Definitions for Health and Safety - U to Z

A worker means:

• A person who carries out work in any capacity for a PCBU, including work as an employee
• A contractor or subcontractor or an a employee of a contractor or subcontractor
• Employees of a labour hire company, who has been assigned to work in the person's business or undertaking.
• A homeworker.
• An apprentice or trainee; a person gaining work experience (for example, undertaking a work trial.
• A volunteer.
• A person of a prescribed class.
• A PCBU is also worker if the person is an individual who carries out work in that business or undertaking.

While at work, a worker must

• Take reasonable care for his or her own health and safety.
• Take reasonable care that his or her acts or omissions do not adversely affect the health and safety of others.
• Comply, as far as the worker is reasonably able, with any reasonable instruction that is given by the PCBU to allow the person to comply with the Health and Safety At Work Act.
• Co-operate with any reasonable policy or procedure of the PCBU relating to health or safety at the workplace that has been notified to workers.

The purpose of determining a work group is to decide:

• The number and composition of work groups to be represented by health and safety representatives;
• The number of health and safety representatives and deputy health and safety representatives (if any) to be elected; and
• The workplace or workplaces to which the work groups will apply.
• If a work group is determined for workers carrying out work for 2 or more PCBUs, the purpose of determining work groups also includes deciding the businesses or undertakings to which the work groups will apply.

A place where work is carried out for a business or undertaking includes,

• Any place where a worker goes, or is likely to be while at work.
• A vehicle, vessel, aircraft or other structure
• Any waters and any installation on land or on the bed of any waters or floating on any water