Workers have health and safety obligations and play an important role in helping to keep a workplace healthy and safe.
A worker is any person who carries out work for a business, which can include:
- an employee
- a contractor
- a subcontractor
- a self-employed person
- an outworker who works away from their employer’s premises
- an apprentice or trainee
- a work experience student
- an employee of a labour-hire company placed with the host employer
- a volunteer.
Inductions
When starting a new job, you should be:
- given a tour and induction of the workplace, including entry and exit points, staff amenities and first aid areas
- shown the emergency evacuation point/s and be briefed on the emergency evacuation procedures
- provided with safety equipment, such as personal protective equipment (PPE) and shown how to use and wear it properly
- shown how to work safely and trained in how to use equipment
- introduced to your immediate supervisor, health and safety representative and the people you will be working with.
Learn more about your rights and responsibilities as a worker.
What a worker must do
As a worker, you have a duty to:
- take reasonable care of yourself and not do anything that would affect the health and safety of others at work
- follow safety instructions as far as you are reasonably able and notify the person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) of any hazards
- cooperate and adhere to health and safety instructions, and policies and procedures as instructed by your PCBU.
If you fail to comply with these duties, you can be prosecuted under section 28 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2020.
For more information, visit Workers and others at the workplace.
Other people at the workplace
Any person at a workplace, including customers, visitors and volunteers, must take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions.
They must also, so far as they are reasonably able, comply with any reasonable instruction provided by the PCBU in accordance with the Western Australian work health and safety laws.
Compliance means:
- following operational procedures such as safe work method statements (SWMS)
- following relevant safety manuals and emergency procedures
- adhering to relevant codes of conduct
- understanding and following internal incident reporting processes
- wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) as instructed.
Learn more about Volunteers at the workplace and Volunteer organisations.