How to manage work health and safety risks
Safe Work Australia
How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks is a Code of Practice on how to manage work health and safety risks and is an approved code of practice under section 274 of the Work Health and Safety Act (the WHS Act).
This Code is intended to be read by a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU). It provides practical guidance to PCBUs on how to manage risks to health and safety. Other approved codes of practice should be referenced for guidance on managing the risk of specific hazards.
This Code includes various references to the legal requirements under the WHS Act and WHS Regulations. These are included for convenience only and should not be relied on in the place of the full text of the WHS Act or WHS Regulations. The words ‘must’, ‘requires’ or ‘mandatory’ indicate a legal requirement exists that must be complied with.
Duty holders who have a role in managing work health and safety risks include:
− persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs)
− designers, manufacturers, importers, suppliers and installers of plant, substances or structures, and
− officers.
Workers and other persons at the workplace also have duties under the WHS Act, such as the duty to take reasonable care for their own health and safety at the workplace.
A person can have more than one duty and more than one person can have the same duty at the same time.
Contents:
Foreword
1: Introduction
1.1: Who Has Duties For Managing Work Health And Safety Risks?
1.2: What Is Involved In Managing Risks?
1.3: When Should A Risk Management Approach Be Used?
2: Step 1—How To Identify Hazards
2.1: How To Find Hazards
3: Step 2—How To Assess Risks
3.1: When Should A Risk Assessment Be Carried Out?
3.2: How To Do A Risk Assessment
4: Step 3—How To Control Risks
4.1: The Hierarchy Of Control Measures
4.2: How To Develop And Implement Control Options
4.3: How To Ensure Controls Remain Effective
5: Step 4—How To Review Controls
6: Keeping Records
Appendix A: Glossary
Appendix B: Examples Of The Risk Management Process
Example 1:
Example 2:
Example 3:
Appendix C: Assessing How Things Can Go Wrong
Appendix D: Risk Register
Amendments
