Welcome to Hort Thoughts - a Podcast by the Victorian Farmers Federation Horticulture Group. In this episode your host, Tegan Buckley, speaks with VFF’s Senior Farm Safety advisor, John Darcy.
John has more than 30 years experience in health and safety and workers compensation, including involvement in the drafting of Victoria’s OHS and Workers Compensation Acts, Regulations and Codes. John has also assisted employers following a number of serious workplace accidents over the years.
In this episode, John will chat to us about the changes to OH&S amendments in Victoria for both employers and labor hire companies in the agricultural and horticultural sectors.
He sheds light on the changes, which now see the same legal duties for both parties when it comes to labor hire.
His message is simple: consult, coordinate and cooperate with one another to make sure you’re working to achieve a safe environment.
“The legal expectation with this is that the parties will get together and make sure all the safety obligations are covered,” John said.
From accidents and safety to adequate accommodation and wage theft - this is what they’re stamping out and making fair for all employees.
If fair working conditions aren’t met, both parties will be legally liable.
“Get together as soon as possible and start making sure they are ticking the boxes and covering all bases,” he said.
Learn more about the VFF here: www.vff.org.au
Learn more about the ‘Making our Farms Safer Project’ here: https://www.vff.org.au/project/making-our-farms-safer/
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