Domestic premises should be excluded from the definition of a workplace for the purposes of the duty of care of the person with management or control unless specifically included by regulation.
Note: ‘Workplace’ will be defined in our second report.
Persons undertaking activities in relation to plant, substances and structures
A fundamental principle in occupational health and safety is to eliminate hazards and risks, or where elimination is not reasonably practicable, to minimise them. This principle recognises that the earlier the intervention, the more effective it is to eliminate or reduce the hazards and risks.
In some jurisdictions this concept (eliminating or reducing hazards at source) is reflected within an object of the Act.190 In all jurisdictions, this is reflected in duties of care placed on those undertaking activities, such as design, that relate to the nature and condition of things used at work (e.g. plant).
This principle is not, however, restricted in its operation to the design stage. It might involve intervening and placing duties on all those involved in any aspect of design, manufacture, import and supply of plant (or components), structures and substances intended for use in the course of work.
