By William Cowie

Work health and safety professional? Despite the harmonisation of Australia’s work health and safety laws in recent years, each state and territory still regulates and maintains it’s own occupational health and safety authorities. There are also differences between the WHS acts, laws, regulations and codes of practice between jurisdictions. Find your local state or territory authorities here to  find out if your workplace is compliant with local requirements.

These are the Key WHS Resources for each State and Territory

Australia

• Safe Work Australia

Leads the development of national policy for work health and safety in Australia. Key resource for workplace health and safety information across Australia.

• Seacare Authority

The Seafarers Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Authority which assists the maritime industry with minimising the cost (human and financial) of workplace injury.

• Safety, Rehabilitation & Compensation Commission

The statutory body that regulates functions relating workers’ compensation and has an oversight role in work health and safety.

• Medibank Health Solutions

Provider of targeted medical and allied health solutions for companies, government, consumers and Medibank Private members.

• National Standards of Practice in the Workplace

National standards for safely completing hazardous tasks or working in dangerous occupations.

• Business.gov.au: Occupational Health and Safety

Key information for business owners about their occupational health and safety responsibilities.

Western Australia

• Worksafe WA

The Western Australian Government agency responsible for the administration of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1984.

• SafetyLine

A website established by WorkSafe WA to provide additional resources such as practical tools for use in the workplace and help people enhance their knowledge of health and safety.

• WorkCover WA

The Western Australian Government agency responsible for overseeing workers’ compensation and injury management, including compliance, education and an independent dispute resolution system.

• WA Occupational Health and Safety Regulations

• WA Codes of Practice

New South Wales

• WorkCover NSW website

WorkCover NSW is the New South Wales Authority for promoting productive, safe and healthy workplaces for workers and employers in NSW. They administer and oversee work health and safety, licensing and regulation, workers’ compensation benefits, workers’ compensation insurance and sustainable return to employment for injured workers.

• NSW Acts and Regulations

• NSW Codes of practice

Queensland

• Workplace Health and Safety Queensland

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland is responsible for improving workplace health and safety in Queensland. They enforce work health and safety laws, investigate workplace fatalities and serious injuries, prosecute breaches of legislation, and also educate employees and employers on their legal obligations. Workplace Health and Safety Queensland also gives policy advice on matters relating to workers’ compensation.

• WorkCover Queensland (non-Govt website)

WorkCover Queensland is responsible for workers’ compensation insurance and is governed by the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003. They have resources and information about workers’ compensation for employees and employers in Queensland.

• QLD Work Health and Safety Laws

• QLD Codes of practice

Victoria

• WorkSafe Victoria

WorkSafe Victoria is responsible for many matters relating to workplace health and safety, including helping to prevent workplace injuries, enforcing Victorian occupational health and safety laws, provide workplace injury insurance for employers, help injured workers back into the workforce, and manage the workers’ compensation scheme.

• VIC Acts and Regulations

• VIC Compliance codes

• Key differences between Victoria OHS Act and the harmonised WHS Laws

Comparison between the key provisions of the Victorian OHS Act and Regulations and the new harmonised Model WHS Act and WHS Regulations.

Northern Territory

• NT Work Safe website

WorkSafe NT is the administrative and regulatory arm of the Northern Territory Work Health Authority. It is responsible for the Territory-wide regulation of workplace health and safety, electrical safety, dangerous goods, and workers’ compensation and rehabilitation.

• NT Legislation and Regulations

• NT Codes of Practice

Australian Capital Territory

• Worksafe ACT

Worksafe ACT is designed to enforce the health and safety and workers’ compensation laws in the Australian Capital Territory through education and compliance activities.

• ACT Codes of Practice

• ACT Quick Guide to the Work Safety Act

South Australia

• SafeWork SA

WorkSafe SA is South Australia’s work health and safety agency. It regulates, promotes and encourages safe, fair and productive working lives. It also manages the state’s industrial relations.

• WorkCover SA

WorkCover SA is the organisation responsible for managing the South Australian Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Scheme, which provides protection to workers and employers in the case of a workplace injury.

• SA Acts and Regulations

• SA Codes of Practice

Tasmania

• WorkSafe Tasmania

WorkSafe Tasmania is an initiative of WorkCover Tasmania and Workplace Standards, designed to raise awareness of the need to value safe workplaces and take responsibility for safe and healthy work practices.

• WorkCover Tasmania

WorkCover Tasmania is the statutory entity responsible for work health and safety, injury management and workers’ compensation.

• TAS Work Health and Safety Laws

• TAS Codes of practice

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