Reasonably practicable

Section 18 of the WHS Act defines the standard that is to be met and describes the process for determining this.

‘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 to ensure health and safety, taking into account and weighing up all relevant matters including: a. the likelihood of the hazard or the risk concerned occurring; and b. the degree of harm that might result from the hazard or the risk; and c. what the person concerned knows, or ought reasonably to know, about the hazard or risk, and about the ways of eliminating or minimising the risk; and d. the availability and suitability of ways to eliminate or minimise the risk; and e. 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.

For more information please read the Guide [1] provided by Safe Work Australia