Reasonably Practicable

What is reasonably practicable?

Section 18 WHS Act 2011 What is reasonably practicable in ensuring health and safety

In this Act, reasonably practicable, in relation to a duty to ensure health and safety, means that which is, or was at a particular time, reasonably able to be done in relation to ensuring health and safety, taking into account and weighing up all relevant matters including:

1. the likelihood of the hazard or the risk concerned occurring; and
2. the degree of harm that might result from the hazard or the risk; and
3. what the person concerned knows, or ought reasonably to know, about:
   • the hazard or the risk; and
   • ways of eliminating or minimising the risk; and
4. the availability and suitability of ways to eliminate or minimise the risk; and
5. after assessing the extent of the risk and the available ways of eliminating or minimising the risk, the cost associated with available ways of eliminating or minimising the risk, including whether the cost is grossly disproportionate to the risk.