Dealing With Strata Safety Issues Can Become A Huge Headache 2/08/2007 What happens when a visitor or a worker is injured whilst on strata titled property can become a major headache for a buildings’ executive committee seeking to act responsibly and in good faith.
A strata titled building is comprised of both private and communally owned property, but for a owners corporation attempting to ensure that their strata scheme fully complies with the Occupational Health & Safety Act and its associated regulations the task is not easy.
According to Mr Richard Tooker, the director of New South Wales Strata Management, the scale and intricacy of the Act makes it almost impossible for most executive committee members to be absolutely certain that their scheme fully complies, saying that they often need help.
“According to the Act there is a requirement for owners’ corporations to have a strata scheme inspected by an external specialist to ensure it is compliant, as the complexities are vast. Whilst almost everyone now understands that it is the responsibility of a property owner to ensure that they offer a safe work environment, separating sometimes competing obligations between common areas and private space can become very difficult.”
Mr Tooker said it is was good practice for owners corporations to have a inspection of their occupational health & safety procedures carried out by an authorised authority every two years, adding that this work requires the attention of someone specialised in this field.
“Generally speaking the Owners Corporation must insure against death or injury for which they could become responsible, must have workers compensation insurance as required by the Workers Compensation Act 1987, and must provide insurance cover against damage that may become liable when a person does voluntary work in or around the premises.”
New South Wales Strata Management is one of the states largest strata title managers, providing support to owners corporations regarding their rights and obligations under the Strata Titles Act. The Company can be reached on 9890 1841.
New South Wales Strata Management (formerly Gilmour Strata Management) commenced business in early 1991, as a member of the highly respected J A Gilmour & Sons group of companies. Licensed solely and specialising only in strata management services, the company has steadily grown to become one of the largest such organisations in New South Wales.
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