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

Supporting information

/doc/work-groups-fact-sheet
/safety-topic/hazards/radiofrequency-electromagnetic-radiation/resources

Radiofrequency (RF) Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR), also known as Electromagnetic Emissions or Energy (EME), is non-ionising radiation that is produced by both natural sources (e.g. the sun) and artificial sources. 

/safety-topic/hazards/radiofrequency-electromagnetic-radiation

This information sheet provides practical guidance for persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) on managing work health and safety (WHS) risks for workers who may be exposed to

/doc/working-safely-around-radiofrequency-electromagnetic-radiation

This template is designed to help document details of any processing of a crystalline silica substance that is high risk, and the control measures used to manage the risks.

/doc/silica-risk-control-plan-optional-template

PCBUs intending to process a crystalline silica substance must assess and document if the processing of a crystalline silica substance is high risk, before commencing work. This template is designed to help document this assessment.  

/doc/assessing-if-processing-silica-high-risk-optional-template

Guidance about the process for obtaining an exemption from the engineered stone prohibition to carry out work involving the manufacture, supply, processing or installation of engineered stone benchtops, panels or slabs.

/doc/engineered-stone-prohibition-exemptions

Examples of permitted work with legacy engineered stone and a summary of WHS duties.

/doc/engineered-stone-prohibition-examples-permitted-work-legacy-engineered-stone

This model Code of Practice provides practical guidance on how to comply with WHS duties to manage risks of working with respirable crystalline silica in the workplace. It is primarily intended for PCBUs. 

/doc/model-code-practice-managing-risks-respirable-crystalline-silica-workplace

This information sheet provides persons conducting a business or undertaking information on engaging an occupational hygienist.

/doc/engaging-occupational-hygienist

As a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) you must eliminate or minimise risks from airborne contaminants in the workplace so far as is reasonably practicable.

/doc/risk-assessments-airborne-contaminants

Safe Work Australia has released an online airborne contaminants hub to h

/media-centre/news/new-airborne-contaminants-hub-now-live

Safe Work Australia has published a new

/media-centre/new-model-code-practice-help-healthcare-and-social-assistance-industry-manage-whs-risks

The model Code of Practice: Healthcare and social assistance industry provides guidance for duty holders such as employers in the healthcare and social assistance industry on how to meet their work health and safety (WHS) duties and manage risks in their workplaces.

/doc/model-code-practice-healthcare-and-social-assistance-industry

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. 

/doc/how-clean-and-disinfect-your-workplace-covid-19

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.

/safety-topic/hazards/covid-19/about-covid-19

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

/safety-topic/hazards/covid-19/resources

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

/safety-topic/hazards/covid-19/control-measures

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

/safety-topic/hazards/covid-19/managing-risks

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.

/safety-topic/hazards/covid-19/whs-duties

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.

/safety-topic/hazards/avian-influenza-bird-flu/managing-risks

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

/safety-topic/hazards/avian-influenza-bird-flu

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.

/doc/residential-aged-care-case-study-communicating-migrant-and-multicultural-workers

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

/doc/pcbu-information-sheet-communicating-migrant-and-multicultural-workers-about-work-health-and-safety

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

/media-centre/news/guidance-employers-communicating-migrant-and-multicultural-workers-about-work-health-and-safety
/safety-topic/managing-health-and-safety/training-and-supporting-your-workers-stay-safe-work/provide-ongoing-training-and-supervision
/safety-topic/managing-health-and-safety/training-and-supporting-your-workers-stay-safe-work/train-workers-their-specific-tasks
/safety-topic/managing-health-and-safety/training-and-supporting-your-workers-stay-safe-work/provide-induction-and-workplace-safety-training-new-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. 

/safety-topic/managing-health-and-safety/training-and-supporting-your-workers-stay-safe-work

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.  

/media-centre/news/how-identify-and-manage-psychosocial-hazards-everyones-business

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.

/media-centre/news/prioritising-safety-work-everyones-business

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

 

/media-centre/news/managing-psychosocial-hazards-retail-case-study-available-now

Related information:

/doc/managing-risk-psychosocial-hazards-retail-case-study

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

/media-centre/news/guide-managing-risks-rooftop-solar-installation-work-now-available

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. 

/doc/guide-managing-risks-rooftop-solar-installation-work

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

/doc/css-guide-resources-work-producing-silica-dust-high-risk

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

/doc/css-guide-resources-completing-silica-risk-control-plan

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

/doc/css-guide-resources-controlling-risks-silica-dust

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

/doc/css-guide-resources-identifying-and-assessing-risks-silica-dust-workplace

This resource outlines work activities that can produce silica dust.

/doc/css-guide-resources-how-silica-dust-produced

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

/doc/css-guide-resources-what-silica-dust

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

/doc/css-guide-resources-processing-crystalline-silica-substance-risk-management-process

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’.  

/safety-topic/managing-health-and-safety/incident-notification/incident-notification-requirements-under-model-whs-act

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

/media-centre/media-release/world-first-engineered-stone-ban-now-effect-protect-workers

For more information see

/doc/pcbu-guide-summary-esban

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

/doc/contacts-esban

For more information see

/doc/exemptions-esban

The infographic provides information about what is and isn’t included as part of the engineered stone ban.

/doc/definitions-esban