Volunteers

Both volunteers and volunteer organisations have obligations under the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 (PDF, 766 KB).

For example:

A surf lifesaving club provides a service to the community. The surf lifesavers are usually volunteers who perform work activities for the club. The club has an obligation to the surf lifesavers to ensure the workplace health and safety of all who perform work for the club – whether they are paid or not.

Volunteers have the same workplace health and safety obligations as a worker and must:

comply with instructions given for workplace health and safety by the employer
not wilfully or recklessly interfere or misuse anything provided for workplace health and safety
not place anyone else at risk of injury or illness at the workplace
not wilfully injure themsleves

For more details on your workplace health and safety obligations, refer to part 3 of the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995.

Last updated December 19, 2005

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