Business Legislation Notes

The relevant legislation from all levels of government that affects business operation:
In New South Wales there are some regulatory and legal requirements involved in establishing a business. These relate to identifying the business structure, registering the business and obtaining the relevant licences, as well as meeting your legal obligations with regard to commercial leases and employing staff.

Occupational Health and Safety
Safety and Workers' CompensationMinimum standards exist for physical working conditions to ensure occupational health and safety (OH&S). It is compulsory for all employers to insure for workers compensation liability. Anyone employing others must obtain an insurance policy that covers the full amount of the employer's liability under the Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 and the Workers Compensation Act 1987 in respect of all workers employed. For more information, refer to the NSW Workcover website at www.workcover.nsw.gov.au or ph 13 10 50 in NSW.

Workplace procedures and work instructions may include:
· procedures for hazard and risk identification and for avoiding or minimising environmental risks
· signs e.g. toxic or hazardous chemicals
· procedures to be followed if spills or accidents occur
· written or verbal procedures and instructions
· hazard and incident reporting procedures
· environmental reporting procedures where applicable
Environmental hazards or risks may include but are not restricted to:
· spills, leaks, pollution
· planned and unplanned emissions
· accidents

Environmental issues
Environmental issues may include:
· environmentally sustainable work practices
· reduction of waste
· minimisation of environmental risks and maximisation of opportunities to improve business environmental performance and to promote more efficient consumption of natural resources

Equal Employment opportunity
What is Equal Employment Opportunity?
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) is about:
ensuring a diverse and skilled workforce
making sure that workplaces have fair work practices and behaviours
improving employment access and participation by EEO groups
NSW Public Sector agencies and universities must ensure that policies and procedures are non-discriminatory and contribute to EEO outcomes. This means having workplace policies, practices ad behaviours that are fair and do not disadvantage people because they are attributed to particular groups.

Industrial relations and anti-discrimination
http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/ira1996242/s169.html