In our recent book, Risk Conversations: The Law, Social Psychology and Risk, Dr Rob Long and I discuss the concept of due diligence in the context of risk and health and safety. The discussion, which formed the basis of the book, is also one section of a 22 part video series that explores a wide range of topics in the area of risk.
You can see the due diligence video below.
While due diligence is understood by many people to be a product of WHS legislation and aimed at Company Officers, it is in fact a broad organisational and individual responsibility that applies to all levels of management and existed as a legal principle long before WHS legislation. Every major accident inquiry anywhere in the world for the past 30 years has been critical of the failure of due diligence, and the failure of due diligence is also evident in every health and safety prosecution in Australia.