WorkSafe Victoria and the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (VEOHRC) have recently released new guidance on this topic. In Victoria, sexual harassment has previously been covered by the Equal Opportunity Act 2010, and was not seen at an OHS hazard. Now that WorkSafe is providing guidance, it is most definitely seen as an OHS hazard. It is important that polices and procedures and awareness training cover both of these areas (Workplace Gendered Violence and Sexual Harassment)  The VEOHRC tells us that employers need to comply with 6 key standards:

1. Knowledge – Employers understand their obligations under the Equal Opportunity Act and have up-to-date knowledge about workplace sexual harassment.
2. Prevention Plan – Sexual harassment is prevented through the development and implementation of an effective sexual harassment prevention plan.
3. Organisational Capability – Leaders drive a culture of respect by building organisational capability.
4. Risk Management – Employers have built a culture of safety and address risk regularly.
5. Reporting and response – Sexual harassment is addressed consistently and confidentially to hold harassers to account, and responses put the victim-survivor at the centre.
6. Monitoring and evaluation – Outcomes and strategies are regularly reviewed, evaluated and improved.

Details of how to implement these standards can be found here:  GUIDELINE Preventing and responding to workplace sexual harassment https://www.humanrights.vic.gov.au/resources/sexual-harassment-guideline/

With regard to Workplace Gendered Violence, WorkSafe Victoria tells us that we need to prevent work-related gendered violence which involves:

• identifying the hazards and assessing the risks (via consultation with workers)
• implementing measures to eliminate or control the risks
• reviewing the effectiveness of control measures to ensure they are working, and improving them where needed

Use this survey to scan your workplace, does your culture work towards preventing work-related gendered violence and sexual harassment?  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/V32H975  You can also look at the results of the survey to compare with others here https://www.surveymonkey.com/results/SM-6HxVs1nbUX1fStG2O2CHUQ_3D_3D/instant/

Does your organisation need some awareness training? If you are the OHS manager or HSR for your workplace, email me at ohsandhr@gmail.com for free access to an online self-paced Workplace Gendered Violence and Sexual Harassment Awareness course that you may find suitable for your workers to complete.  Here is the link to the course information. https://safetyinduct.com.au/course/view.php?id=145  You may also be interested in viewing our Workplace Mental Health Awareness Course as well. https://safetyinduct.com.au/course/view.php?id=137

Source: WorkSafe Victoria