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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Key work health and safety statistics

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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.

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

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

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This resource outlines work activities that can produce silica dust.

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

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

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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.  

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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

This Decision regulation impact statement (Decision RIS) provides an impact analysis of the regulatory and non-regulatory options to manage the risks of respirable crystalline silica at work. 

/doc/decision-regulation-impact-statement-managing-risks-respirable-crystalline-silica-work

This report investigates whether a short term exposure limit (STEL) should be implemented to complement the workplace exposure standard (WES) of 0.05 mg/m3 for respirable crystalline silica.

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This report investigates the challenges of measuring airborne concentrations of respirable crystalline silica in Australian workplaces at and below 0.02 mg/m3.

/doc/report-measuring-respirable-crystalline-silica

This page provides checklists, information sheets and case studies on occupational respiratory diseases for the manufacturing industry.

/safety-topic/hazards/occupational-lung-diseases/manufacturing-resources

Health monitoring is provided by a person conducting a business or undertaking (

/safety-topic/managing-health-and-safety/health-monitoring/resources

This guide helps doctors monitor the health of workers exposed to isocyanates.  

Isocyanates are a group of highly reactive, organic compounds of the formula R-N=C=O.  

/doc/health-monitoring-isocyanates

Sam Hamilton, Director Occupational Diseases and Hygiene Policy presenting to the Australasian University Safety Association.

Occupational lung diseases are work-related lung conditions of the respiratory system. 

/resources-and-publications/video-and-audio/overview-swa-and-occupational-lung-diseases-presentation

Sam Hamilton, Director Occupational Diseases and Hygiene Policy presenting to the Australasian University Safety Association.

Video Summary:

/resources-and-publications/video-and-audio/silicosis-workplace-exposure-standard-and-model-code-practice-engineered-stone-presentation

Sam Hamilton, Director Occupational Diseases and Hygiene Policy presenting to the Australasian University Safety Association.

 

 

/resources-and-publications/video-and-audio/clean-air-clear-lungs-campaign-presentation

An information sheet about coal workers’ pneumoconiosis and mine dust diseases including the symptoms, causes and risk factors as well as information for persons conducting a business on undertaking on how to manage these risks at work.

/national-safe-work-month-2021-infosheet-coal-mine-dust

This policy statement outlines labelling requirements for agricultural and veterinary (AgVet) chemicals under the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulations.  

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This poster shows the labelling information required for hazardous chemicals in each hazard class in the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). You must label hazardous chemic

/doc/classification-and-labelling-workplace-hazardous-chemicals-poster

An information sheet about Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease including the symptoms, causes and risk factors as well as information for persons conducting a business on undertaking on how to manage these risks at work.

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An information sheet about asbestosis and mesothelioma including the symptoms, causes and risk factors as well as information for persons conducting a business on undertaking on how to manage these risks at work.

/national-safe-work-month-2021-infosheet-asbestosis

An information sheet about silicosis including the symptoms, causes and risk factors as well as information for persons conducting a business on undertaking on how to manage these risks at work.

/infosheet-silicosis

Use this guide if you manage risks to workers exposed to diesel exhaust at the workplace, including: 

  • drive-in booth operators 

  • miners 

  • construction workers 

  • oil and gas workers 

/doc/guidance-managing-risks-diesel-exhaust-information-sheet
/resources-and-publications/video-and-audio/how-identify-risks-occupational-lung-diseases-work
/resources-and-publications/video-and-audio/how-manage-risks-occupational-lung-diseases-work
/resources-and-publications/video-and-audio/occupational-lung-diseases-manufacturing-industry

This code contains information about transporting Class 1 explosives by road and rail in Australia. 

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This guide helps manufacturers and importers correctly classify hazard

/doc/classifying-hazardous-chemicals-national-guide

The manufacturing industry has a high number of work-related deaths, injuries and illnesses. As a person conducting a business or undertaking, you have a duty to keep workers and workplaces safe from the risks associated with manufacturing.  

/safety-topic/industry-and-business/manufacturing
An information sheet on how to use safety data sheets to identify, understand and manage the risks of hazardous chemicals in your workplace, which includes hazards that may put your workers at risk of developing an occupational lung disease. Available in .docx and .PDF formats.
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An information sheet for Health and Safety Representatives on how to consult with workers and identify hazards to protect workers’ health and safety and prevent occupational lung diseases. Available in .docx and .PDF formats. 

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An information sheet for persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) on how to consult with their workers on things that affect their health and safety – including occupational lung diseases. Available in .docx and .PDF formats.
/doc/talking-your-workers-occupational-lung-diseases-information-sheet
A useful checklist for all workplaces and industries which outlines the steps and process for reviewing your control measures when work processes change, or a new hazard is identified. Available in .docx and .PDF formats.
/doc/monitor-and-review-checklist
A case study for all workplaces and industries to illustrate an example of reviewing your control measures when work processes change, or a new hazard is identified. Available in .docx and .PDF formats.
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This fact sheet provides a brief overview of what you and your employer can do in your work environment, as well as what you can do yourself, to protect you and your mates’ lung health at work.
/doc/lung-foundation-australia-healthy-lungs-work
A collection of social media tiles for the manufacturing industry featuring the Clean Air. Clear Lungs. campaign images.
/resources-and-publications/campaign-kit/manufacturing-social-media-tiles
A printable poster with an image of a manufacturing worker in .PDF format.
/resources-and-publications/case-studies/manufacturing-poster
An infographic which details the main types of occupational lung diseases to provide a quick overview of these conditions.
/doc/what-are-occupational-lung-diseases
A pre-written email template for manufacturing workers using the Clean Air. Clear Lungs. branding which you can use to promote the campaign to your stakeholders and networks.
/resources-and-publications/campaign-kit/manufacturing-email-template-editable
An email banner using the Clean Air. Clear Lungs. branding for manufacturing workers Available in .PNG format
/resources-and-publications/campaign-kit/manufacturing-email-banner
Information in Vietnamese about keeping your lungs healthy at work. Available in .PDF format
/doc/lung-foundation-australia-healthy-lungs-work-vietnamese
Information in Chinese (Simplified) about keeping your lungs healthy at work.
/doc/lung-foundation-australia-healthy-lungs-work-simplified-chinese
Information in Chinese (Traditional) about occupational lung diseases in the manufacturing industry.
/doc/manufacturing-breathing-hazardous-air-work-chinese-traditional
Information in Chinese (Simplified) about occupational lung diseases in the manufacturing industry.
/doc/manufacturing-breathing-hazardous-air-work-chinese-simplified
Information in Hindi about occupational lung diseases in the manufacturing industry.
/doc/manufacturing-breathing-hazardous-air-work-hindi
Information in Italian about occupational lung diseases in the manufacturing industry.
/doc/manufacturing-breathing-hazardous-air-work-italian
Information in Tagalog about occupational lung diseases in the manufacturing industry.
/doc/manufacturing-breathing-hazardous-air-work-tagalog
Information in Vietnamese about occupational lung diseases in the manufacturing industry.
/doc/manufacturing-breathing-hazardous-air-work-vietnamese