The obligation
A duty to ensure health and safety requires risks to be eliminated so far as is reasonably practicable, or if that is not possible, minimised so far as is reasonably practicable.
Under section 18, reasonably practicable means what is, or was at a particular time, reasonably able to be done to ensure health and safety, weighing up all relevant matters. Those matters include the likelihood of the hazard or risk, the degree of harm, what the person knows or ought reasonably to know about the hazard and ways to control it, and the availability and suitability of those ways.
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- What
- A duty to ensure health and safety requires risks to be eliminated so far as is reasonably practicable, or if that is not possible, minimised so far as is reasonably practicable.
- Source
- legislation.nsw.gov.au
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Frequently asked questions
Which WHS law does this come from?
Meaning of reasonably practicable and management of risks is a WHS requirement set out in Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW). The relevant provision is WHS Act 2011 NSW > Part 2 > Division 1.
What does this WHS obligation require?
Meaning of reasonably practicable and management of risks is a WHS obligation under Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW). In short, A duty to ensure health and safety requires risks to be eliminated so far as is reasonably practicable, or if that is not possible, minimised so far as is reasonably practicable.
What changed recently?
Meaning of reasonably practicable and management of risks was last updated on 19 October 2026.