Did you know that an individual contractor or a self-employed person can be both a worker who is owed work health and safety (WHS) duties, and a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) who may owe WHS duties to themselves and to other workers? 

Safe Work Australia has published WHS information for PCBUs and workers who are working as part of a contractual chain. 

A contractual chain refers to the situation where, in relation to the same project or work matter, there are multiple contractors and subcontractors. A contractual chain is common in industries such as building and construction, road transport and events management. 

The fact sheet provides an understanding of what a PCBU is and explains that an individual contractor can be both a PCBU and a worker. Understanding this will help PCBUs within a contractual chain uphold their WHS obligations and consult, cooperate and coordinate activities with all other PCBUs with whom they share a duty.