The Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011 (WHS Act) does not apply to a volunteer organisation unless it employs one or more paid workers. When a volunteer organisation does employ one or more paid workers it is considered a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) and has all the duties of a PCBU under the WHS Act.
A PCBU has the obligation to manage the physical and mental health and safety of all of its workers and volunteers so far as is reasonably practicable. Volunteers working for a PCBU are owed the same duties as all other workers.
Safe Work Australia has developed guides for volunteers and volunteer organisations to provide information about when and how the WHS Act applies to them. The guides are:
