Key Changes
for Employers
Due diligence governance and
senior management
Hazardous
substances
Going Forward
RESPONSIBILITY
The new law would change
the definition of who is
responsible for workplace
health and safety. Under
it, the definition of a duty
holder would be changed
to “a person conducting a
business or undertaking”
(PCBU – which in Australia
they refer to as “peekaboo”).
A PCBU must ensure, so far
as is “reasonably practicable”,
the health and safety of
workers and others affected
by the work. The “reasonably
practicable” test takes
account of risks and other
circumstances but is intended
to be different to the current
“all practicable steps” test.
There may be multiple PCBUs
involved in work at the same
location and they must
work together to meet their
workplace health and safety
obligations. For example,
there are many PCBUs involved
in a typical construction
industry supply chain
(construction firm, principal
contractor, contractor, subcontractor, worker) and all of
the members of the chain,
except the worker, are a PCBU.
Each PCBU in the chain must
manage the health and safety
of those below it, through
supervision and monitoring.
CURRENTLY, INDIVIDUALS
are liable for the failure
of a body corporate if
they directed, authorised,
assented to, acquiesced
in, or participated
in, the failure.
CONTROLS WILL BE
introduced to manage
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