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• 1. Introduction
  • 1.1 Legislative basis for the risk management process
  • 1.2 Definitions
• 2. What is risk management?
  • 2.1 Why use this code of practice?
• 3. Defining the context
• 4. Risk management: The 5 step process
  • 4.1 Who should conduct the risk management
  • 4.2 Types of risk assessments
  • 4.3 When to use the process
• 5. Consultation
  • 5.1 Who should be involved in consultation?
  • 5.2 Benefits of consultation
• 6. Record keeping
• 7. Summary
• References and sources of further information
• Appendices
  • Appendix A: Hazards and risks
  • Appendix B: Forms for record keeping
  • Appendix C: Glossary of terms used in this code
  • Appendix D: List of WHSQ and ESO codes of practice
• Supplement 1 Hazard identification
  • 1. Step 1 Identify hazards
  • 2. How to look for and identify hazards
  • 3. What to look for - examples of hazards
  • 4. When hazards are identified
  • 5. Summary
  • 6. Applied case study context
  • References and sources of further information
• Supplement 2 Risk assessment
  • 1. Step 2 Assess the risks
  • 2. Why assess the risks
  • 3. How to assess risks
  • 4. Summary
  • 5. Applied case study - Risk assessment
  • References and sources of further information
  • Appendix A: Factors influencing likelihood
  • Appendix B: Factors influencing consequences
  • Appendix C: Forms
• Supplement 3 Control, implement, monitor and review
  • 1. Step 3 Decide on control measures
  • 2. Eliminate the hazard
  • 3. Prevent or minimise explosure to the risk
  • 4. Summary
  • 5. Step 4 Implement control measures
  • 6. Summary
  • 7. Step 5 Monitor and review
  • 8. Summary
  • 9. Applied case strudy - Control, monitor and review
  • References and sources of further information
  • Appendix A

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Risk Management Code of Practice 2007

1. Introduction
2. What is risk management?
3. Defining the context
4. Risk management: The 5 step process
5. Consultation
6. Record keeping
7. Summary
References and sources of further information
Appendix A: Hazards and risks
Appendix B: Forms for record keeping
Appendix C: Glossary of terms used in this code
Appendix D: List of WHSQ and ESO codes of practice

Important information about the Risk Management Code of Practice

• The code replaces the Risk Management Advisory Standard Code of Practice 2000.
• The code was made on 3 June 2007.
• The code first commenced on 15 June 2007.
• The code expires 10 years after it first commenced.

What is this code of practice about?

The Risk Management Code of Practice 2007 clearly defines and explains the five step risk management process that obligation holders are required to perform under the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 (the Act) (PDF, 766 KB) and the Electrical Safety Act 2002 (the ES Act) (PDF, 788 KB) to make sure all hazards in the workplace are eliminated or minimised.

Workplace health and safety obligations

The Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 (PDF, 766 KB) places obligations on certain persons to ensure workplace health and safety. Workplace health and safety is ensured when persons are free from death, injury or illness and the risk of death, injury or illness created by workplaces, relevant workplace areas, work activities or plant or substances for use at a workplace. Ensuring workplace health and safety involves identifying and managing exposure to risks at the workplace.

Obligations of a person who conducts a business or undertaking (the ‘relevant person’)

The Act places obligations on a person who conducts a business or undertaking. The Act refers to a person who conducts a business or undertaking as the ‘relevant person’. The obligations apply whether or not:

• the relevant person conducts the business or undertaking as an employer, self-employed person or otherwise; and
• the business or undertaking is conducted for gain or reward; and
• a person works on a voluntary basis.

‘Relevant persons’ have an obligation to ensure:

• the workplace health and safety of themselves, their workers and any other persons is not affected by the conduct of the relevant person’s business or undertaking.

The term ‘relevant person’ is also used in the Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 1997 (PDF, 1.4 MB).

Where this code of practice provides advice to employers and self-employed persons on managing exposure to risks, other persons who conduct a business or undertaking may also find this advice applicable depending on their circumstances.

Electrical safety obligations

The Electrical Safety Act 2002 (the ES Act) (PDF, 788 KB) places obligations on certain persons to ensure electrical safety. Electrical safety is ensured when a person or property is free from electrical risk. This means that the electrical risk¹ to the person or property is as low as reasonably achievable, having regard to likelihood of harm and likely severity of harm. Ensuring electrical safety involves identifying and managing exposure to risks at the workplace.

Obligations of a person who conducts a business or undertaking (employer or self-employed person)

The Electrical Safety Act 2002 (PDF, 788 KB) places obligations on a person who conducts a business or undertaking. The obligations apply whether or not:

• the person conducts the business or undertaking as an employer, self-employed person or otherwise; and
• the business or undertaking is conducted in a way that is electrically safe; and
• a person works on a voluntary basis.

A person who conducts a business or undertaking has a general obligation to ensure the business or undertaking is conducted in a way that is electrically safe. Additional specific safety obligations apply to:

• electricity entities;
• employers or self-employed persons;
• manufacturers, importers and suppliers of electrical equipment;
• designers, installers and repairers of electrical equipment and electrical installations;
• persons in control of electrical equipment; and
• workers and other persons at a place where electrical equipment is located.

Where this code of practice provides advice to employers and self-employed persons on managing exposure to electrical risks, other persons who conduct a business or undertaking may also find this advice applicable, depending on their circumstances.

How can I meet my obligations?

Under the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 (PDF, 766 KB) and the Electrical Safety Act 2002 (PDF, 788 KB) there are four types of legislative instruments that assist to meet workplace health and safety obligations – regulations, ministerial notices, codes of practice and standards.

If there is a regulation or ministerial notice that prescribes a way of preventing or minimising exposure to a risk, or prohibits exposure to a risk, a person must follow the prescribed way.

If there is a code of practice stating a way of managing exposure to a risk:

1. the stated way must be adopted and followed to manage the exposure to the risk; or
2. a person must adopt and follow another way, that gives the same level of protection against the risk, and take reasonable precautions and exercise proper diligence.

If there is no regulation, ministerial notice or code of practice about a risk, a person discharges the person’s workplace health and safety obligation for exposure to the risk by doing both of the following:

(a) adopting and following any way to discharge the person’s workplace health and safety obligation for exposure to the risk; and
(b) taking reasonable precautions, and exercising proper diligence, to ensure the obligation is discharged.

Note: There may be additional risks in the workplace, which have not been specifically addressed in this code of practice. It is a requirement under the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 (PDF, 766 KB) and the Electrical Safety Act 2002 (PDF, 788 KB) to assess these risks and ensure that control measures are implemented and reviewed to prevent or minimise exposure to these risks.

This code of practice should be read in conjunction with the 3 supplements as well as the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 (PDF, 766 KB) and the Electrical Safety Act 2002 (PDF, 788 KB) and other relevant codes of practice. Where applicable, these codes of practice are referred to in the text.

References to legislation, Australian Standards and other documents in this code of practice are current at the time of printing. It is the responsibility of the user to check whether these documents are current at the time of reading.

¹ In this context, ‘electrical risk’ means the risk to a person of death, shock or injury caused directly by electricity or originating from electricity. It also includes the risk to property of damage caused by a cathodic protection system or loss or damage caused directly by electricity or originating from electricity.

Last updated 22 July 2008

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