This example application is part of the National Exemption Framework document package and provides an indication of the type of document which must be completed prior to lodgement of an exemption application to your jurisdictional work health and safety regulator.

In May 2021, Ministers responsible for work health and safety (WHS) from the Commonwealth and each state and territory considered the response to the Review of the model WHS laws in the Decision Regulatory Impact Statement.

This webinar explores work health and safety obligations and compliance as it applies to small business. The panellists provide insights into how businesses can establish work health and safety management plans to ensure they meet their duty of care now and into the future.

This information sheet explains the difference between model codes of practice and other types of guidance material and outlines the development processes. 

Model Codes of Practice are practical guides to achieving the standards of health and safety required under the model WHS Act and Regulations.

This sample form may help you manage cash-in-transit security risks at your workplace. 

This form is part of a series which includes: 

Each jurisdiction in Australia has its own system of explosives regulation. In 2018, WHS ministers provided in-principle agreement to consider implementing nationally consistent explosives reforms in their jurisdictions.  

If you’re a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU), you have a duty to protect workers’ health and safety. This includes managing the risks associated with remote and isolated work.  

There are ways to minimise risks if quad bikes are used in your workplace. You should also consider whether a different vehicle may be safer. 

As the PCBU, you must protect workers from noise-related injuries. There are some things you must check and put in place to meet your duties. 

Everyone has a role in managing psychosocial risks. These duties are set out in the model WHS Act and model WHS Regulations.

If your work involves lead, as the PCBU, you may have additional duties under the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulations. 

Everyone in the workplace has a role in managing the risk of fatigue at work. 

Everyone in the workplace has work health and safety (WHS) duties under the model WHS Act. People who work with cranes have some specific responsibilities. 

If you’re a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU), you must look after your workers’ health and safety. 

If you have volunteers in your organisation, they are part of your workforce.

Persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers when they are working from home. WHS duties apply even if workers request to work from home or they are working from home due to external factors (e.g.

Volunteer organisations and their volunteers have duties under work health and safety (WHS) laws. Find out what they are and get the guides for more information. 

Designing a product using safe design practices saves lives. It also reduces costs to businesses and the community. Find out how to use the methods and 5 principles of safe design. 

It is a legal requirement for every workplace to have an emergency plan. Find out what the duties are for emergency plans, including for shared workplaces. 

An emergency plan contains instructions of what to do in an emergency at your workplace. Your emergency plan must be tailored to your workplace. Find out how to draft an emergency plan and what to consider when making one.

Regulators monitor and enforce WHS laws in the Commonwealth, states and territories.

If a regulator or their inspector attends your workplace and asks you to produce documents, information or answer questions, you must comply.

Regulators monitor and enforce WHS laws in your state, territory or the Commonwealth, depending on where you work.

Their inspectors visit workplaces to:

WHS regulators promote and encourage WHS compliance through a range of methods. They can also direct compliance by compelling a duty holder to remedy any identified breach or sanction a contravening duty holder.

A person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) has a primary duty to ensure the health and safety of workers while they are at work in the business or undertaking and others who may be affected by the carrying out of work, such as visitors. 

How regulators use the policy 

Regulators administer WHS laws within their jurisdiction including monitoring and enforcing compliance with WHS laws. 

Safe Work Australia developed a single set of work health and safety (WHS laws) for jurisdictions to implement across Australia. These are known as ‘model’ laws. Each state and territory, and the Commonwealth, has its own WHS laws, including an Act, regulations and codes of practice.

Background 

1. In February 2008, the then Workplace Relations Ministers Council agreed that model legislation was the most effective way to achieve harmonisation of Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws.&n

Ministers responsible for WHS asked Safe Work Australia to review the content and operation of the model WHS laws in 2018. Safe Work Australia appointed independent reviewer, Ms Marie Boland, to conduct the Review.

You have duties under WHS laws to keep people in the workplace safe if you’re: 

The model WHS laws include: 

Supply chains and networks are the web of commercial or business relationships designed to provide goods or services. An example of a supply chain is moving agricultural produce from the farm to the supermarket. 

Work health and safety (WHS) laws apply when workers work from home just as they do in traditional workplaces such as offices.

Workplace violence and aggression is when a person is abused, threatened or assaulted at the workplace or while they’re working. 

Working alone or remotely can increase the health and safety risks of any job. Workers may be isolated from support and assistance because of where or when they’re working, or the nature of their work they are doing. 

Most jobs involve some psychosocial hazards. These are the hazards that can harm workers’ mental health. 

Fatigue is a state of physical, mental or emotional impairment. Fatigue can develop over the short or long term, can prevent people from functioning safely and can have health effects on workers. 

Excavation is dangerous work. Collapses can happen quickly, making it hard for workers and others to escape.  

Alcohol and drugs can affect a person’s ability to work safely. This includes medicines that are prescribed or over-the-counter. 

As a person conducting a business or undertaking, you have a duty to keep workers and your workplace safe. 

Demolition work is dangerous.  

Signs and records tell your workers and visitors about the hazardous chemic

Workplace bullying is repeated, unreasonable behaviour directed at a worker (or group of workers).  

Safe Work Australia is a national policy body responsible for the development and evaluation of the model WHS laws (the model laws), which are comprised of:

Safe Work Australia developed a single set of work health and safety laws (WHS laws) for jurisdictions