The Work Health and Safety laws expand on the foundational premise that there are clearly identified WHS Duty Holders who have specific duties to perform and expectations to be met at the workplace.
These duties cannot be delegated and persons can be in more than one category of duty holder depending on their role and their tasks.
Courtenell’s half-day Responsibilities for WHS Duty Holders course covers each of the four duty holders stated in the WHS Act, their responsibilities and how they interact with each other to forward the success of the WHS management system and thereby the health and wellbeing of all persons in the workplace.
To further bridge the gap between theory and practice, the training delves into the critical area of shared responsibility. In an era of complex supply chains and labour hire arrangements, understanding the "overlapping duties" between various stakeholders is essential. Courtenell’s facilitators guide the participants through the process of consultation between the organisation and its workforce as well as when PCBUs must consult with other PCBUs, such as when multiple businesses share a workspace, or engage contractors. This holistic approach empowers duty holders to meet their obligations with confidence, reducing liability while prioritizing the physical and psychological health of the entire workforce.
While this course is primarily a legislative-based training program, it uses real-world examples, case studies, and scenarios that apply to all persons and positions that have duties under WHS law.
Who Should Attend?
Every person in a workplace is a WHS duty holder no matter their position, role, or work duties. The course is for:
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Business Owners and Officers: Directors, CEOs, and senior executives who must exercise due diligence to ensure the PCBU meets its duties.
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Managers and Supervisors: Those responsible for the day-to-day oversight of workers and the practical implementation of safety policies.
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WHS Professionals: Safety coordinators and consultants seeking a refresher on legislative frameworks and recent legal interpretations.
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Contract Management Teams: Personnel who oversee third-party vendors and need to manage the complexities of shared site responsibilities.
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Workers: Workers are accountable not only for their own actions, but must also ensure their conduct does not endanger the health and safety of their co-workers, customers, visitors, or other people they may interact with at their workplace.
While the standard program addresses all four duty holder classes, it can be delivered for a single class to ensure precise compliance with role‑specific duties.