Workplace Health and Safety

Legislation designed to improve quality and safety of working conditions across Australia to reduce injuries and death while on work site.

WHS Act (2011); Requires employers to provide a safe system of work practices, mandatory worker’s compensation insurance, have WHS committee for all firms over 20 employees, WorkCover inspections may audit site and issue notices of improvement.

Safe Work Australia: Body established to conduct research and develop national standards, codes of practice and common approaches to WHS legislation. This reduces compliance costs for national firms, utilises safety audits, benchmarks best practice, and designs / implements safety programs to achieve best practice.

Penalties exist for breaches of safety laws resulting in injury or death.