Latest blog posts by WHS Lawyer Greg Smith and co-author of Risky Conversations, The Law, Social Psychology and Risk.
When does a principal “engage” a contractor and other observations
On 27 March 2017 the NSW District Court handed down a decision in Safe Work (NSW) v Activate Fire Pty Ltd; Safe Work (NSW) v Unity (NSW) Pty Ltd [2017] NSWDC 66.
The case provides an excellent summary of key legal principles underpinning health and safety legislation. It also provides very good insight into the issue of when an entity “engages” a contractor for the purposes of health and safety legislation.
Finally, the case is instructive, because the Court examines each of the allegations against Activate and Unity – the things the regulator said it was “reasonably practicable” for them to do – and explains why those things were or were not reasonably practicable.
You can access a 25 minute video presentation about case HERE.
2017 AUSA Conference – Playing devil’s advocate
In June 2017 I will be speaking at the AUSA Conference in Hobart, Tasmania on the topic of health and safety reporting: Health and safety performance indicators: Measuring activity, providing assurance or undermining safety. This is a topic that I have been focused on over the last 12 months (Measuring and Reporting on Work Health & Safety, WHS Reporting and Due Diligence: Some practical thoughts, Health & Safety Assurance Workshop)
You can find out more about the conference from their website, But if anyone who would like a sneak preview of what I will be speaking about, a short video presentation is available below.
Do you have any thoughts? Please share them below