OSH trademarked to ward off imposters

Monday 22 February 1999

Concerns about the misleading and unauthorised use of the word ‘OSH’ has lead the Occupational Safety and Health Service of the Department of Labour (OSH) to register its well-known acronym as a trademark.

"Since its inception in 1988, OSH has fielded many complaints and concerns from the public confused by private companies and individuals using the name or giving the impression of OSH endorsement," OSH spokesperson Lisa-Marie Richan said.

"The OSH-administered Health and Safety in Employment Act makes it illegal to actually impersonate an OSH inspector, but that hasn’t stopped a number of companies and individuals from giving the impression they are from the Service or they or their products are underwritten by OSH.

"The Service is of the view that the use of the OSH acronym by others is confusing, misleading and breaches the Fair Trading Act 1986 and the Flags, Emblems and Names Protection Act 1981.

"The performance-based nature of the Health and Safety in Employment Act has lead to a growth industry in private services to assist businesses to comply with the legislation. OSH has encountered many situations of concern where the public have been mislead by some of this information.

"With OSH now an official trademark, our hope is that the public will be better protected from deceptive information and unnecessary scare-mongering regarding health and safety legislation obligations.

"OH&S’, ‘Workplace Safety and Health’ and other variations could be used by private providers to curb any confusion.

"If members of the public are unsure about the source of information or its validity, they are urged to contact OSH as soon as possible," Ms Richan said.