Home » Safety Legislation

If you've been a safety manager for some time, you already know a good mantra is:


The Safety Legislation for each state uses more formal wording, but every single one reinforces this fundamental concept.

As a Safety Representative/Officer, a Safety Trainer or a Safety Manager, it is your responsibility on behalf of your employer to:

• Identify, assess, control, then monitor all risks in the workplace,
• Provide safe plant and equipment,
• Provide information, training, instruction and supervision.

Your workplace staff are obliged to comply with all of your instructions and to not recklessly or intentionally injure themselves or others.

Your organisation must consult with its workers about all health and safety issues.

What's at risk for non-compliance with safety legislation?

Depending where you are in Australia, you may have already seen the WorkSafe / Workcover television ads about this?

All of the Australian OHS Statutes give Workcover Inspectors broad inspection powers.

They also empower these inspectors to issue improvement and prohibition notices, and to initiate prosecution if you are in breach of the legislation.

Workcover in most States and both Territories can also issue you with an infringement notice, although this action varies widely depending which part of Australia you live.

Every State and Territory's main penalty is a monetary fine. The maximum fines in the jurisdictions also vary considerably with the highest being in New South Wales and Victoria.

Although it's not enforced on a regular basis, it is important to note that most of the Australian OHS Statutes make provision for the prosecution of culpable managers and directors of corporations in breach of OHS legislation.

Public Prosecutors are also starting to advocate for Manslaughter charges under general criminal law, where gross negligence causes a workplace death.

So these are the facts.

But, forget about all the scaremongering about possible fines and convictions, a serious workplace accident distresses everyone.

I have systems compliant with the Standards, that's enough isn't it?

It may not be enough. If you are unfortunate enough to suffer an incident, you will need to demonstrate you have done everything possible to remove the risks of injury/illness in your workplace.

I'm Only a Small Outfit, Does All This Safety Legislation Stuff Apply To Me?

Yes it does.

And if you used our training videos and support materials, yet still there's an unfortunate incident at your workplace, you can have confidence when you answer this important question:

Are Safety Videos Required By Safety Legislation For Safety Training?

No.

BUT - in all situations they help give you peace of mind to know your safety and manual handling training is kept fresh, easier to deliver and better received by your workers.

It's all about getting the most effective messages across, in the best possible way. As you watch previews of the safety videos on this site, and download free examples of the comprehensive training material that comes with each product, you'll see how these will help you provide interesting, engaging and complete training sessions.

Territory / State Based Safety Authorities

Every State and Territory has it's own Safety Legislation. But every single one requires you to train your staff in health and safety.

Here are some links to the relevant authority website pages with more detailed information on the specifics that your state or territory requires:

VIC
WA
NSW
ACT
TAS
NT
SA
QLD