Safety and Compliance
Safety and Compliance
SAFETY & COMPLIANCE
DWS provide a range of Safety & Compliance services for clients in the hospitality, gaming and leisure sectors.
These services include:
Risk to organisations comes in many forms and, if not effectively managed, can result in legal action, fines or penalties, business disruption, declining reputation, market share and profits, injury and illness and damage to physical assets. Implementing risk strategies can eliminate or minimise these negative outcomes.
DWS risk consultants have a broad depth of experience in the risk management arena and are ideally placed to assist with enabling your organisation to comply. Our risk management projects include single projects and on-going retainers in clubs, taverns, serviced accommodation, local councils, casinos and other industries. Recent risk management projects include the following achievements:
- Retainer risk management contract with major international hotel and resort operator in Australia.
- Development of specific health and safety auditing tools geared towards the hospitality and leisure industries.
- Conduct professional auditing assignments (work health and safety; food safety; Asbestos; AUSTRAC) for the hospitality and leisure industries.
- Develop, implement and manage safety management systems for a number of high profile club, hotel and resort venues.
- Develop, implement and manage food safety management systems for a number of high profile restaurants and hotels.
- Liaise with boards and committees regarding health and safety legislative requirements, and provide advice on risk mitigation strategies which include financial and operational risk measures.
- Formulate and implement risk mitigation strategies for high profile national and international organisations.
- Conduct workplace investigations for numerous clients and provide consultative feedback and advice.
- Presenting at national safety conferences on behalf of the leisure and hospitality industry in relation to health and safety for national and international audience.
DWS provides outstanding services in relation to Safety & Compliance projects given our in depth knowledge and relationships in the sector over a significant period of time.
AML/CTF COMPLIANCE
Ensure Compliance
All Australian businesses must collaborate with Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) to prevent illegal activities such as financial crime, but there is a range of diverse AUSTRAC obligations that hospitality venues are required to fulfil that, without appropriate knowledge of AUSTRAC compliance, can fail to satisfy an investigation.
Under Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (AML/CTF Act) and the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Rules Instrument 2007 (AML/CTF Rules) gaming venues must ensure they perform the following compliance procedures:
- Maintain an AML/CTF Compliance Program.
- Appoint a AML/CTF Compliance Officer with appropriate skills and knowledge.
- Perform reference, visa and background checks as part of the recruitment process for all new employees.
- Perform police checks on new gaming employees or employees that are in a position to influence Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing in the operation i.e. reception staff, duty managers, supervisors.
- Ensure that a training register is maintained to keep up to date information on employees’ qualifications i.e. AUSTRAC inductions, staff meetings, AUSTRAC training sessions.
- Monitor and review systems to ensure they remain effective.
The penalties for failing to complete compliance independent reviews or training can be severe, not to mention the financial risk you are vulnerable to. These checks should form part of your ongoing risk assessment of your venue’s operations, as well as performing an independent annual review that will ensure compliance with AUSTRAC requirements.
Managing an effective Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Compliance and Auditing program for your business can be a complex and stressful task if you don’t have the expertise on hand. Our Safety and Compliance team are experts in the AML/CTF Act and can provide assistance with your venues compliance programs.
Is your business compliant? Use the downloadable DWS Safety and Compliance checklist to identify if your business is compliant under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006.
FOOD SAFETY
Australian Food Safety Standards
The Food Act and Regulation as well as the Australian Food Safety Standards are in place to ensure that food sold is safe and suitable to consume. These include specific requirements for licensing as well as the creation, implementation and auditing of food safety programs which detail how the risks are managed in food handling operations.
The risk of not effectively managing food safety risks can range from poor dining experiences to causing illness and the loss of reputation from the bad publicity and the potential fines and legal action that follow. Possible penalties if you are not effectively managing these risks range from $2,000 to $100,000- or 2-years imprisonment for each offence under the Act.
DWS undertake an extensive range of services on behalf of our clients aimed at a preventative and proactive approach to food safety. Our food safety services include the following:
- Development of policies and procedures to define expectations and how legislative obligations will be met.
- Training of workers in Workplace Hygiene
- On-site inspections to identify gaps or non-compliance to procedures and requirements of legislation.
- Consultation and advisory service as required to enable compliance with current legislative and best practice.
The outcome of our food safety services is a significant reduction of risk and full compliance in unforeseen circumstances that gives comfort to venues and reduces the incidence of litigation.
If you are looking for Food Safety Supervisor, Food Hygiene or Food Handler Course, Click Here for our training partners CTA Training Specialists
FIRE & EMERGENCIES
Minimise Financial Loss
Should an emergency occur in the workplace, an effective response could save lives as well as minimise financial loss. The Work Health and Safety Regulation (nationally harmonised legislation) and the Building Fire Safety Regulation (QLD) both require organisations to be prepared by:
- Documenting emergency response procedures for likely emergencies i.e. fire, medical incidents, armed robbery;
- Providing information, training and instruction to relevant workers for them to implement the emergency procedures i.e. evacuation diagrams, induction and training in procedures for workers; and
- Testing the emergency procedures by conducting drills.
If your organisation hasn’t looked at these requirements you could be looking at fines in excess of $10,000, even if no incident occurs. While you may have put procedures in place, if they haven’t been reviewed within the last year or you are not able to produce records of training and exercises you could still be penalised $2,200 for each non-compliance.
DWS has significant experience in implementing risk strategies for emergencies and can assist your organisation to be compliant to these requirements. Our emergency planning services include the following-
- Create Emergency Response Procedures relevant to your organisation
- Prepare Emergency Evacuation Diagrams.
- Train workers in your organisation’s Emergency Response Procedures.
- Plan and conduct emergency evacuation exercises.
- Act as the appointed Fire Safety Officer for high occupancy buildings (if required).
DWS can assist in all emergency planning requirements and provide ongoing emergency assistance to organisations across Australia.
If you are looking for Fire Warden Training Click Here for our training partners CTA Training Specialists
PRIVACY
Proactive Approach
The Privacy Act 1988 is in place to ensure that an individual’s privacy, family, home or correspondence is not arbitrarily or unlawfully interfered with. Any time personal information is collected, for instance when a member signs up, their image is recorded on CCTV or a pokie payout is given, the organisation is required to have processes in place to protect the privacy of the individual. The Australian Privacy Principles defines how an organisation can meet the requirements of the Act and the Australian Information Commissioner has the power to enforce these requirements which can include fines up to $1.7 million for the organisation and $340,000 for officers.
DWS undertake a range of services on behalf of our clients aimed at a proactive approach to meeting privacy requirements. Our services include the following:
- Development of policies and procedures to define expectations and how legislative obligations will be met.
- Training of workers to make them aware of your policy and their obligations for implementing the policy
- Consultation and advisory service to enable compliance with current legislative and best practice.
The outcome for your organisation is your patron’s confidence that their personal information is safe and the reassurance that you are meeting your legislative obligations.
RISK-ASSESSED MANAGEMENT PLAN
Regularly Maintain and Audit
A risk-assessed management plan (RAMP) is a mandatory requirement for some liquor licensed premises. The document describes a liquor licensee’s management practices and procedures. The development of a RAMP is a strategy to encourage responsible service of alcohol practices by management, staff, and patrons. The RAMP should contain a number of sections on issues such as responsible service of alcohol, eviction, security, lighting, disorderly patrons and violence. It will clarify what the rules are and what will not be tolerated, and how issues will be dealt with or resolved within your venue.
Do you have a RAMP? Is your RAMP regularly maintained and audited? DWS have a team of liquor licensing specialists that can assist you in applying for new liquor licenses, manage your liquor licence transfer, audit and prepare risk-assessed management plans, ensuring you are prepared for an inspection by the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation. If you do not have a RAMP in place you may place yourself in a position of potentially facing some form of punitive action.
Are the following in place within your venue?
- Do your staff have up to date RSA training?
- Are all training records kept on site and maintained?
- Is your venue safe for both staff and patrons?
- Are you prepared for a compliance inspection?
- Does your venue have harm minimisation plans for liquor promotions?
- Is your RAMP current and relevant to your venue? How is your due diligence?
Our team of experts can assist your venue with maintaining and or developing a RAMP.
INCIDENT & INJURY MANAGEMENT
Rehabilitation & Return to Work
Incident Investigation
Early and effective response to incidents is a critical component of managing risk as it allows the opportunity to continually improve your risk management processes as well as assisting with a legal defence if required. DWS can respond to incidents in a timely manner and document and advise clients on appropriate actions and implications. Our incident investigation services include the following:
- Prompt on-site visit and investigation of incident.
- Documentation and appropriate reporting of incident.
- Advise on legal obligations and appropriate actions.
- Advice on the potential implications of an incident.
- Follow up reporting and documentation if required.
- Expert witness if required.
Our incident investigations are comprehensive and are designed to minimise exposure in the event of litigation. Given our experience and range of risk management services, we are ideally placed to offer suitable advice in the event of such incidents.
Rehabilitation and Return to Work
No one wants to get injured, especially at work. The Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act provides benefits for workers who sustain injury in their employment and aims to encourage improved health and safety performance by employers. Managing workers’ compensation claims and getting workers back to work in a safe and timely manner can have significant positive advantages for the injured worker and businesses alike.
DWS can act as the Rehabilitation and Return to Work Coordinator for your organisation by managing the claims process, communication and rehabilitation and return to work of injured workers with the aim to reduce time away from duties, cost of insurance premiums and risk of successful common law claims.
WORKPLACE HEALTH & SAFETY
Implement Compliance Strategies
Organisations, workers, contractors and the self-employed each have responsibilities for ensuring their own health and safety, as well as others in the work including anyone who may be on the premises or affected by work activities. The Work Health and Safety Act 2011 outlines duties to provide a healthy and safe working environment. Failure to comply can result in fines for individuals and organisations and common law action.
The Act relies on the principle of doing everything that is reasonably practicable to ensure health and safety. This means that risk management is at the core of compliance to these requirements. Implementing strategies to manage key compliance areas aims to reduce the risk of non-compliance.
DWS supports your organisation to define and implement effective risk strategies in key compliance areas by:
- Auditing current compliance levels;
- Reviewing or creating documentation and systems;
- Training management and staff; and / or
- Providing advice and support for issues as they arise.
We can provide support in a variety of risk areas such as:
- Consultation, Communication and Co-operation
- Worker Management
- Subcontractor Management
- Volunteer Management
- Incident Management
- Rehabilitation and Return to Work
- Environmental Management
- Emergency Management including fire and explosion, medical and other emergencies
- Facilities Management
- Workplace Security, Occupational Violence, Armed Robbery and Hold-Up
- Hazardous Chemicals Management
- Asbestos Management
- Workplace Harassment, Bullying, Victimisation and Discrimination
- Plant, Equipment, Noise and Electrical Safety
- Hazardous Manual Tasks
- Drugs and Alcohol in the Workplace
- Stress and Fatigue
- HIV and Other Blood-borne Pathogens
- Functions and events
- Child Safety
- Office Safety and ergonomic assessments
Contact our team of experienced consultants to help you with your venue’s Workplace Health & Safety.
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