Did you know that an individual contractor or a self-employed person can be both a worker who is owed work health and safety (WHS) duties, and a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) who may owe WHS duties to themselves and to other workers?
A contractual chain refers to the situation where, in relation to the same project or work matter, there are multiple contractors and subcontractors. A contractual chain is common in industries such as building and construction, road transport and events management.
The fact sheet provides an understanding of what a PCBU is and explains that an individual contractor can be both a PCBU and a worker. Understanding this will help PCBUs within a contractual chain uphold their WHS obligations and consult, cooperate and coordinate activities with all other PCBUs with whom they share a duty.