What if Einstein was asked about WHS?
Albert Einstein is regarded as one of the most influential scientists of all time and the father of Modern Physics. Einstein’s equation for energy is well known but he did not develop an equation to help us achieve a safe and healthy workplace.
But he did have an effective approach to solving problems. One could speculate that if Einstein was alive today he might tell us that we need to work on the following equation.
The "WHS Equation"
All WHS duty holders in a workplace
(PCBU, Officers, Workers, and Others)
+
These duty holders complying with their duty of care
=
compliance in that workplace with the WHS Act and Regulations
=
all risks in that workplace are eliminated or minimised
so far as reasonably practicable
+
all other responsibilities and obligations in the WHS Act and Regulations are met
=
a safe and healthy workplace where;
-
illness and injuries are minimised, and
-
workers compensation costs are low, and
-
your workplace and WHS systems could pass a WorkCover NSW investigation
Everyone in the workplace has a WHS duty. And if the above equation is correct then obviously the results in that equation are dependent upon everyone satisfying their WHS legal duty.
Einstein’s Message
Looking back at what Einstein has said during his lifetime we can see he would believe that achieving a safe and healthy workplace is possible because as he said:
“Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.”
“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.”
“It’s not that I am so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.”
“You never fail until you stop trying.”
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