Building and Energy
Western Australian building services, electrical, gasfitting and plumbing industries.
- Overview
  Find out about the functions and jurisdiction of Building and Energy.
- Licensing and registration and owner-builder approval
  Application and renewal for builders, building surveyors, electricians, gas fitters, painters and plumbers.
- Building approvals
  The process for getting building work approved.
- Building and energy consumer information
  Building or renovating your home and consumer safety.
- Industry information
  Codes, standards and reports for building services providers, electricians, plumbers and gas fitters.
- Dispute resolution
  Plumbing, building service, and home building work contract complaints.
- eNotice
  How to register and lodge electrical, gasfitting, plumbing and contractor payment dispute (Security of Payment Act) eNotices.
- Stay informed
  Bulletins, newsletters, subscriptions, events and seminars, videos, and public consultations.
- Contractor Payment Disputes (Construction Contracts Act)
  If your construction contract was entered into BEFORE 1 August 2022.
- Contractor Payment Disputes (Security of Payment Act)
  If your construction contract was entered into ON or AFTER 1 August 2022.
- Swimming pools, dividing fences, RCDs and smoke alarms
  Information on private swimming pool safety barriers, dividing fences, RCDs and smoke alarms for existing residential buildings.
- Report an accident
  How to report an accident or incident to Building and Energy.
Consumer Protection
Develops, enforces and promotes legislation that protects consumers.
- About Consumer Protection
  What Consumer Protection does, contacts and events.
- Housing and accommodation
  Information on renting, buying or selling a home, including accommodation for seniors.
- Consumer rights
  Information and advice for consumers including people with a disability, Aboriginal consumers, and multilingual consumers.
- Consumer concerns
  Advice on handling issues including a complaint checklist, sample letters and how to lodge a formal complaint.
- Business
  Information for businesses about their rights and responsibilities under consumer laws in Western Australia.
- Licences and registrations
  Information on applications, requirements, training and registrations for regulated industries.
- Charities and associations
  Information for charities and associations operating in Western Australia.
- Consultations, compliance and reports
  Compliance actions, public consultations and reports.
Labour Relations
State system employment laws and public sector labour relations.
- DMIRS COVID-19 coronavirus
  Information for employers and employees
- Private sector employers and employees
  Wageline information on WA awards, minimum pay rates, long service leave, annual and personal leave, underpayment issues, COVID-19, and how to contact Wageline and stay informed.
- Government sector labour relations
  Information and resources for agencies on government sector employment and labour relations.
- Public holidays
  Public holiday dates for Western Australia.
- Western Australia's industrial relations system
  Who is in the WA state system, key features of the state system, recent inquiries, reviews, and committees.
- Changes to state employment laws
  Information on 2022 changes to state employment laws in Western Australia.
WorkSafe
Regulation and promotion of workplace health and safety including in general industry and the mining and petroleum industries.
- Report an incident
  Notify the regulator of a death, serious injury/illness or dangerous incident.
- Notify, submit or contact us
  Notify or submit items to WorkSafe.
- Apply for a licence or register plant
  Apply for licence, register an item of plant or learn about construction induction training.
- Mining statutory positions and certificates
  Information about statutory position appointments at mining operations.
- Work health and safety legislation
  Information about WA's work health and safety (WHS) laws.
- Health and safety representatives
  Information about HSRs.
- Health and safety topics
  How do I make my workplace safer?
- Tool box
  Events, statistics and educational resources.
- Consulting with our stakeholders
  Information about consulting with stakeholders.
- Agricultural health and safety
  Provide work health and safety information about the agricultural sector including guidance, checklists, and latest news.
- What does WorkSafe do?
  Find out about the functions and jurisdiction of WorkSafe.
- Small business safety
  Your guide to safety and health in small business.
- Historical occupational safety and health law
  Safety and health legislation prior to 2022.
- Historical mines and petroleum guidance
  Safety and health guidance under the legislation prior to 2022.
Corporate
Freedom of information guidelines, reports, policies, plans, and contact information.
- About the department
  Our legislation, contacting us and freedom of information.
- About the website
  Information about our website and how to use it.
- Policies and plans
  Policies and strategic plans from the department.

Health and safety representative

Topics

What is a dangerous incident?

If a ‘dangerous incident’ arises through the conduct of a business or undertaking the regulator must be notified immediately. Where the dangerous incident is currently life-threatening, the PCBU should ensure the regulator is notified by calling 1800 678 198 (24 hours). Where the dangerous incident...

Report an incident

29 Jun 2022

Gendered violence: Sexual harassment - Information sheet

This information sheet is intended to assist persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) to prevent and respond to incidents of workplace gendered violence. Download this document Information sheet: Gendered violence - Sexual harassment

Violence and aggression

21 Jun 2022

Gendered violence: Sexual assault - Information sheet

Violence and aggression

21 Jun 2022

Asbestos in soils - Information sheet

This information sheet provides advice to persons in control of a workplace and those involved in inspecting, removing, managing or disposing of asbestos contaminated soils at workplaces. This information sheet deals with soils at a workplace, which are contaminated with asbestos containing...

Asbestos

20 Jun 2022

Managing the risk of falls at workplaces

How can I comply with the new work health and safety laws? Under the Work Health and Safety and Regulations 2022 (WHS Regulations), duty holders will be required to manage the risk of falls at workplaces, as prescribed by the following regulations: Regulation 78 – Management of risk of fall...

Slips and trips and falls

17 Jun 2022

Implementation of Work Health and Safety legislation – Mines Safety plant and design

The Western Australian work health and safety (WHS) laws came into effect on 31 March 2022. The WHS laws include the: Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WHS Act) Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022 (WHS General Regulations) Work Health and Safety (Mines) Regulations 2022 (WHS Mines...

Plant design and item of plant registration

03 May 2022

Have you complied with an improvement notice

If you have complied with the requirements of an improvement notice you must notify the regulator as soon as reasonably practicable. General industry You will need: the improvement notice number; the date it was issued; (not the 'On' date, but the 'Issued date'); and the inspector name. You will...

Complying with an improvement notice

29 Apr 2022

Construction induction training - Guidance on inclusions and exclusions

A person conducting a business or undertaking must not direct or allow a worker to carry out construction work unless the worker has successfully completed general construction induction training and, if the worker completed the training more than 2 years previously, the worker has carried out...

Demolition licence

07 Apr 2022

Access to Australian Standards and other material referenced in Work Health and Safety Regulations

The Work Health and Safety regulations include a number of Australian Standards that must be used at workplaces in the specified circumstances. Access to these Australian Standards is available for the public to view during business hours, in hard copy form and at no cost, at: Department of Mines,...

Library

06 Apr 2022

Health and safety representative powers, functions and rights

A health and safety representative (HSR) is elected by their work group to represent workers in work health and safety (WHS) matters. HSRs have powers under the Work Health and Safety Act 2020. Health and safety representative powers A trained HSR has powers to represent their work group in WHS...

Responsibilities and functions

05 Apr 2022

Publications

Code of practice - First aid in the workplace

READ

This code of practice provides practical guidance on how to effectively provide first aid in the workplace. It includes information on first aid kits, procedures, facilities and training for first...

WorkSafe

Code of practice

15 Jul 2022

Code of practice - Confined spaces

READ

This code of practice provides practical guidance on how to manage health and safety risks associated with work carried out in a confined space

WorkSafe

Code of practice

15 Jul 2022

Code of practice - Preparation of safety data sheets for hazardous chemicals

READ

This code of practice provides practical guidance on how to prepare safety data sheets for hazardous chemicals that are being manufactured or imported for use, handling or storage in Australia.

WorkSafe

Code of practice

15 Jul 2022

Code of practice - Managing noise and preventing hearing loss at work

READ

This code of practice provides practical guidance on how to manage health and safety risks associated with workplace noise. Audiometric testing The WHS Regulations impose a duty on PCBUs to conduct...

WorkSafe

Code of practice

04 Oct 2022

Code of practice - How to manage work health and safety risks

READ

This Code applies to all workplaces covered by the WHS Act and provides practical guidance on how to manage health and safety.

WorkSafe

Information

19 Jul 2022

Code of practice - Hazardous manual tasks

READ

This Code applies to all workplaces covered by the WHS Act where hazardous manual tasks are carried out and provides practical guidance to PCBUs on how to manage health and safety risks associated...

WorkSafe

Code of practice

14 Jul 2022

Code of practice - Construction work

READ

This Code applies to all workplaces covered by the WHS Act where construction work is carried out and where construction work products and equipment are used and stored.

WorkSafe

Code of practice

15 Jul 2022

Report an incident to WorkSafe - Poster

READ

Report an incident to WorkSafe posters are a quick reference guide to reporting a death, serious injury or illness, or life-threatening dangerous incident.

WorkSafe

Poster

02 Mar 2023

Information sheet - Gendered violence: Sexual harassment

READ

This information sheet is intended to assist persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) to prevent and respond to incidents of workplace gendered violence. Background Exposure to...

WorkSafe

Information

21 Jun 2022

Information sheet - Gendered violence: Sexual assault

READ

This information sheet is intended to assist persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) to prevent and respond to incidents of workplace gendered violence. Background Exposure to...

WorkSafe

Information

21 Jun 2022

Announcements

Serious chemical burns result in $47,900 penalty for principal employer Rand Transport

Rand Transport (1986) Pty Ltd was handed a $45,000 fine and a $2900 costs penalty in the Perth Magistrate Court following serious ammonia gas burns to a contract worker. Rand, a cold storage food distributor, pleaded guilty to failing to provide and maintain a safe workplace where contractors were not exposed to hazards. On 11 December 2014, during the construction of a dividing wall within a...

WorkSafe

Media release

30 May 2018

FGS Contracting and Company Director fined total of $327,500 over serious injuries to 17 year old worker

FGS Contracting Pty Ltd and the Director Ryan Wayne Franceschi, were fined today in the Perth Magistrate Court in relation to serious injuries caused to a 17 year old worker in Esperance. FGS Contracting Pty Ltd was fined $225,000 for failure to meet their duty to provide a safe workplace and for failing to ensure the correct high-risk work license. Additionally, Franceschi as the Director was...

WorkSafe

Media release

18 May 2018

Axedale Holdings Pty Ltd fined $160,000 over the death of two construction workers

Axedale Holdings Pty Ltd, trading as Shaw’s Cartage Contractors, was fined in relation to the deaths of two labourers. The deaths were caused by falling concrete tilt-up panels at a Perth construction site. Axedale, among three parties charged, pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the safety of workers, and that failure causing the death of Joseph McDermott and Gerard Bradley. The fine totalled $...

WorkSafe

Media release

18 May 2018

Reminder of electrical hazards when working in roof spaces

Building and Energy (formerly EnergySafety) and WorkSafe have issued a reminder on the importance of understanding and avoiding the electrical hazards in roof spaces, with new regulations coming into effect on Monday (14 May 2018). Director of Energy Safety Ken Bowron today cautioned homeowners to be mindful of the electrical hazards in roof spaces. “Homeowners may need to access the roof space...

WorkSafe

Media release

11 May 2018

Fines total $59500 over safety breaches causing serious injury at City of Armadale landfill site

The City of Armadale and the former manager of its landfill facility have been fined a total of $59500 plus costs after a member of the public was seriously injured at the landfill site. The City of Armadale pleaded guilty as an employer to failing to ensure the safety and health of a person who was not their employee, and also pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to comply with a Prohibition...

WorkSafe

Media release

20 Apr 2018

New WorkSafe Western Australia Commissioner

As of January 1 2018, for the period to March 31 2018, the State has a new WorkSafe WA Commissioner. Ian Munns has commenced in the position after previous Commissioner Lex McCulloch retired from the Public Service at the end of 2017. Mr Munns also holds the title of A/Deputy Director General, Safety Regulation. He moves into the role from his previous role as A/Executive Director, Building...

WorkSafe

Department News

08 Jan 2018

Penalties for workplace safety offences to increase in WA – Premier’s announcement 27 August 2017

Premier Mark McGowan on Sunday 27 August 2017 announced an increase of penalties for workplace safety offences to bring Western Australia into line with other states and ensure penalties better reflect the importance of a safe workplace. Media statement

WorkSafe

Alert

28 Aug 2017

Development of a modernised Work Health and Safety Bill

On Wednesday 12 July the Government announced the development of a modernised Work Health and Safety Bill for Western Australia which is based on the national Work Health and Safety Act. This Bill will replace three acts, the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 , Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 ; and Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Safety Levies Act 2011 . The development of the Bill...

WorkSafe

Alert

12 Jul 2017

Planning for safety of people who work alone

WorkSafe would like to remind employers and workers of the safety issues associated with working alone and in isolated areas and the importance of developing safe systems of work. WorkSafe offers a number of publications aimed at providing practical advice for employers and workers on working in isolated areas and working in hot conditions. GUIDANCE NOTE: Working alone Working safely in hot...

WorkSafe

Alert

20 Jan 2015

Safety and Health Workshops 2014 are selling fast

New workplace safety topics and expert presenters feature in the dynamic program of Safe Work October 2014 workshops.

WorkSafe

Event

25 Aug 2014

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