Sets out WorkSafe Victoria’s position on what ‘reasonably practicable’ means in the context of duty-holders meeting their obligations under Part 3 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004.

Part 3 of the Act places duties on, among others, employers (sections 21 to 23), self-employed persons (section 24), persons who manage or control workplaces (section 26), designers of plant (section 27), designers of buildings or structures (section 28), manufacturers of plant or substances (section 29), suppliers of plant or substances (section 30), and persons installing, erecting or commissioning plant (section 31), to ensure health and safety. These duties must be met so far as is reasonably practicable.

Section 20(2) of the Act provides that regard must be had to the following matters in determining what is (or was at a particular time) reasonably practicable in relation to ensuring health and safety:

(a) the likelihood of the hazard or risk concerned eventuating;
(b) the degree of harm that would result if the hazard or risk eventuated;
(c) what the person concerned knows, or ought reasonably to know, about the hazard or risk and any ways of eliminating or reducing the hazard or risk;
(d) the availability and suitability of ways to eliminate or reduce the hazard or risk;
(e) the cost of eliminating or reducing the hazard or risk.