Keeping Your Workplace Safe & Healthy

Weekly WHS Article 20th May 2021

The PCBU’s overarching duty of care

The WHS Act (Section 19) requires that the PCBU must ensure as far as reasonably practicable, the health and safety of everyone in their workplace.

Managers & Supervisors

Section 19 is about the PCBU’s primary duty of care, but the PCBU is not a human being, so the directors and CEOs as the managers of the company overall delegate authority to their leadership team to carry out actions that will result in a safe and healthy workplace. Directors have their own legal obligations as directors under the WHS Act.

For example, all Managers and Supervisors are involved in actively supervising staff on the WHS rules and protocols established for the workplace. It is the requirement of the PCBU (business) to provide the WHS management system. Directors and CEOs run the business, at the same time ensuring the business is meeting its primary obligations as per the WHS Act.

Depending on the nature of your business, your workers will require information, instruction, training and supervision in matters such as:

• consultation

• risk management

• first aid

• hazardous manual tasks

• bullying, discrimination and harassment policies

• health effects of noise exposure

• your accident and emergency procedures

• handling hazardous chemicals

• correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE)

• how to safely operate equipment and machinery

• high-risk activities, e.g. working at heights

• working in confined spaces

• work that requires specific qualifications or licensing to perform

• your health and safety policies

• any other policies, procedures and practices that apply to your workplace

Also, managers and supervisors need to know what risks and hazards exist in the workplace and what controls are in place for them. Their knowledge of the controls helps them to manage and supervise their staff.

Managers and supervisors have to deal with these issues every day in their workplace – carrying out those actions in their area of authority and control that will help to keep workers and others safe and healthy – and ensuring that every person that they supervise follows the systems established for them and takes “reasonable care” of the health and safety of themselves and others.

​For more information on WHS training or WHS compliance services, or if you would like help to make your WHS management system even more robust, please feel free to contact us at train@courtenell.com.au or phone us on 02 9552 2066.

19th May 2021