Glossary & Key Concepts

Cross-cutting WHS terms that appear in every Code of Practice. Defined once here so individual topics stay short.

How to use

Every topic file in this framework links back here. If a term shows up in bold or in a section heading and isn't explained on the topic page, it is defined below.

A. Duty holders

PCBU — Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking

The primary duty holder under the WHS Act. A PCBU is any person, body corporate, partnership, association or government department that conducts a business or undertaking — alone, or with others, for profit or not. Includes self-employed people. Workers (in their employee capacity) and volunteer associations of unpaid volunteers are not PCBUs.

The primary duty of care (s.19) requires the PCBU to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of:

• Workers engaged or caused to be engaged by the PCBU.
• Workers whose activities are influenced or directed by the PCBU.
• Other persons (e.g. visitors, members of the public) who may be exposed to risks from the work.

Officer (s.27)

A person who makes, or participates in making, decisions that affect a substantial part of the business — directors, executives, equivalents in non-corporate entities. Officers must exercise due diligence to ensure the PCBU complies with WHS law.

Worker (s.28)

Any person who carries out work in any capacity for a PCBU — employees, contractors, sub-contractors and their employees, on-hire workers, outworkers, apprentices, trainees, work-experience students, and volunteers. Workers must:

• Take reasonable care for their own safety.
• Not adversely affect the safety of others.
• Comply with reasonable instructions and policies notified to them.
• Cooperate with WHS procedures.

Other persons at the workplace (s.29)

Visitors, customers, clients, members of the public — must take reasonable care for themselves and others, and comply with reasonable WHS instructions.

HSR — Health and Safety Representative

A worker elected to represent a defined work group on WHS matters. See [[whs_consultation_cooperation_coordination]] §4 for powers and process.

HSC — Health and Safety Committee

A standing committee that develops and reviews WHS policies/procedures across the workforce. Must be established within 2 months of a request by 5+ workers or an HSR.

Principal Contractor (Reg 309)

On a construction project where the cost is $250,000 or more, the person who commissions the construction work appoints a Principal Contractor — usually the head builder. The PC has additional duties: WHS Management Plan, signage, site security, induction.

B. Core legal phrases

Reasonably practicable (s.18)

Whatever is, at the time, reasonably able to be done to ensure health and safety, taking into account:

1. The likelihood of the hazard or risk occurring.
2. The degree of harm that might result.
3. What the person knows, or ought reasonably to know, about the hazard and ways to eliminate or minimise it.
4. The availability and suitability of ways to eliminate or minimise the risk.
5. After (1)–(4) are weighed, the cost of eliminating or minimising the risk — including whether it is grossly disproportionate to the risk.

Cost is the last consideration, not the first. "It costs too much" alone is not a defence.

Due diligence (s.27)

The standard officers must meet. Six elements:

1. Acquire and keep up-to-date knowledge of WHS matters.
2. Understand the operations and the hazards/risks they generate.
3. Ensure appropriate resources and processes for risk elimination/minimisation.
4. Ensure the PCBU has processes for receiving, considering and responding to information about incidents, hazards and risks.
5. Ensure the PCBU implements processes to comply with the WHS Act and Regulations.
6. Verify the above are working.

Consultation, Cooperation, Coordination (the "three Cs")

• Consultation — share information, listen, consider views, advise outcomes.
• Cooperation — respond to reasonable requests; don't obstruct other duty holders.
• Coordination — plan and sequence so controls complement, not conflict. See [[whs_consultation_cooperation_coordination]].

C. Risk management terms

Hazard

A source or situation with the potential to cause injury, ill-health or property damage.

Risk

The possibility that harm (injury, ill-health) might occur when exposed to a hazard.

Hierarchy of control measures

The ranked sequence of control types — apply the highest reasonably practicable level. Top → bottom:

1. Eliminate — remove the hazard.
2. Substitute — swap for a less hazardous alternative.
3. Isolate — separate hazard from people (barriers, enclosures, distance).
4. Engineer — physical/mechanical controls (guards, ventilation, interlocks).
5. Administer — procedures, training, signage, scheduling.
6. PPE — personal protective equipment. Levels 2–4 are sometimes grouped as "engineering controls". See [[risk_management_process]] §3.

Risk register

A working document listing identified hazards, assessed risk levels, current controls, further controls needed, owner, due date, completion date, review schedule. The single most useful WHS record to maintain.

SWMS — Safe Work Method Statement

A document required for high-risk construction work (Reg 291–293) that sets out the work, the hazards arising from it, the control measures, and how those controls will be implemented, monitored and reviewed. Must be prepared before the work starts and reviewed if the work or controls change.

High-risk construction work (Reg 291)

Defined list — includes: working at height of 2 m or more; demolition of load-bearing structures; asbestos disturbance; structural alterations requiring temporary support; confined spaces; trenches/shafts > 1.5 m deep; tunnels; explosives; powered mobile plant near workers; tilt-up or precast concrete; work near pressurised gas or chemical lines; work near energised electrical installations; artificial extremes of temperature; work in or near water where there is a risk of drowning; work on or adjacent to roadways or rail with traffic.

High-risk work licence (HRWL)

Statutory licence required for specific activities — scaffolding, dogging/rigging, crane operation, forklift, EWP > 11 m boom, pressure equipment operation, etc. See state/territory regulator for current classes.

D. Hazard categories

Hazardous manual task (Reg 60)

A task requiring sustained or repetitive force, awkward posture, repetitive movement, sustained or awkward posture, exposure to vibration, or handling unstable or unpredictable loads. Triggers a specific risk-management process — see [[hazardous_manual_tasks]].

Confined space (Reg 4)

An enclosed or partially enclosed space that:

• Is not designed or intended to be occupied by a person.
• Is, or is designed/likely to be, at normal atmospheric pressure while occupied.
• Has a contaminant atmosphere risk, oxygen-deficient/enriched atmosphere risk, engulfment risk, or restricted entry/exit. Examples: tanks, vessels, silos, pits, ducts, sewers, pipes. Entry requires a permit and trained stand-by person.

Hazardous chemical (Reg 5)

A substance, mixture or article that satisfies the criteria of one or more GHS hazard classes (physical, health, or environmental). Mixtures are classified using the rules in the model WHS Regs Schedule 9.

Prohibited carcinogen / Restricted carcinogen (Schedules 10A & 10B)

• Prohibited: very narrow allowed uses; need authorisation. E.g. crocidolite (blue) and amosite (brown) asbestos, 4-Aminobiphenyl, Benzidine.
• Restricted: authorisation required; uses limited to research/diagnostics. E.g. acrylonitrile, vinyl chloride monomer, carbon disulfide. Engineered-stone benchtop manufacture/installation: prohibited from 1 July 2024 (silica-related ban; verify current state implementation).

Plant

Any machinery, equipment, appliance, container, implement and tool, plus components and fittings. Includes powered and non-powered. Lifecycle duties span design, manufacture, supply, installation, use, maintenance, modification and disposal.

Asbestos

A naturally occurring fibrous silicate mineral. All forms are Category 1 carcinogens. Two duties of practice apply: managing in-place asbestos and safely removing asbestos. See §07 [[manage_and_control_asbestos]] and [[safely_remove_asbestos]].

Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS)

The fraction of crystalline silica dust small enough to reach the deep lung. Causes silicosis, lung cancer, autoimmune disease. Workplace Exposure Standard reduced to 0.05 mg/m³ (8-h TWA) in 2020. Engineered-stone benchtops: prohibited since 2024-07-01.

E. Documents you'll keep referring to

Document	When
Risk register	Always
SWMS	Before any high-risk construction work
WHS Management Plan	Every construction project ≥ $250k
SDS (Safety Data Sheet)	Every hazardous chemical on site
Asbestos register	Every workplace built before 31 Dec 2003
Asbestos management plan	Wherever the asbestos register identifies asbestos
Plant register	Every workplace with registrable plant
First-aid treatment register	Every workplace
HSR election + meeting records	When HSRs / HSC are established
Health-monitoring records	Where Schedule 14 chemicals or RCS exposure exists
Incident notification	Notifiable incidents (death, serious injury/illness, dangerous incident) — call regulator immediately, write within 48 h

F. Where to look first

If you need to…	Start here
Run a risk assessment	[[risk_management_process]]
Talk to workers properly	[[whs_consultation_cooperation_coordination]]
Plan a construction project	[[02 - Construction Work/general_construction_work]]
Write a SWMS	[[02 - Construction Work/general_construction_work]] §SWMS
Manage chemicals on site	§06 [[managing_risks_of_hazardous_chemicals]]
Identify asbestos	§07 [[manage_and_control_asbestos]]
Set up first aid	[[first_aid_in_the_workplace]]
Provide site facilities	[[workplace_environment_and_facilities]]

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Source: derived from the model WHS Act 2011 (model), model WHS Regulations, and the 25 model Codes of Practice published by Safe Work Australia. Last verified: 2026-04-27.