Workplace Safety and Health Act 2006 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 4 · General Duties of Persons at Workplaces
15. Duties of persons at work
Feedback & supportLast amended by an amending law of 2024. 2 amendments in all.
It is the duty of every person at work —
at work
“at work” means —(a)in relation to an employee, all times when the employee is performing work in connection with any trade, business, profession or undertaking carried on by his or her employer, wherever that work is carried out;(b)in relation to a self-employed person, all times when the person is performing work as a self-employed person, wherever the work is carried out; and(c)in any other case, all times when the person is performing work at the direction of the other person who engaged him or her, wherever the work is carried out;
to use in such manner so as to provide the protection intended, any suitable appliance, protective clothing, convenience, equipment or other means or thing provided (whether for his or her use alone or for use by him or her in common with others) for securing his or her safety, health and welfare while at work; and
to cooperate with his or her employer, principal or platform operator and any other person to such extent as will enable his or her employer, principal, platform operator or the other person (as the case may be) to comply with the provisions of this Act.
A person at work must not wilfully or recklessly interfere with or misuse any appliance, protective clothing, convenience, equipment or other means or thing provided (whether for his or her use alone or for use by him or her in common with others) pursuant to any requirement under this Act for securing the safety, health or welfare of persons (including himself or herself) at work.
Any person at work who, without reasonable cause, wilfully or recklessly does any act which endangers the safety or health of himself or herself or others shall be guilty of an offence.
Any person at work who, without reasonable cause, does any negligent act which endangers the safety or health of himself or herself or others shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable upon conviction to a fine not exceeding $30,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both.
Any person who contravenes subsection (1) or (2) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000 and, in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding $2,000.