Note: While this guide was developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, it provides useful information on how to undertake routine cleaning, and cleaning and disinfection following a case or suspected case of COVID-19, in a non-healthcare workplace. 

COVID-19 is a highly contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. It spreads through respiratory droplets or small airborne particles when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, and is in close contact with others.

Further information and resources to help you manage the risk of COVID-19 at work. 

This page provides information on control measures used to manage the risk of COVID-19 at work.

This page provides guidance to assist PCBUs manage the risk of exposure to COVID-19 at work.

A PCBU has a duty to eliminate or minimise WHS risks to workers and others at the workplace, including risks from COVID-19, so far as is reasonably practicable.

You have a duty to eliminate or minimise risks to workers and others at the workplace, including from avian influenza, so far as is reasonably practicable.

This page provides persons conducting a business or undertaking with information on avian influenza (bird flu) and their duties under the model WHS laws.

This case study provides an overview of how PCBUs can effectively communicate when consulting with workers on work health and safety, especially workers from migrant and multicultural backgrounds, in a residential aged care setting.

Australian workplaces are diverse. Many workers come from migrant and multicultural backgrounds and may have different communication needs and preferences.

Employers have a duty to provide a healthy and safe workplace for all workers.

Under the model WHS laws, a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) must ensure workers are provided with the information, training, instruction and supervision required to help them remain healthy and safe in the workplace. 

Workers’ compensation claims for injuries resulting from psychosocial hazards at work are increasing.   In total, serious claims for mental health conditions in 2021-22 resulted in 584,029 working weeks of time lost from work.  

This National Safe Work Month, Safe Work Australia is encouraging all Australians to make safety their business.

National Safe Work Month is held every October and provides an opportunity for workplaces across Australia to recognise the importance of work health and safety.

Safe Work Australia has published the first in a series of case studies focused on managing psychosocial hazards in various industries.

Related information:

Rooftop solar installation work involves serious work health and safety risks, including working at heights, falling objects, heat stress and working with electricity.

Our Guide to managing the risks of rooftop solar installation work assists duty holders, primarily PCBUs, to manage the risks to health and safety associated with rooftop solar installation work. 

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

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

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

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

This resource outlines work activities that can produce silica dust.

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

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

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.  

Persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) must notify their WHS regulator immediately after becoming aware of serious work-related injuries, illnesses and dangerous incidents. These are referred to as ‘notifiable incidents’.  

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

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.

A one page summary of the Engineered stone prohibition: Guidanc

Where to go for more information about the engineered stone ban and your WHS obligations.

The process of applying for an exemption from the engineered stone ban, as specified in the publication,

The definition of engineered stone as used in the publication,

A list of the key terms used in the publication, Engineered sto

A flowchart of the process PCBUs must follow to notify WHS regulators of work involving legacy engineered stone.

A flowchart of the process PCBUs must follow to apply for an exemption of an engineered stone product.

This is the model form for PCBUs to notify the relevant WHS regulator when they intend to undertake the repair, minor modification, removal, or disposal of legacy engineered stone (permitted work with legacy engineered stone).

This document provides guidance to assist PCBUs understand their obligations under the WHS Regulations in relation to the engineered stone ban.

Fatigue is more than feeling tired and drowsy. It is short- or long-term exhaustion which results in reduced capacity to do things. This infographic outlines the WHS impacts of fatigue and how you can manage the risks.  

28 April is World Day for Safety and Health (World Day) and Workers’ Memorial Day. 

This document is the list

This page provides resources and further information for persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) and workers on the workplace exposure standards (WES), workplace exposure limits (WEL) and the WES review.

There are several changes between the Workplace exposure standards for airborne contaminants (WES list) and the

This infographic outlines practical steps for managing the WHS risks of working outside in summer, including risks from heat, sun exposure, adverse weather conditions and bushfires.

In the construction industry there are activities that are classified high risk because they have the potential to cause serious injury or death. When any of these activities are involved, the workplace must prepare a Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) before work starts.