Did you know that under the model WHS Act there are 4 principles that apply to work health and safety duties, including those of persons of persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs)?
Safe Work Australia has produced resources to explain these principles, as well as the duty to consult, cooperate and coordinate with other duty holders.
- Principles that apply to WHS duties: Overview
- Principle 1- WHS duties are not transferable: Your PCBU duties are not transferable. You cannot modify or contract out of your duties.
- Principle 2- A person can have more than one duty: It is possible to have multiple duties. For example, if you are self-employed or an individual contractor you usually have duties as both a PCBU and a worker.
- Principle 3- More than one person can have the same duty: You and another PCBU can have the same WHS duties relating to a particular work activity, or the environment in which the work is taking place. This means you are both responsible for addressing WHS risks.
- Principle 4- Management of risks: As a PCBU you are required to eliminate risks to health and safety so far as is reasonably practicable. If elimination is not reasonably practicable, you must minimise those risks so far as is reasonably practicable.
- Duty to consult, cooperate and coordinate with other duty holders fact sheet provides information for PCBUs who share duties in relation to the same WHS matter.
Go to the newly published Principles that apply to work health and safety duties web page to download the fact sheets today.