WHS Management Principles

BUSS 1053
Assessment 1-Weekly Continuous Assessment 2017

Topic Question:

What is the purpose of the officers “Duty of Due Diligence”? Explain what officers must
do to comply with the WHS law and give examples of what a typical “officer” might do
to ensure they are complying.

An officer is a person (director or CEO) who effects the company’s entire

business and participates in making decisions. According to the WHS ACT 2011,

the duty of officers will change from having an attributed to a positive duty of

"due diligence” to ensure PCBU compiles with duties (Work Health and Safety

Electrical Safety Office Worker’s Compensation Regulator 2017). The purpose

of officers is to ensure that WHS managers involved in the company’s lead, and

better to improve the sustainability and improvement of WHS performance.

Exercising due diligence includes taking reasonable steps (Archer p.35):

1. Get up-to-date knowledge about work health and safety issues and report

regularly to the superiors.

2. Understand and consider the health and safety risks and hazards associated

with the business operations, and periodically review the risk of the work

process, reduce the risks to minimum.

3. Ensure that the business has the appropriate resource to control and

eliminate the process of risks. Resources including the employers with skills and
experience, the appropriate responsibilities and governance or authorization

structure.

4.Ensure the person who conduct the business has appropriate procedures to

receive and consider relevant information and risks, and respond promptly to

the information.

5. establish and ensure WHS meets the execution flow of its business. In order

to comply with obligations, officers should ensure business conducts

compliance audit, and adequately address any shortcomings. Officers are

required to ensure compliance procedures.

6. Verify the availability and effective of WHS resources and processes which

five steps mentioned below. Officers should regularly check the system, verify

that the system has been used and implemented. The company’s security

system can be independently reviewed through accident investigation and

safety audit report.

Reference:

1. Work Health and Safety Electrical Safety Office Worker’s Compensation

Regulator 2017, Due Diligence, WorkCover Queensland, viewed 27 August 2017,

<https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/laws-and-compliance/workplace-health-
and-safety-laws/due-diligence>

2. Archer,RJ,Borthwick,K, Travers,M&Ruschena,L 2015, WHS:a management

guide,4th edn,Cengage Learning Australia, South Melbourne, Victoria.