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I would like to know about general duties that apply to all industries under the model WHS laws.
Everyone working in agriculture has WHS duties.
Persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) must manage the health and safety risks at work.
Your PCBU must, so far as is reasonably practicable:
- ensure the health and safety of you and others (including family and visitors) at work (including at your workplace)
- consult with you on any health and safety matters that are likely to affect you, and
- consult, cooperate and coordinate activities with all other duty holders who owe a duty about the same matter.
Workers are entitled to:
- cease unsafe work in certain circumstances
- have health and safety issues at the workplace resolved in accordance with an agreed issue resolution procedure
- not be discriminated against for raising health and safety issues
- request the formation of a health and safety committee, and
- elect a health and safety representative (HSR) if they wish to be represented by one.
Your PCBU must prepare and maintain an emergency plan for your workplace.
They must also ensure workers have access to first aid equipment and trained first aid officers whenever they are at work.
As a worker, you also have a duty to take reasonable care of your safety and that of others in the workplace. See s28 of the model WHS Act for more information.
Read more about consultation in the model Code of Practice: Work health and safety consultation, cooperation and coordination
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As many farms are also family homes, children, family and visitors can be exposed to many of the occupational risks and hazards associated with agricultural work. Workers and PCBUs must protect the safety of these people, as well as themselves.
For more information
- The model Code of Practice: Work health and safety consultation, cooperation and coordination provides information about the duty to consult.
- Depending on the type of work being done, the model WHS Regulations set out a range of specific duties that may apply. Learn more on the specific duties page.
- For more on health and safety representatives and work groups, see the Safe Work Australia website.
