Reasonably Practicable

In the Work Health and Safety Act 2012 (SA), ‘Reasonably Practicable’, in relation to a duty to ensure health and safety, means:

• That which is or was reasonably able to be done in relation to ensuring health and safety

  • Accordingly, this must take into account and weigh up all relevant matters including:
    • the likelihood of the hazard or the risk concerned occurring; and
    • what degree of harm that might result from the hazard or the risk; and
    • what the person concerned knows, or ought reasonably to know, about:
      • the hazard or the risk; and
      • ways of eliminating or minimising the risk; and
    • the availability and suitability of ways to eliminate or minimise the risk; and
    • then also after assessing the extent of the risk and the available ways of eliminating or minimising the risk, the cost associated with available ways of eliminating or minimising the risk, including whether the cost is grossly disproportionate to the risk.