WHS and HVNL Consignee Responsibilities

WHS Consignee

Model WHS Act – s19 (Primary Duty of Care)

Requires businesses to ensure that workplace practices, including loading/unloading, do not expose workers or visitors to harm.

Model WHS Act – s23 (Duties of PCBUs in a Supply Chain)

A PCBU (Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking) that receives goods must ensure its activities do not cause or contribute to WHS risks.

Model WHS Regulations – Part 4.3 (Hazardous Manual Tasks)

If a consignee’s staff unload or move heavy goods, the consignee must ensure safe procedures to prevent injuries.

HVNL Consignee

HVNL Section – s5 (Definitions)

Defines a consignee as the person to whom goods are delivered.

HVNL Section – s26C (Primary Duty)

Requires consignees to ensure their actions do not contribute to HVNL breaches.

HVNL Section – s26G (No Requests Leading to Breaches)

A consignee must not request, contract, or direct a transport task in a way that could cause a breach.

HVNL Section – s26H (Duty of Those with Influence/Control)

If a consignee has influence over transport operations, they must take reasonable steps to ensure compliance.

HVNL Sections – s26J & s26K (Fatigue Management Duties)

Consignees must not set delivery deadlines that could force drivers to exceed fatigue limits.

HVNL Section – Part 4.2 (Mass, Dimension, and Loading)

If a consignee accepts an overloaded vehicle, they may be held liable.

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