ABS Work Health and Safety Policy

The Australian Bureau of Statistics is committed to the provision of a safe and healthy working environment for staff, contractors and others. The ABS approach to Work Health and Safety (WHS) is one of continuous improvement. This occurs by consistently reviewing our WHS processes and encouraging and supporting innovative healthy and safe work practices.

All workers are to be familiar with the ABS Work Health and Safety Management System (WHSMS). The WHSMS must be implemented and regularly reviewed to support this policy.

ABS take a balanced and risk based approach to ensure that ABS worker, visitor, and other persons’ safety is maintained.

To achieve this, the ABS commits to: 

• Allocating sufficient financial and human resources to the effective implementation of the WHSMS.
• Communicating and consulting with workers about WHS.
• Integrating WHS into all aspects of our business.
• Building a WHS risk management culture based on defined principles and behaviours.
• Promoting a WHS reporting and learning culture.
• Evaluating and reviewing ABS’s WHSMS practices and policy implementation.
• Providing ABS workers with training to maintain and improve health, safety and wellbeing outcomes.
• Providing workers and visitors with information to maintain their health and safety.

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that:

• The ABS is compliant with current legislation, relevant Codes of Practice and Australian Standards.
• All levels of staff understand their WHS obligations and responsibilities.
• There are clear governance arrangements in place including accountabilities and responsibilities for managing WHS.
• Measurable objectives and targets aimed at eliminating or controlling hazards that may cause injury or illness, are established and regularly reviewed.
• The ABS demonstrates WHS leadership.

This policy applies to ABS workers, visitors and other persons.

This policy should be read in conjunction with the ABS WHSMS.

• Holds overall responsibility for this policy.
• Ensures appropriate resources are in place to support this policy.

• Ensure appropriate resources are in place to support this policy.
• Implement this policy in consultation with workers.
• Communicate the requirements of this policy to workers.
• Ensure workers are made aware of and comply with the requirements of this policy.

• Implement this policy in consultation with workers.
• Communicate requirements of this policy to workers.
• Ensure workers are made aware of and comply with the requirements of this policy.

• Be aware of and comply with requirements of this policy.

All ABS workers and relevant parties are aware of and comply with the WHS policy.

This policy is verified as being displayed in publicly accessible reception areas and on the ABS website.

Work Health and Safety Act 2011
Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011
AS/NZS 4801:2001 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems
AS/NZS 4804:2001 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems
AS/NZS ISO 45001:2018 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems
The ABS WHSMS Procedure

Endorsed by Dr David Gruen
Australian Statistician
Next Review: August 2022