Posted to Monash Weekly (7/5/2013) on 7/5/2013 at 12:27 PM
Commenting on "Dandenong Hospital security staff call to use 'reasonable force'"
http://www.monashweekly.com.au/story/1475877/dandenong-hospital-security-staff-call-to-use-reasonable-force/
It is understood that the role of any security guard carries risks higher than many other employees, but their safety must NOT be compromised due to the indifferent attitude of the employer.
Under Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004, section 20(1)(b) "if it is not reasonably practicable to eliminate risks to health and safety, to reduce those risks so far as is reasonably practicable", and under section 21(1) "An employer must, so far as is reasonably practicable, provide and maintain for employees of the employer a working environment that is safe and without risks to health."
As a reader of this article and an outsider, the requests of the security guards are not unreasonable, as handcuffs, batons and capsicum spray can hardly be considered as lethal or life threatening items. The cost of providing these may be far less than future court case or compensation should a security guard is injured seriously or dies of unprovoked attack by people under the influence of hard drugs.
Edited by Monash Weekly
It is understood that the role of any security guard carries risks higher than many other employees, but their safety must not be compromised due to the indifferent attitude of the employer.
As a reader of this article and an outsider, the requests of the security guards are not unreasonable, as handcuffs, batons and capsicum spray can hardly be considered as lethal or life-threatening items. The cost of providing these may be far less than future court case or compensation should a security guard be injured seriously or dies of an unprovoked attack by people under the influence of hard drugs.
Commenting on "Dandenong Hospital security staff call to use 'reasonable force'"
http://www.monashweekly.com.au/story/1475877/dandenong-hospital-security-staff-call-to-use-reasonable-force/
It is understood that the role of any security guard carries risks higher than many other employees, but their safety must NOT be compromised due to the indifferent attitude of the employer.
Under Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004, section 20(1)(b) "if it is not reasonably practicable to eliminate risks to health and safety, to reduce those risks so far as is reasonably practicable", and under section 21(1) "An employer must, so far as is reasonably practicable, provide and maintain for employees of the employer a working environment that is safe and without risks to health."
As a reader of this article and an outsider, the requests of the security guards are not unreasonable, as handcuffs, batons and capsicum spray can hardly be considered as lethal or life threatening items. The cost of providing these may be far less than future court case or compensation should a security guard is injured seriously or dies of unprovoked attack by people under the influence of hard drugs.
Edited by Monash Weekly
It is understood that the role of any security guard carries risks higher than many other employees, but their safety must not be compromised due to the indifferent attitude of the employer.
As a reader of this article and an outsider, the requests of the security guards are not unreasonable, as handcuffs, batons and capsicum spray can hardly be considered as lethal or life-threatening items. The cost of providing these may be far less than future court case or compensation should a security guard be injured seriously or dies of an unprovoked attack by people under the influence of hard drugs.
