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 its own occupational health and safety authorities.
There are also differences between the WHS acts, WHS laws, and WHS 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
1. Australia
Leads the development of national policy for work health and safety in Australia. A key resource for work health and safety information across Australia.
The Seafarers Safety, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Authority assist the maritime industry with minimising the cost (human and financial) of workplace injury.
• Safety, Rehabilitation & Compensation Commission
The statutory body that regulates functions relating to worker’s compensation and has an oversight role in work health and safety.
Provider of targeted medical and allied health solutions for companies, government, consumers and Medibank Private members.
2. Western Australia
The Western Australian Government agency responsible for the administration of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1984.
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.
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
3. New South Wales
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 workers who suffered a work-related injury.
4. 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
5. 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, mental health, and manage the workers’ compensation scheme.
• 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.
6. Northern Territory
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
7. Australian Capital Territory
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 Quick Guide to the Work Safety Act
8. South Australia
• SafeWork SA
WorkSafe SA is South Australia’s work health and safety agency that ensures WHS laws are being observed and implemented. It regulates, promotes and encourages safe, fair and productive working lives. It also manages the state’s industrial relations.
9. 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 is the statutory entity responsible for work health and safety, injury management and workers’ compensation.
• TAS Work Health and Safety Laws
Summary
Each state and territory in Australia has its own WHS authorities and corresponding regulator.
It looks after a wide range of WHS matters such as an injury sustained from work, mental health, implementation of WHS laws, support education on WHS laws, ensures that a workplace run emergency drills, and heaps more.
If you’re keen to learn more about WHS acts, regulations and laws within your state/territory, it is best to consult all the links mentioned and get familiar with the respective WHS matters that correspond to your area.
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