WHS duties

Everyone in the workplace has WHS duties under the model WHS Act.  

You have specific duties if you are: 

  • a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) 

  • a principal contractor 

  • a designer, manufacturer, importer, supplier and installer of plant, substances or structures 

  • an officer. 

The model WHS Regulations have duties that apply to the accommodation industry. This includes managing risks of hazardous manual tasks, the work environment, hazardous chemicals and plant.  

As a PCBU, you must, so far as is reasonably practicable:  

  • ensure the health and safety of workers and others at your workplace  

  • consult with workers who carry out work for the business or undertaking and who are (or are likely to be) directly affected by a health and safety matter, and 

  • consult cooperate and coordinate activities with all other relevant duty holders. 

You must:  

  • provide and maintain a work environment that does not pose physical or psychological risks to health and safety 

  • give workers the information, training, instruction and supervision they need to carry out their work safely 

WHS duties for home-sharing services 

WHS duties may also apply for home-sharing services. 

A home-sharing service is where a person rents out part of, or all of their property to other people, including through third party applications.  

You are a PCBU if you control the property and engage workers, such as a cleaning service.  

You have WHS duties to maintain a safe workplace. The person you engage has the worker’s duty of care under the model WHS Act.