Model WHS Laws

We created the model WHS laws in 2011.

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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 information sheet provides information about managing the risks of operating powered forklifts in the workplace. 

/resources-and-publications/guidance-materials/forklifts-information-sheet

This guidance provides information on the potential hazards of plant used in forest

/resources-and-publications/guidance-materials/plant-equipment-guide

This information sheet provides information about managing the risks of trees and vegetation near overhead electric lines. 

This document is part of a series which includes specific guidance on: : 

/resources-and-publications/guidance-materials/tree-and-vegetation-management-near-overhead-electric-lines-information-sheet

This information sheet provides information about managing risks with scaffolding near overhead electric lines. 

It is supported by the specific guidance on: 

  • common types of scaffolds and scaffolding 

/resources-and-publications/guidance-materials/scaffolding-work-near-overhead-electric-lines-information-sheet
/resources-and-publications/guidance-materials/information-sheet-overhead-underground-electric-lines

This information sheet provides information on the safe design, manufacture, import and supply of plant. 

This document is part of a series which includes: 

/resources-and-publications/guidance-materials/plant-designers-manufacturers-importers-and-suppliers-information-sheet

This information sheet is about managing the risks of vehicle loading cranes in the workplace. 

his document is part of a series which includes: 

/doc/vehicle-loading-cranes-information-sheet

This information sheet provides information about managing the risks of using powered mobile plant as a crane. 

Using other powered mobile plant as a crane information sheet 

This document is part of a series which includes:  

/doc/using-powered-mobile-plant-crane-information-sheet

This guide provides information on  managing the risks of quick hitches for earthmoving machinery. 

Supporting Information

his guide is part of a series including: 

/doc/quick-hitches-earthmoving-machinery-information-sheet

This information sheet provides guidance on managing the risks of crane-lifted work boxes. 
It is supported by the general guide to cranes and specific guidance on:  

  • mobile cranes 

  • tower cranes 

/doc/crane-lifted-work-boxes-information-sheet

This information sheet provides advice on what is ‘work of a minor nature’ when testing, maintaining or repairing a building or structure. 

/resources-and-publications/guidance-materials/construction-work-work-minor-nature-information-sheet

This information sheet provides information about what should be included in workplace specific induction training and task specific training for construction work. 

 

/resources-and-publications/guidance-materials/workplace-induction-construction-workplaces-information-sheet

This information sheet helps you prepare a safe work method statement (SWMS) for high risk construction work. 

/resources-and-publications/guidance-materials/safe-work-method-statement-high-risk-construction-work-information-sheet

This guide provides information on how the model work health and safety (WHS) laws apply to volunteers

This information sheet provides information on managing risks associated with steel erection work including:  

  • who has responsibilities at the design and planning stage? 

/resources-and-publications/guidance-materials/construction-work-steel-erection-information-sheet

This information sheet provides information on managing the risks associated with working on roofs including: 

  • working at height 

  • roof access 

  • fragile roofs 

/resources-and-publications/guidance-materials/safe-work-roofs-information-sheet

This information sheet provides information about managing the risks of using quad bikes in rural workplaces, including: 

  • determining farm vehicle needs  

/resources-and-publications/guidance-materials/quad-bikes-rural-workplaces-information-sheet

This guidance material provides information on managing risks with split rims and compressed air in the workplace: 

Use the split rims general guide if your workplace:  

  • fits split rim tyres, or  

/resources-and-publications/guidance-materials/split-rims-and-compressed-air-guidance-material

This content is currently under review as part of a broader review of Crane licensing.

/doc/high-risk-work-licensing-information-sheets

This content is currently under review as part of a broader review of Crane licensing.

/doc/bridge-and-gantry-crane-information-sheet

These guides provide information on managing the risks of working with cranes: 

/doc/cranes-guidance-material

This handbook provides guidance on good work design. It includes the

/doc/principles-good-work-design

This information sheet provides information about managing the risks of formwork and falsework.

This document is part of a series which includes: 

/resources-and-publications/guidance-materials/formwork-and-falsework-information-sheet

This guidance material provides information on managing the risks associated with scaffolds and scaffolding work at a workplace.  

/resources-and-publications/guidance-materials/scaffolds-and-scaffolding-work-guidance-material

These guide provide information on managing the risks of working with industrial lift trucks.  

/resources-and-publications/guidance-materials/industrial-lift-trucks-guidance-material

Use this guide to manage the risks of working near overhead and underground electric lines. 

There is also specific information on:

/resources-and-publications/guidance-materials/general-guide-working-vicinity-overhead-and-underground-electric-lines

The following guidance material provides information on the safe design, manufacture, import and supply of plant. 

/doc/guidance-material-safe-design-manufacture-import-and-supply-plant

This guide may help workers determine if workplace bullying is occurring and how the matter may be resolved. It provides information for workers who believe they may be experiencing or witnessing workplace bullying and those who have had a bullying report made against them.

/doc/dealing-workplace-bullying-workers-guide

This guide provides practical guidance for workers on how to manage fatigue to ensure it does not contribute to health and safety risks in the workplace.

/doc/fatigue-management-workers-guide

This guide helps doctors monitor the health of workers exposed to 4,4'-Methylene Bis (2Chloroaniline) [MOCA].  

/resources-and-publications/guidance-materials/health-monitoring-44-methylene-bis-2chloroaniline-moca

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

/resources-and-publications/guidance-materials/health-monitoring-vinyl-chloride

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

/resources-and-publications/guidance-materials/health-monitoring-thallium

This guide helps doctors monitor the health of workers exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).  

/resources-and-publications/guidance-materials/health-monitoring-polycyclic-aromatic-hydrocarbons

This guide helps doctors monitor the health of workers exposed to pentachlorophenol (PCP).  

Pure pentachlorophenol (CAS 87-86-5) is a colourless or white, needle-like crystal. 

/resources-and-publications/guidance-materials/health-monitoring-pentachlorophenol

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

/doc/health-monitoring-mercury-inorganic

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

/resources-and-publications/guidance-materials/health-monitoring-lead-inorganic
The guide provides registered medical practitioners with practical guidance on requirements under the model work health and safety laws for health monitoring of workers exposed to crystalline silica.
/doc/health-monitoring-crystalline-silica

This guide helps doctors monitor the health of workers exposed to creosote 

Creosote (CAS 8001-58-9; 8021-39-4; 8007-45-2) is the name for products that are mixtures of many chemicals. 

/resources-and-publications/guidance-materials/health-monitoring-creosote

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

Chromium (CAS 7440-47-3) is a steel-grey metal that exists as: 

  • a free metal 

/resources-and-publications/guidance-materials/health-monitoring-chromium

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

/doc/health-monitoring-cadmium

The guide helps doctors to monitor the health of workers exposed to benzene.  

/resources-and-publications/guidance-materials/health-monitoring-benzene

The guide helps doctors to monitor the health of workers exposed to asbestos.

Examples of work with asbestos include:

/doc/health-monitoring-asbestos

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

/resources-and-publications/guidance-materials/health-monitoring-arsenic

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

Acrylonitrile (CAS 107-13-1) is a clear, colourless, highly flammable liquid with a mild, bad odour. You may know it as vinyl cyanide. 

/resources-and-publications/guidance-materials/health-monitoring-acrylonitrile
Practical guidance to registered medical practitioners about requirements under the work health and safety (WHS) laws for health monitoring.
/resources-and-publications/guidance-materials/health-monitoring-registered-medical-practitioners-guide

A person who conducts a business and undertaking must notify their WHS regulator of certain serious incidents at work, referred to as ‘notifiable incidents’. This is a mandatory requirement under WHS laws.  

/doc/incident-notification-information-sheet
This guidance note assists duty holders comply with the requirements for placards and manifests under the Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulations.
/resources-and-publications/guidance-materials/placard-and-manifest-requirements-under-work-health-and-safety-regulations

This guide is for major hazard facility (MHF) operators on&

/doc/guide-major-hazard-facilities-safety-assessment

This document provides guidance on the interpretation and application of specific terms and concepts used in the provisions of the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act to prohibit discriminatory, coercive or misleading conduct. 

/doc/interpretive-guideline-model-work-health-and-safety-act-discriminatory-coercive-or-misleading-conduct
This document provides guidance on the interpretation and application of section 27 of the Work Health and Safety Act, including who will be an 'officer' and what it will mean for them.
/resources-and-publications/guidance-materials/health-and-safety-duty-officer