Model WHS Laws

We created the model WHS laws in 2011.

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WHS laws in your jurisdiction

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Data and Research

We collect, analyse and publish data and information on work health and safety and workers' compensation.

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Resources and Publications

We publish a wide range of resources covering many work health and safety topics.

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Read our Codes of Practice

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This resource outlines what additional actions you must take if your work involving silica dust is assessed as high risk.

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This resource lists what to include in a silica risk control plan.

/doc/css-guide-resources-completing-silica-risk-control-plan

This resource outlines how to manage the risks from silica dust by using the hierarchy of control measures.

/doc/css-guide-resources-controlling-risks-silica-dust

This resource covers what you must consider to assess the risks of exposure to silica dust at your workplace.

/doc/css-guide-resources-identifying-and-assessing-risks-silica-dust-workplace

This resource outlines work activities that can produce silica dust.

/doc/css-guide-resources-how-silica-dust-produced

This resource defines crystalline silica and respirable crystalline silica or silica dust, including how the dust is created and silica related diseases.

/doc/css-guide-resources-what-silica-dust

Flowchart for identifying and managing risks from exposure to crystalline silica.

/doc/css-guide-resources-processing-crystalline-silica-substance-risk-management-process

This resource provides a summary of key changes to the regulation of crystalline silica substances in the model WHS Regulations from 1 September 2024, and how these changes affect workplaces.  

/doc/css-guide-resources-changes-regulation-work-crystalline-silica-substances

A person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) who carries out high risk construction work has additional WHS duties. These include requirements to prepare, keep, comply with and review a safe work method statement (SWMS). 

A SWMS is a document that sets out: 

/doc/interactive-swms-tool

In May 2023, Safe Work Australia commissioned the University of Adelaide to undertake a literature review and gap analysis of the scientific evidence to inform recommendations related to the three options for prohibition on the use of engineered stone in Australia.

/doc/prohibition-engineered-stone-literature-review-and-gap-analysis
  • PPE is anything used or worn by a worker to assist to reduce health and safety risks.

PPE is anythin

/duties-tool/construction/duties-information/personal-protective-equipment-ppe-workers
  • All workplaces, including workplaces in the construction industry, must have access to first aid.

 

/duties-tool/construction/duties-information/first-aid-workers
  • Under the model WHS laws, all workplaces must have an emergency plan in place. This includes workplaces where construction work is being undertaken.

/duties-tool/construction/duties-information/emergency-plans-and-procedures-workers
  • As a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU), you must notify your WHS regulator when serious injuries, illnesses and dangerous incidents happen at work.

/duties-tool/construction/duties-information/incident-reporting-workers
/duties-tool/construction/workers-duties

Supporting information:

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  • Working in heat can be hazardous.

/duties-tool/construction/hazards-information/working-outdoors/working-heat
  • Many people working in construction often have jobs that require them to work outside.

 

/duties-tool/construction/hazards-information/working-outdoors
  • Working at heights is a high risk activity, and a leading cause of death and serious injury in Australia. 

In the construct

/duties-tool/construction/hazards-information/working-heights
  • Working around traffic, including plant and vehicles, can be dangerous. Construction work is often undertaken around traffic.

/duties-tool/construction/hazards-information/traffic-management
  • You don’t have to be high off the ground for a fall to cause significant injury or death.

/duties-tool/construction/hazards-information/slips-trips-and-falls
  • Construction work commonly includes scaffolds. They provide a safe, stable work platform when working at heights. 

 

/duties-tool/construction/hazards-information/scaffolding
  • Working in construction can involve exposure to psychosocial hazards and risks to mental health.

Psychosocial hazards are anything that

/duties-tool/construction/hazards-information/psychosocial-hazards-and-mental-health
  • Elevating work platforms (EWPs) are mobile platforms that lift or lower people and equipment from a base support.

There are different types and can include:

/duties-tool/construction/hazards-information/plant-and-machinery/elevating-work-platforms
  • Workers in the construction industry pump concrete for work activities such as manufacturing pre-cast and tilt-up concrete panels, concrete formwork, slab construction and concrete pa

/duties-tool/construction/hazards-information/plant-and-machinery/concrete-pumping
  • As a PCBU, you have a responsibility to ensure machinery in the workplace are safe to use and operate.

/duties-tool/construction/hazards-information/plant-and-machinery/cranes
  • Workers must have a licence before undertaking high risk work.

/duties-tool/construction/hazards-information/plant-and-machinery/high-risk-work-licences
  • Plant includes machinery, equipment, appliances, containers, implements and tools and any components or anything fitted or connected to those things.

Plant in

/duties-tool/construction/hazards-information/plant-and-machinery/plant-supply-design-and-registration
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/duties-tool/construction/duties-information
  • I would like an overview of the WHS hazards in construction.

Construction is one of the most dangerous industries to work in, because of its combination of hazar

/duties-tool/construction/workers/hazards
  • I would like to know about general duties that apply to all industries under the model WHS laws.

/duties-tool/construction/workers/general-duties
  • I would like to know how to manage the risks.

Manage the risks

In construction, risks may arise fro

/duties-tool/construction/workers/manage-risks
  • I would like to know how to manage the risks.

Manage the risks

In construction, risks may arise fro

/duties-tool/construction/pcbu/manage-risks
  • I would like an overview of the WHS hazards in construction.

Construction is one of the most dangerous industries to work in, because of its combination of hazar

/duties-tool/construction/pcbu/hazards
  • I would like to know about general duties that apply to all industries under the model WHS laws.

/duties-tool/construction/pcbu/general-duties
  • I would like to know how to manage the risks.

Manage the risks

In construction, risks may arise fro

/duties-tool/construction/pcbu-and-worker/manage-risks
  • I would like an overview of the WHS hazards in construction.

Construction is one of the most dangerous industries to work in, because of its combination of hazar

/duties-tool/construction/pcbu-and-worker/hazards
  • I would like to know about general duties that apply to all industries under the model WHS laws.

/duties-tool/construction/pcbu-and-worker/general-duties
  • I am a PCBU and worker. I would like to know:

/duties-tool/construction/pcbu-and-worker
  • I am a worker. I would like to know:

/duties-tool/construction/workers
  • I am a PCBU. I would like to know:

/duties-tool/construction/pcbus
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  • Plant includes machinery, equipment, appliances and tools used at work.


 

/duties-tool/construction/hazards-information/plant-and-machinery
  • Noise at work can damage your hearing if it’s too loud.

/duties-tool/construction/hazards-information/noise
  • High risk construction work:

 

/duties-tool/construction/hazards-information/high-risk-construction-work-requiring-swms
  • Construction work activities often involve hazardous manual tasks that can stress the body and lead to musculoskeletal disorders (MSD), a general term for many different kinds of in

/duties-tool/construction/hazards-information/hazardous-manual-tasks-such-lifting-pushing-and-pulling
  • Hazardous chemicals are commonly used or found in the construction industry. This can include paints, solvents, glues, fuels, asbestos and dust.

/duties-tool/construction/hazards-information/hazardous-chemicals
  • People in the construction industry can often work long hours, doing physically demanding work, which may lead to mental and/or physical exhaust

/duties-tool/construction/hazards-information/fatigue

A tunnel is an underground passage or opening that is: 

/duties-tool/construction/hazards-information/excavation-work/tunnelling