3.6 Work health and safety and duty of care
Libraries Tasmania volunteers are considered workers under the Work, Health and Safety Act 2012. Libraries Tasmania has a duty of care to volunteers to provide a healthy and safe workplace. Every person has a duty of care to others in the workplace.
Volunteers will be made aware of and understand organisation-wide policy and local business unit procedures for managing critical incidents and emergencies, such as fire, evacuation, lockdown, and first aid.
All volunteers must:
- Have an understanding of and comply with the principles of the State Service Principles and Code of Conduct.
- Promote a safety-first workplace where we take care of each other to prevent work-related injury and illness and provide safe and healthy workplaces and activities.
- Take reasonable care to protect the health and safety of themselves and others.
- Take reasonable care that their actions or omissions do not adversely affect a child or young person’s safety and wellbeing.
- Report hazards, accidents, incidents, injuries or illnesses to their supervisor.
- Follow any instructions relating to health and safety at the workplace.
- Avoid intentionally or recklessly interfering with or misusing anything provided at the workplace for health and safety
- Inform their supervisor of any condition that may impact on their health and safety or that of others.
Volunteers are not eligible to claim for workers compensation under the same scheme that applies to paid workers. However, there are alternative protections and coverages as detailed in the next section.