Who is a PCBU?

PCBU is a new term under WHS. So what is a PCBU? PCBU or Persons Conducting a Business or Undertaking describes the entity that is engaging the work. This replaces the term “employer”. A ‘person’ can include a body corporate (company), unincorporated body or...

Due diligence

The WHS Act imposes a specific duty on Officers to ensure the PCBU meets its work health and safety obligations. In fact, all managers should apply due diligence to the management of WHS in their area of responsibility. So, what does it mean to be diligent? The WHS...

Harmonisation and Modernisation

The introduction of the new WHS legislation hoped to achieve: Harmonisation – a nationally consistent approachModernisation – update health and safety legislation to reflect modern day working arrangement, issues and conditions. Harmonisation The process of...

Work Health and Safety Legislation in Australia

Yesterday Western Australia adopted the WHS Act 2020 and its supporting Regulations. This blog provides a timeline of how we arrived at this new piece of legislation. Overview In Australia the Constitution empowers each State and Territory to enact their own...

Who is an “Officer”?

This is a re-post of a  blog from 2015. There is a lot of interest in the impending WHS legislation. I am finding that the greatest misunderstanding is over who is an Officer………. Many organisations are concerned about the potential implications...