Meaning of Hazard

Includes a person’s behaviour where that behaviour has the potential to cause death, injury, or illness to a person (whether or not that behaviour results from physical or mental fatigue, drugs, alcohol, traumatic shock, or another temporary condition that affects a person’s behaviour).

Meaning of Risk

The possibility that death, injury or illness might occur when exposed to a hazard.  Risks arise from people being exposed to a hazard (a source of harm).

Meaning of Due Diligence

A positive duty on people at the governance level of an organisation to actively engage in health and safety matters, reinforcing that health and safety is everyone’s responsibility.

Meaning of Notifiable Event

An event in the workplace that WorkSafe must be notified about.  This includes the death of a person, a notifiable injury or illness (requiring immediate treatment or hospitalisation) and a notifiable incident (exposing people to a serious risk to their health and safety). Some examples are:

  • a serious head injury
  • a serious eye injury
  • a serious burn
  • a spinal injury
  • the loss of a bodily function (loss of consciousness/ seizure or collapse)
  • serious lacerations
  • the fall or release from a height of any plant, substance, or thing
  • an electric shock

Meaning of Taking All Practicable Steps

What is reasonably able to be done to control hazards.  Takes into account things such as the likelihood and severity of any harm that might occur and the availability and cost of ways to prevent harm.

Meaning of Safe Work Practice

A step-by-step description of how to do a task, job or activity safely.  This may also include flow charts and what equipment and qualifications volunteers/ workers may require to conduct the activity.   This document can also be referred to as;

  • Job safety analysis (JSA)
  • Site specific safety plan (SSSP)
  • Safe work method statement (SWMS)
  • Standard operating procedures (SOP)