Workers in the security industry can suffer a wide variety of work-related injuries and illnesses. The Victorian WorkCover Authority (VWA) has pulled out the workers compensation statistics for the industry and these can viewed on their website.
Workers employed as security guards, or personnel, are covered by the Victorian Occupational Health and Safety Act, 2004 - just like all workers. This means that their employer has a duty of care to provide and maintain a safe and healthy workplace and safe and healthy systems of work. (For more information on the employer's duties under the Act, click here). The employer must also comply with all the relevant regulations.
In addition, the Victorian Security Industry Occupational Health and Safety Working Party, comprising of union, industry and WorkSafe representatives, has been formed to develop guidance for the security industry.
Material produced and released so far (which can be downloaded from the VWA website) are:
- VWA Guidance Note: Security personnel OHS - static guarding & patrol work. The guide has been written for employers (both direct employers and employers who engage security service by contract) of security personnel who do static guarding and patrol work. It describes good occupational health and safety practices and procedures that should be put in place by those employers for the sort of situations or issues covered by the guide.
- Another VWA Guidance Note for Security Personnel: Cash-in-transit work. It contains extensive information on the safe handling of cash during transit. Topics from the selection of vehicles to building design and risk assessment processes are covered.
And from the WA WorkCover Authority: Armed Hold-Ups and Cash Handling: A Guide to Protecting People from Armed Hold-Ups [pdf]. This publication aims to provide managers and employees in businesses where cash is handled with information on work practices and principles of workplace design which help to reduce the incidence and severity of armed robbery. The guide also covers the type and scope of training needed by staff to cope with violence and the procedures for minimising post-traumatic stress.
Last amended April 2012