A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A
Approved Course of Training
A five day course has been approved by the Regulator as a training course for Health and Safety Representatives.
C
Cease Work
A HSR can order a cease work (after completion of an approved course of training) or a worker can cease work if concerned about exposure to a serious risk to health and safety emanating from an immediate or imminent hazard.
E
Entry Permit Holder
An Official of a Union who holds an Entry Permit for the purpose of entering workplaces to inquire into suspected contraventions of the Work Health and Safety Act (WHS Act).
H
Health & Safety Committee
A group including workers, HSRs and PCBUs (See definition below) that facilitates cooperation between a PCBU and workers to provide a safe place or work.
Health & Safety Representative
A worker elected by a group of workers, in order to represent them on health and safety issues
O
Officer
Broadly, in the WHS Act, a person who makes, or participates in making decisions that affect the whole, or a substantial part of an organisation’s activities. An Officer, can also be an officer of the Crown or a Public Authority.
P
Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking
Includes a person conducting a business or undertaking alone or with others, whether or not for profit or gain, including as a partnership, a self-employed person, and as an unincorporated association. This phrase also includes ‘employers’
Person with Management or Control
A person conducting a business or undertaking with management or control over the workplace.
Provisional Improvement Notice
A legally binding notice, only issued by a HSR, after completion of training. It states that the Act is being breached, reason(s) why and steps that should be taken to fix a problem.
R
Reasonably Practicable
Section 18 of the WHS Act defines this concept as that which is, or was at the time, reasonably able to be done, or was done at the time, reasonably able to be done in relation to ensuring health and safety taking into account and weighing up all relevant matters including:
- The likelihood of the hazard or risk occurring.
- The degree of harm that might result from the hazard or risk
- What the person concerned knows, or ought reasonably to know, about the hazard and ways of eliminating or minimising it
- The availability of suitable ways to eliminate or minimise the hazard or risk
- Only after assessing the risk and solutions, is the cost of eliminating or minimising the hazard or risk considered
For more information on reasonably practicable, refer to the ‘Interpretative Guideline on Reasonably Practicable available at www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au
Relevant Worker
Is defined Section 116 of the WHS Act as a worker who is a member, or eligible to be a member, of the WHS Entry Permit Holder’s Union, whose industrial interests the relevant Union is entitled to represent, and who works at the workplace
T
The Act
The Work Health & Safety Act
The Work Health & Safety Act (WHS Act)
The new Work Health & Safety Act – this is the title of the Act which deals with Workplace Health & Safety in Queensland, ACT, NT, SA, Tasmania, and Comcare jurisdictions. At the time of writing, Victoria and WA remain the only WHS jurisdictions which have not adopted the harmonised Act.
W
Worker
Includes employees, contractors, subcontractors, outworkers, apprentices and trainees, work experience students, volunteers and PCBUs if they perform work.
Work Group
A group of workers who are grouped together for the purpose of electing a Health and Safety Representative. These workers may share similar health and safety concerns, location, shift, or employer. Multiple Business Work Group can also be established, and may cover two or more PCBUs at one or more workplaces.
Workplace
Any place where work is carried out for a business or undertaking this may include offices, factories, shops, constructions sites, vehicles, ships, aircraft, or other mobile structures on land or water such as offshore units and platforms.