Employing suitable persons

Taking a proactive approach to identifying and controlling hazards

There are many potential hazards at an event that can cause an accident, injury, illness or disease. Employers are expected to take a proactive approach to identifying and controlling these hazards.

Event organisers need a suitably qualified person to ensure the event is compliant with OHS laws. The person must be able to identify hazards and implement practicable safety controls to reduce the risks to patrons and workers. 

Some employers may control the OHS risks at their event by building in-house OHS knowledge. This involves getting advice from sources such as guidance, compliance codes and OHS laws.

However, in many cases the event organiser will need help from someone with specialised OHS qualifications and expertise.

This links below include information on:

• when an employer has to consider employing or engaging a person to advise on OHS
• what WorkSafe considers when deciding if an employer has done what is ‘reasonably practicable’
• what it means to be a suitably qualified person.