HSCs

A formal Committee, including equal representation of workers, and representatives of a person conducting a business or undertaking (an employer) that facilitates cooperation between a PCBU and workers to provide a safe place of work. Worker representation includes elected Health and Safety Representatives where they consent to be on the Committee.

HSR

A worker who has been elected by a work group to represent workers in the work group about health and safety issues.

Officer

Persons within an organisation who have significant control over a business or undertaking or who can contribute substantially to the decision-making process. Commonly, this means Board Directors, the chief executive officer or chief finance officer of an organisation.

PCBU

Person Conducting the Business or Undertaking. The legal entity that operates the business or undertaking. The PCBU has the primary duty of care for ensuring the work health and safety of workers and other people, by eliminating or minimising the risk to their health and safety, so far as is practicable.

PIN

Provisional Improvement Notice – is a tool to improve health and safety in a workplace, encouraging employers and workers to openly discuss health and safety hazards and risks in their workplace. This is utilised if an agreement cannot be reached by all parties and allows the HSR the option to contact an inspector to assist in addressing the outstanding safety concern/s 

Representative

(a)   the health and safety representative for the worker; or (b) a suitable entity for representing the worker that is authorised by the worker to represent them [WHS Act s45A].

Suitable Entity

A relevant union for the worker, or another entity that is authorised by the worker or representative to represent or assist the worker or representative but is not an excluded entity [WHS Act s 45A].

WHS Act

Workplace Health and Safety Act 2011 – Defines your rights as a worker and gives you protections under Workplace Health and Safety. This Act works in conjunction with the WHS Regulations 2011 (Workplace Health and Safety Regulations 2011) 

WHSO

Workplace Health and Safety Officer – This person is appointed by the PCBU (employer) to oversee Health and Safety in the workplace. Their interest is more for the benefit of the employer (PCBU) rather than you the employee. As a HSR you solely represent the interest of the employees (your workmates) under your designated work group 

WHSQ

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland 

Work Group

An agreed work group of workers determined under the WHS Act to be represented by elected HSRs and deputy HSRs, who share similar work conditions (e.g., all the electricians in a factory; all people on night shift; all people who work in the loading bay of a retail storage facility) [WHS Act Part 5].