Consulting, co-operating and co-ordinatiConsulting, co-operating and co-ordinating activities with other duty holders

Consulting, co-operating and co-ordinating activities with other duty holders

Section 46: The WHS Act requires that you consult, co-operate and co-ordinate activities with
all other persons who have a work health or safety duty in relation to the same matter, so far
as is reasonably practicable

Sometimes you may share responsibility for a health and safety matter with other business operators who are involved in the same activities or who share the same workplace. In these situations, you should find out who is doing what and work together with other duty holders in
a co-operative and co-ordinated way so that all risks are eliminated or minimised, so far as is reasonably practicable.

For example, the owner of a transport company with large trucks should consult the goods suppliers as well as the businesses having the goods delivered about how the risk of falls will be controlled during loading and unloading. This may include checking whether suitable equipment
is available at each site so that workers do not have to climb on top of loads on the truck and be
at risk of falling.

Further guidance is available in the Code of Practice: Work Health and Safety Consultation,
Co-operation and Co-ordination.