Workplace Safety and Health Act · 2024 Revised Edition · Part · General Duties of Persons at Workplaces
15. Duties of persons at work
Official textFrom Attorney General's Chambers, unchanged
It shall be the duty of every person at work —
at work
“at work” means — (a) in relation to an employee, all times when the employee is performing work in connection with any trade, business, profession or undertaking carried on by his employer, wherever that work is carried out; (b) in relation to a self-employed person, all times when that person is performing work as a self-employed person, wherever the work is carried out; and (c) in any other case, all times when the person is performing work at the direction of the person who engaged him, wherever the work is carried out;
to use in such manner so as to provide the protection intended, any suitable appliance, protective clothing, convenience, equipment or other means or thing provided (whether for his use alone or for use by him in common with others) for securing his safety, health and welfare while at work;
to co-operate with his employer or principal and any other person to such extent as will enable his employer, principal or the other person, as the case may be, to comply with this Act.
No person at work shall wilfully or recklessly interfere with or misuse any appliance, protective clothing, convenience, equipment or other means or thing provided (whether for his use alone or for use by him in common with others) pursuant to any requirement under this Act for securing the safety, health or welfare of persons (including himself) at work.
Any person at work who, without reasonable cause, wilfully or recklessly does any act which endangers the safety or health of himself or others is guilty of an offence.
Any person who contravenes subsection (1) or (2) is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000 and, in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding $2,000.
Terms defined in s 4
at work
Defined · s 4“at work” means — (a) in relation to an employee, all times when the employee is performing work in connection with any trade, business, profession or undertaking carried on by his employer, wherever that work is carried out; (b) in relation to a self-employed person, all times when that person is performing work as a self-employed person, wherever the work is carried out; and (c) in any other case, all times when the person is performing work at the direction of the person who engaged him, wherever the work is carried out;
principal
Defined · s 4“principal” means a person who, in connection with any trade, business, profession or undertaking carried on by him, engages any other person otherwise than under a contract of service — (a) to supply any labour for gain or reward; or (b) to do any work for gain or reward;
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