Model Code of Practice: Sexual and gender-based harassment.
The following is an abridgement of an article originally published on the Safe Work Australia website.
Safe Work Australia has published a model Code of Practice: Sexual and gender-based harassment. The model Code provides practical guidance for persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) on how to eliminate or minimise the risk of sexual and gen- der-based harassment at work. It will help you meet your WHS duties.
PCBUs must take a proactive, consultative and preven- tative approach to sexual and gender-based harass- ment, whether it comes from colleagues, customers or the public, and whether it’s online or in person. You must identify and assess the risks, eliminate or mini- mise them so far as is reasonably practicable, and review your control measures to make sure they’re working as planned. Managing the risks may mean changing the layout of your workplace, redesigning the work or the way you do it – training and policies alone are not effec- tive or reliable controls.
You must consult your workers on the risks of sexual and gender-based harassment as well as other psycho- social hazards.
The model Code should be read and applied alongside the model Code of Practice: Managing psychosocial hazards at work. Sexual and gender-based harassment often occurs with other psychosocial hazards and PCBUs must consider the interaction between these hazards when managing risks to the health and safety of workers and others.
Download the model Code of Practice: Sexual and gender-based harassment.