This page contains further resources and information to help you manage the risks arising from biological hazards at work.  

This page provides information on control measures which can be implemented to manage the risks arising from biological hazards at work.  

To manage the risks arising from biological hazards in your workplace, just as for any other hazard, you can apply the risk management process. 

This summary identifies key themes raised during the consultation process for the Best Practice Review of the model work health and safety laws. 

Safe Work Australia has published a summary of feedback received du

Biological hazards are substances and agents of biological origin, such as from humans, plants and animals, that pose risks to human health. They include viruses, bacteria, parasites, prions and some types of fungi (including mould).

The Model Work Health and Safety Act has been amended by the Parliamentary C

The Model Work Health and Safety Act has been amended by the Parliamentary C

The model Work Health and Safety Regulations have been amended by the Parliamentary Counsel’s Committee.&nbsp

The model Work Health and Safety Regulations have been amended by the Parliamentary Counsel’s Committee.&nbsp

The model Work Health and Safety Regulations have been amended by the Parliamentary Counsel’s Committee.&nbsp

The model Work Health and Safety Regulations have been amended by the Parliamentary Counsel’s Committee.&nbsp

Learn what to do if a serious incident happens at your workplace. 

As the busy Christmas trading period approaches, the Australian Human Rights Commission and Safe Work Australia are urging business leaders to take proactive steps to protect their workers from sexual harassment and workplace violence.

Safe Work Australia is undertaking a Best Practice Review of the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act and model WHS Regulations to consider best practice approaches in the context of strengthening and maintaining harmonisation of WHS laws.

Safe Work Australia is undertaking a review of the model Work Health and Safety Act and model Work Health and Safety Regulations to strengthen and maintain harmonisation.

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.

Related information:

This case study illustrates 4 key WHS principles that apply to all WHS duties in the model WHS Act and the duty to consult, cooperate and coordinate with other duty holders. Download the case study to learn how the principles apply to labour hire.

Safe Work Australia has updated the model Code of Practice: Managing the risks of plant in the workplace to include guidance on vehicle roll-aways and safe immobilis

Safe Work Australia has published a model Code of Practice: Sexual and gender-based harassment.

This case study illustrates 4 key principles that apply to all WHS duties in the model WHS Act and the duty to consult, cooperate and coordinate with other duty holders. Download the case study to learn how the principles apply in the construction industry.

This Explanatory Memorandum accompanies the

The Model Work Health and Safety Legislation Amendment (Gross Negligence Offences) 2023 includes amendments to the model WHS Act including: 

The model laws are amended from time to time. Amendments to the model laws do not automatically apply in a jurisdiction.

This case study illustrates four key WHS principles that apply to all WHS duties in the model WHS Act and the duty to consult, cooperate and coordinate with other duty holders. Download the case study to learn how Anton applies the principles in the outsourcing industry.

This case study illustrates four key WHS principles that apply to all WHS duties in the model WHS Act and the duty to consult, cooperate and coordinate with other duty holders. Download the case study to learn how Muhammad applies the principles in the franchising industry.

This Explanatory Memorandum accompanies the Model Work Health and Safety Legislation Amendment (Offences and Penalties) 2023.

The Model Work Health and Safety Legislation Amendment (Offences and Penalties) 2023 includes amendments to the model WHS Act and model WHS Regulations including: 

GHS 7 is now the only system to classify newly manufactured and imported hazardous chemicals and prepare their labels and safety data sheets (SDS) across Australia.

Safe Work Australia has published a model Code of Practice for tower cranes.

Supporting Information

In this model Code, the word:  

Supporting information

Supporting information

Supporting information

Supporting information

Supporting information

The maximum monetary penalties comparison table summarises a sample of monetary penalties from the model WHS Act and the jurisdictions that have adopted the model WHS Act. It also includes a table summarising equivalent penalties in Victoria’s Occupational Health and Safety Act (2004).

The model WHS Act prescribes a maximum monetary amount known as a penalty for breaches of offences under the Act.

Under WHS laws, PCBUs must eliminate or minimise psychosocial risks so far as is reasonably practicable.

Everyone in the workplace has a work health and safety (WHS) duty.

The primary duty of care in the model WHS Act requires a PCBU to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, workers and other persons are not exposed to risks to their psychological or physical health and safety.

This page provides persons conducting a business or undertaking with information on Japanese encephalitis and their duties under the model WHS laws.

This fact sheet provides information for persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) who are working as part of a contractual chain. 

This document provides guidance on the interpretation and application of the term ‘reasonably practicable’ in considering the standard of health and safety that a person conducting a business or undertaking (the duty-holder) is expected to meet under the Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act and Regul

The framework guides the granting, refusal, amendment or cancellation of an exemption by each state, territory and the Commonwealth work health and safety regulator. The package contains:

The principles are part of the National Exemption Framework document package and have been developed to help guide the exemption decision making process. Exemptions must be granted only in the manner as set out in the WHS legislation and can only be made by state and territory WHS regulators.