Zoos Victoria recognises its moral and legal responsibilities to provide a safe and healthy environment for employees and visitors. This commitment also extends to ensuring that its operations do not place the local community at risk of injury, illness or property damage. The Health & Safety (H&S) Policy clearly states Zoos Victoria's formal commitment to H&S.

Zoos Victoria's responsibilities as an employer are outlined in the Occupational Health & Safety Act 2004. Section 21(1) of the Act states that:
'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 risk to health.'
Employees also have responsibilities under the Act. Section 25(1) states:

'While at work, an employee must:

a. take reasonable care for his or her own health and safety; and
b. take reasonable care for the health and safety of persons who may be affected by the employee's acts or omissions at a workplace; and
c. co-operate with his or her employer with respect to any action taken by the employer to comply with a requirement imposed by or under this Act or the regulations.'

Visitors and the local community have protection under the Act. Section (23) requires that:

'An employer must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons other than the employees of the employer are not exposed to risks to their health or safety arising from the conduct of the undertaking of the employer."

Therefore it is clear that everybody has a responsibility to ensure a safe workplace. This information has been developed to help Zoos Victoria employees to fulfill their H&S obligations while performing their work duties within the properties of Zoos Victoria. It is essential that all employees familiarise themselves with the contents of this information and that we all work together to achieve a safe workplace.

Finally, each property has an active H&S committee whose membership includes trained Health & Safety (H&S) representatives. The H&S representatives have been elected by employees to represent them on the committees. H&S committees meet on a monthly basis.