What is PCBU?

Definition of a PCBU: a person conducting a business or undertaking

A ‘person conducting a business or undertaking’ (PCBU) is a broad term used throughout work health and safety legislation to describe all forms of modern working arrangements, which we commonly refer to as businesses.

A person who performs work for a PCBU is considered a worker.

Types of PCBUs can include:

• public and private companies
• partners in a partnership
• sole traders and self-employed people
• government departments and authorities
• associations if they have one or more employees
• local government councils
• independent schools
• cooperatives
• universities.

As a PCBU you must meet your obligations, so far as is reasonably practicable, to ensure the health and safety of workers and other people like visitors and volunteers.

A PCBU has further obligations if involved in specific kinds of activities like:

• the management and control of workplaces, or fixtures, fittings or plant at workplaces
• the design, manufacture, import or supply of plants, substances or structures
• installation, construction or commissioning of plants or structures.

PCBUs must also have meaningful and open consultations about work health and safety with workers, health and safety representatives, and health and safety committees.

As a PCBU you must also consult, cooperate and coordinate with other PCBUs if you share duties.

As a PCBU you have a primary duty of care to ensure workers and others are not exposed to a risk to their health and safety.

You owe this duty of care when as a PCBU you:

• direct or influence work carried out by a worker
• engage or cause to engage a worker to carry out work (including through sub-contracting)
• have management or control of a workplace.

Source: SafeWorkNSW

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Disclaimer

This publication may contain information about the regulation of workers’ compensation in NSW. It may include some of your obligations under some of the legislation that the State Insurance Regulatory Authority administers. To ensure you comply with your legal obligations you must refer to the appropriate legislation. Information on the latest laws can be checked by visiting the NSW legislation website legislation.nsw.gov.au. This publication does not represent a comprehensive statement of the law as it applies to particular problems or individuals or as a substitute for legal advice. You should seek independent legal advice if you need assistance in the application of the law to your situation. This material may be displayed, printed and reproduced without amendment for personal, in-house or non-commercial use.