invited public submissions on the draft code of practice: Work health and safety management systems in the Western Australian public sector.

This code provides guidance to assist public sector entities to establish and implement a work health and safety management system (SMS).