Model WHS Laws

We created the model WHS laws in 2011.

See all

WHS laws in your jurisdiction

Contact your regulator

Data and Research

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

See our data

See our latest
Key work health and safety statistics

explore our data

Resources and Publications

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

See all

Read our Codes of Practice

read the codes

Safe Work Australia has released an independent research report conducted by Monash University, Research examining pathways to secondary psychological injury.

/media-centre/news/new-research-examines-pathways-secondary-psychological-injury

This report examines the key drivers that contribute to an injured worker developing a secondary psychological injury. Secondary psychological injury refers to new or worsening mental health symptoms during a workers’ compensation claim.

/doc/research-examining-pathways-secondary-psychological-injury

Safe Work Australia’s Silica Action Plan has been developed to complement and support the implementation of the Silica National Strategic Plan 2024–30 (SNSP).

/doc/silica-national-strategic-plan-safe-work-australia-action-plan

This implementation plan outlines a range of activities to support implementation of outcomes from the 2025

/doc/engineered-stone-prohibition-review-safe-work-australia-implementation-plan

Evaluation reports in this download:

/doc/wes-evaluation-reports-u-zir

Evaluation reports in this download:

/doc/wes-evaluation-reports-tr-tu

Evaluation reports in this download:

/doc/wes-evaluation-reports-ta

Evaluation reports in this download:

/doc/wes-evaluation-reports-se-sy

Evaluation reports in this download:

/doc/wes-evaluation-reports-po-ro

Evaluation reports in this download:

/doc/wes-evaluation-reports-ph-pl

Evaluation reports in this download:

/doc/wes-evaluation-reports-oc-pe

Evaluation reports in this download:

/doc/wes-evaluation-reports-met-no

Evaluation reports in this download:

/doc/wes-evaluation-reports-methyl

Evaluation reports in this download:

/doc/wes-evaluation-reports-metho

Evaluation reports in this download:

/doc/wes-evaluation-reports-hex-ir

Evaluation reports in this download:

/doc/wes-evaluation-reports-fe-hep

Evaluation reports in this download:

/doc/wes-evaluation-reports-etho-ethy

Evaluation reports in this download:

/doc/wes-evaluation-reports-dio-ethi

Evaluation reports in this download:

/doc/wes-evaluation-reports-die-din

Evaluation reports in this download:

/doc/wes-evaluation-reports-di-dic

Evaluation reports in this download:

/doc/wes-evaluation-reports-chr-de

Evaluation reports in this download:

/doc/wes-evaluation-reports-car-chl

Evaluation reports in this download:

/doc/wes-evaluation-reports-bu-cap

Evaluation reports in this download: 

/doc/wes-evaluation-reports-br

Evaluation reports in this download:

/doc/wes-evaluation-reports-ac-ar

WHS ministers tasked Safe Work Australia with reviewing the engineered stone ban, which came into effect on 1 July 2024. 

/doc/review-engineered-stone-prohibition
/media-centre/news/mid-term-review-national-return-work-strategy-2020-2030-news

The mid-term review of the Na

/doc/mid-term-review-national-return-work-strategy-2020-2030

Related information

/doc/australian-whs-strategy-2023-2033-one-year-performance-update

On 29 October, Australia ratified the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Fundamental Convention – Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention 187 at a tripartite ceremony of unions, employers and governments in Geneva, Switzerland.

/media-centre/news/ilo-conventions
/media-centre/news/new-report-workplace-and-work-related-violence-and-aggression-australia-now-available

Safe Work Australia’s research grant recipient, the Centre for Transformative Work Design at Curtin University, has completed their research to explore interventions to manage psychosocial risks in the aged care sector.

/media-centre/news/research-finds-redesigning-work-may-help-reduce-psychosocial-risks-aged-care

This report provides a review of the literature on fatigue including:

/doc/rapid-review-evidence-managing-risks-associated-fatigue

In March 2024 Safe Work Australia commissioned the Australian Industrial Transformation Institute, Flinders University to undertake a literature review on harmful behaviours in the workplace.

/doc/harmful-behaviours-workplace

Related information

/doc/australian-whs-strategy-2023-2033-baseline-report-about-data

Related information

/doc/australian-whs-strategy-2023-2033-baseline-report

This report examines the evidence of different approaches to early intervention in workers’ compensation in Australia and what works to reduce recovery times and improve return to work outcomes for injured workers.

/doc/early-intervention-workers-compensation-process

This report provides evidence-based information about diseases and occupational exposures for consideration by jurisdictions when reviewing the deemed diseases lists in their workers’ compensation legislation.

/doc/2023-interim-review-list-deemed-disease-australia-report

The Comparison of Workers’ Compensation Arrangements in Australia and New Zealand (2023) is now available in

/doc/comparison-workers-compensation-arrangements-australia-and-new-zealand-2023

The Comparison of Workers’ Compensation Arrangements in Australia and New Zealand 2023 report has been published.

/media-centre/news/latest-report-comparing-workers-compensation-arrangements-australia-and-new-zealand-0

The key achievements and scorecard report 2023 outlines the progress that Safe Work Australia’s made in its first 3 year towards the vision and strategic outcomes of the 

/doc/key-achievements-and-scorecard-report-2023-year-3

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 snapshot presents findings about the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on workers returning to work after an injury or illness.

/doc/returning-work-during-covid-19

This report provides information about workers’ compensation arrangements and the differences between schemes in Australia and New Zealand.

/doc/comparison-workers-compensation-arrangements-australia-and-new-zealand-2021

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.

/doc/report-short-term-exposure-limit-respirable-crystalline-silica

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 independent report provides information about workers’ perception and knowledge of workers’ compensation systems as well as information about workers' communication preferences.

/doc/australian-workers-understanding-workers-compensation-systems

This summary presents highlights from the 2021 National Return to Work Survey including key metrics, insights and time series data. The summary also includes a section on COVID-19 and its impact on recovery and return to work.

/doc/2021-national-return-work-survey-summary-report

The List of Deemed Diseases in Australia was updated in April 2024 based on the findings of the

/doc/list-deemed-diseases-australia

This report provides evidence-based information on a list of diseases and occupational ex

/doc/review-2015-deemed-diseases-australia-report