Having the word ‘officer’ in your work title is not what makes someone an officer under work health and safety (WHS) laws. Officers are in positions that allow them to exercise significant influence over decision-making for the organisation or have the capacity to significantly affect the financial standing of the organisation. The decision-making does not have to specifically involve WHS issues – it is about decisions in general that substantively affect the organisation.
See the The health and safety duty of an officer: Interpretive guideline to learn more.
An officer must use due diligence to ensure the person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) meets its health and safety duties to protect workers and other persons from harm.
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