Everyone in the workplace has WHS duties under the model WHS Act.
You have specific duties if you are:
-
a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU)
-
a principal contractor
-
a designer, manufacturer, importer, supplier and installer of plant, substances or structures
-
an officer.
The model WHS Regulations have duties that apply to the accommodation industry. This includes managing risks of hazardous manual tasks, the work environment, hazardous chemicals and plant.
As a PCBU, you must, so far as is reasonably practicable:
-
ensure the health and safety of workers and others at your workplace
-
consult with workers who carry out work for the business or undertaking and who are (or are likely to be) directly affected by a health and safety matter, and
-
consult cooperate and coordinate activities with all other relevant duty holders.
You must:
-
provide and maintain a work environment that does not pose physical or psychological risks to health and safety
-
give workers the information, training, instruction and supervision they need to carry out their work safely
WHS duties for home-sharing services
WHS duties may also apply for home-sharing services.
A home-sharing service is where a person rents out part of, or all of their property to other people, including through third party applications.
You are a PCBU if you control the property and engage workers, such as a cleaning service.
You have WHS duties to maintain a safe workplace. The person you engage has the worker’s duty of care under the model WHS Act.