A worker is anyone who carries out work for a PCBU, including employees, contractors, subcontractors, labour hire workers, apprentices, trainees, work experience students, and volunteers. Workers are protected by WHS laws regardless of their employment arrangement.

An officer is a person who makes, or participates in making, decisions that affect the whole or a substantial part of a business, such as company directors or senior managers. Officers have a duty to exercise due diligence to ensure the business complies with WHS obligations.

Due diligence means taking reasonable steps to understand WHS risks, ensure appropriate resources and processes are in place, and verify that safety systems are actually working. It is an active, ongoing responsibility, not a one-off task.

Reasonably practicable means what is reasonably able to be done to ensure health and safety, taking into account the likelihood of a hazard, the degree of harm, what is known about the risk and controls, and the cost of controls, where cost is only considered after safety factors.

A notifiable incident is a serious workplace event that must be reported to the WHS regulator. This includes a death, serious injury or illness, or a dangerous incident that exposes someone to serious risk, even if no one is injured.

A serious injury or illness is one that requires urgent medical treatment, hospitalisation, or involves specific conditions listed in the regulations, such as amputations or serious head injuries. These incidents are generally notifiable.

A dangerous incident is a near miss that could have caused serious injury or death, such as a collapse, explosion, electric shock, or uncontrolled release of a substance. It must be notified even if no one is hurt.

Construction work includes a wide range of activities related to buildings and structures, such as building, demolition, alteration, repair, excavation, and installation of services. It applies well beyond large construction sites and can include minor works and maintenance.

High risk construction work is specific types of construction work that involve higher levels of risk, such as work at heights, near live electrical installations, in confined spaces, or involving structural alterations. This type of work usually requires a Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS).

A confined space is an enclosed or partially enclosed area that is not designed for continuous occupancy, has limited entry or exit, and may have hazardous atmospheres, engulfment risks, or other serious hazards. Examples include tanks, silos, pits, and some roof spaces.

A competent person is someone who has acquired the knowledge and skills to carry out a task through training, qualification, or experience. The level of competence required depends on the task and the risk involved.

Consultation means sharing information, giving workers a reasonable opportunity to express views, and taking those views into account when making WHS decisions. It is required when identifying hazards, assessing risks, and making changes that affect safety.

A High Risk Work Licence is required for certain types of high-risk work, such as operating forklifts, cranes, hoists, scaffolding, rigging, dogging, and pressure equipment. The licence confirms the holder has been trained and assessed as competent to perform that work. Licences are issued by state and territory WHS regulators.

PPE is equipment worn by workers to reduce exposure to hazards, such as helmets, gloves, safety glasses, respirators, and high-visibility clothing. PPE is the lowest level of control in the hierarchy and should be used together with higher-order controls where possible. Businesses must provide, maintain, and ensure correct use of PPE.

A SWMS is a document that sets out how high risk construction work will be carried out safely, including hazards, risks, and control measures. It is required for specific types of high risk construction work.

A Safety Data Sheet provides information about a hazardous chemical, including its hazards, safe handling, storage, and emergency measures. PCBUs must ensure SDSs are available for hazardous chemicals used at work.

A WHS Management Plan is a document that sets out how health and safety will be managed for a workplace or project. It typically explains responsibilities, consultation arrangements, risk management processes, incident reporting, training, and emergency procedures.

WHS Management Plans are commonly required for construction projects and are often requested by clients. Principal contractors are typically responsible for providing and implementing the WHS Management plan.

A WHS Policy is a high-level statement that outlines a business’s commitment to health and safety. It usually defines overall responsibilities, expectations, and objectives, and confirms that the business intends to meet its WHS duties. While not always legally required, a WHS policy is commonly expected and supports compliance and due diligence.

A Safe Work Procedure or Safe Operating Procedure describes the safest way to carry out a specific task or activity. It identifies key hazards, outlines control measures, and provides step-by-step guidance for workers. SWPs and SOPs are widely used to manage routine or higher-risk tasks and to support training and supervision.

A Permit to Work is a formal authorisation that allows specific high-risk work to be carried out under defined conditions. It confirms that hazards have been identified, controls are in place, and relevant approvals have been obtained before work starts. Permits are commonly used for tasks such as confined space entry, hot work, electrical work, or work on pressurised systems.

A hazardous chemicals register is a list of all hazardous chemicals used, handled, or stored at a workplace. It must include current Safety Data Sheets and be readily accessible to workers. The register helps ensure chemicals are properly identified, managed, and communicated.

An asbestos register is a document that records the presence, location, and condition of asbestos or asbestos-containing materials in a workplace. It is required for most buildings constructed before 31 December 2003, unless asbestos has been confirmed as not present. The register must be kept up to date and accessible.

Risk is the likelihood that a hazard will cause harm, and how severe that harm could be. Risk increases when hazards are uncontrolled or exposure is higher.

A risk control is a measure put in place to eliminate a hazard or minimise the risk associated with it. Controls should follow the hierarchy of control, with higher-order controls preferred.

The hierarchy of control is a ranked approach to managing risks, starting with elimination, then substitution, isolation, engineering controls, administrative controls, and finally personal protective equipment (PPE). Higher-level controls are more effective and reliable.

A risk assessment is the process of identifying hazards, assessing the level of risk, and determining appropriate control measures. Under WHS laws, risks must be eliminated so far as is reasonably practicable, or minimised if elimination is not possible. Risk assessments help businesses make informed decisions about how to manage safety risks.

A hostile operating environment is a work environment where electrical equipment is exposed to conditions that increase the risk of damage or electric shock. This can include moisture, dust, vibration, corrosive substances, heat, outdoor exposure, or rough handling. Electrical equipment used in hostile environments usually requires additional protection, inspection, and testing.

An RCD is a safety device designed to quickly shut off electricity if it detects a fault, reducing the risk of electric shock. RCDs are required in many workplaces for certain electrical equipment, particularly in hostile operating environments. They can be fixed or portable and must be tested regularly.

Pressure equipment includes boilers, pressure vessels, air receivers, and piping that operate under pressure. These items can pose serious risks if they fail, including explosion or release of stored energy. WHS laws require pressure equipment to be designed, installed, inspected, and maintained in accordance with specific requirements.

Plant design registration is the formal registration of the design of certain high-risk plant with the WHS regulator. It applies to specific plant types listed in the regulations, such as pressure equipment, lifts, and amusement devices. Registration confirms the design meets relevant safety standards before the plant is manufactured or used.

Plant item registration is the registration of individual items of certain high-risk plant with the WHS regulator. It applies after the plant is manufactured or installed and links the physical item to its approved design. Both design registration and item registration may be required, depending on the plant type.

Health monitoring involves medical assessments to identify early signs of illness or injury related to exposure to certain workplace hazards. It is required under the WHS Regulations for specific substances and activities, such as exposure to lead, asbestos, or crystalline silica. Monitoring must be carried out by a registered medical practitioner.

Air monitoring is the measurement of airborne contaminants to determine worker exposure levels. It is required in some situations to assess whether exposure standards are exceeded or to verify the effectiveness of control measures. Results must be recorded and, in some cases, provided to workers and regulators.

Crystalline silica is a common mineral found in materials such as concrete, bricks, tiles, stone, and sand. When these materials are cut, ground, or drilled, fine silica dust can be released, which can cause serious lung disease. WHS laws impose strict controls on activities that generate silica dust.

Engineered stone is a manufactured product made from crushed stone and resins, often containing very high levels of crystalline silica. Engineered stone has been banned in Australia, meaning it cannot be manufactured, supplied, processed, or installed due to the serious health risks associated with silica dust exposure. Limited exceptions may apply for removal, disposal, or legacy work under strict regulatory controls.