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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