Health and safety of Crown land managers (CLMs), and the people who use Crown reserves is a key priority for the NSW Government. We want everyone who manages and uses our Crown reserves to stay safe.
CLMs are expected to exercise care and due diligence, taking all reasonable and practical steps to prevent injury or illness to themselves and others. This can be achieved pro-actively by identifying and managing risks on the Crown reserve.
Work health and safety induction
A new online program to support WHS is now available for CLM use. This WHS resource will help you:
- understand and comply with your obligations under the Work, Health and Safety Act 2011.
- identify hazards on your reserve and practically manage the associated risks
- implement improvement strategies to enhance the work health and safety practices on your reserve
- access a range of resources and support to assist you in your safety journey.
Go to the Work health and safety induction.
Health and safety information for Crown land managers
The Department promotes legislative compliance and good WHS practice within Crown reserves. The Crown reserve code of conduct (PDF, 640 KB) (the code) sets the standards and key principles for CLMs to follow when performing their duties. The code states that ‘we are responsible for the health and safety of individuals working, volunteering and/or using the Crown reserve’.
The Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act) provides a framework to protect the health, safety and welfare of all workers at work. It also protects the health and safety of all other people who might be affected by the work. Crown reserves are a place of work and workers includes volunteers.
The following templates are provided as examples that may assist CLMs in developing or enhancing their WHS risk management framework:
Key actions for CLMs
- Have WHS as a standing agenda item in every meeting
- Conduct regular risk assessments that:
- identify any hazards
- assess the risks by identifying the likelihood and consequences of identified hazards
- implement control measures
- review the control measures.
Contact the Department if a hazard has been identified and cannot be adequately controlled within available resources of the CLM.
Obligations of volunteer CLMs who do not have employees
Volunteer organisations may be exempt from the WHS Act in regards to the duties imposed on 'persons conducting a business or undertaking' (PCBU). However, by applying the same safety framework you will enhance safety outcomes and clearly demonstrate due diligence, should an incident occur.