PCBUs
PCBU means person conducting a business or undertaking. This is the entity of the business, so Safewise is a PCBU. It is not a person unless the business is a sole trader. The current act says the employer must provide a safe place of work but in the new Health and Safety at Work 2015 Act the PCBU has the primary duty of care for the health and safety of workers and others in the workplace. As far as is reasonably practicable they must:
Provide and maintain safe plant and structures
Provide and maintain safe systems of work
Provide safe use, handling and storage of plant, substances and structures
Provide access to adequate facilities
Provide information, training and supervision
Monitor the health of workers and the conditions of the workplace to prevent injury or illness
Accommodation provided to workers that is owned or managed by the PCBU because other accommodation is not reasonably available must be in good condition.
If you are self-employed and have no workers you are still a PCBU; you are responsible for your own health and safety while at work.
Specific responsibilities for PCBUs who design, manufacture, install plant, substances and structures.
The PCBU is required to ensure that any fixtures, fittings, plant, substance or structure is fit for task and without risks to the health and safety of any person. The PCBU must identify and inform the user of any hazard or risk, and the means of controlling these.
How can Safewise help? Safewise can help you determine and manage the roles and responsibilities that you and your workers have in your organisation. We work with numerous business, big and small, helping them achieve safer places of work.
If you would like help with the health and safety aspect of your business, or have any questions, please get in touch.
