Western Australian Consolidated Regulations

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH REGULATIONS 1996 - REG 3.19

3.19 .         Seating

        (1)         If an employee’s work is done from a sitting position or is of a kind that can be satisfactorily done from a sitting position then the employer must provide and maintain seating —

            (a)         that is designed having regard to the nature of the work to be performed and the characteristics of the work station; and

            (b)         that is strongly constructed, stable, comfortable and of suitable size and height for the employee; and

            (c)         if practicable, has a backrest or is otherwise designed to provide back support.

        (2)         If an employee’s work is done from a standing position and the employee’s work allows the employee to sit from time to time then, to the extent practicable, the employer must provide and maintain seating so that the employee may sit down for the periods when the employee is not working.

        Penalty applicable to subregulations (1) and (2):

            (a)         in the case of an individual —

                  (i)         for a first offence, $10 000; and

                  (ii)         for a subsequent offence, $12 500;

                or

            (b)         in the case of a body corporate —

                  (i)         for a first offence, $20 000; and

                  (ii)         for a subsequent offence, $25 000.

        [Regulation 3.19 amended in Gazette 14 Dec 2004 p. 6013.]