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Webinar for volunteers and volunteer organisations

The Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety will be hosting a free webinar on Friday 12 November from 12pm – 1pm. This free webinar is your chance to ask questions about how volunteers and volunteer organisations may or may not be affected by Western Australian’s new WHS laws...
Information sessions and workshops
04 Nov 2021

Developing the laws

In 2017, work started on developing modernised work health and safety (WHS) laws in Western Australia which will be based on the national model Work Health and Safety Act (the model WHS Act). Below are historical documents relating to the development of the WHS laws in Western Australia 2017 Call...
Legislation, codes and guidance materials
04 Nov 2021

Safe Work Month 2021 - on demand videos and webinars

The health and safety of Western Australian workplaces remains a priority. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, last year the WA government launched a virtual Safe Work Month. This year the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety continues to deliver occupational health and safety messages...
Safe Work Month
05 Oct 2021

2021 Work Health and Safety Excellence Awards - winners and finalists

WATCH
Best solution to a work health and safety risk (199 employees or less) - AMCAPBest solution to a work health and safety risk (199 employees or less) - AMCAPBest solution to a work health and safety risk (199 employees or less) - AMCAPBest solution to a work health and safety risk (199 employees or...
Work Safety Awards
03 Aug 2021

Clean up after cyclones, storms or floods

Clean up after cyclones, storms or floods Cyclones, storms and floods can be traumatic events for those involved and there is naturally a sense of urgency around clean up activities. However, the most important part of a recovery operation is the wellbeing of workers, volunteers and the community...
Environmental factors
19 Apr 2021

COVID-19 Vaccination rollout information – Employers

Workplace health and safety laws require you to ensure the safety of your workers, yourself and any others in the workplace as much as you reasonably can. This includes minimising the risk of exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace. This page provides information about your obligations under...
COVID 19 - Coronavirus
16 Mar 2021

COVID-19 Vaccination rollout information – Workers

Workplace health and safety laws require your employer to ensure your safety and the safety of any others in the workplace as much as they reasonably can. This includes minimising the risk of exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace. A safe and effective vaccine is just one part of keeping the...
COVID 19 - Coronavirus
16 Mar 2021

Modernisation of Work Health and Safety Laws - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Questions asked during Safe Work Month Webinar on 30 October 2020 have been compiled along with the department's responses. Commencement When did the Work Health and Safety Act receive assent? The Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WHS Act) was assented to by the Governor on 10 November 2020. However...
Legislation, codes and guidance materials
18 Dec 2020

Arsenic (inorganic) - Health Surveillance – Guide for medical practitioners

READ
Medical practitioners undertaking health surveillance are required to have an understanding of the potential adverse health effects of inorganic arsenic and to use their clinical knowledge to advise on health surveillance for workers in the workplace. Source Arsenic is widely distributed in rocks...
Health surveillance
16 Oct 2020

Health surveillance – Legislative requirements for appointed medical practitioners

READ
Appointed Medical Practitioners (AMPs) are expected to have a good understanding of the duties of an AMP as outlined in regulation 5.24 of the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996 (‘the Regulations’). Medical practitioners who wish to become an AMP are required to be adequately trained...
Health surveillance
16 Sep 2020

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Publications

Information sheet - Family and domestic violence at the workplace

READ
Employers have a duty of care under occupational safety and health laws (OSH) to ensure workers are not exposed to hazards in the workplace, as far as practicable. The workplace can be defined...
WorkSafe
Information
22 Nov 2021

Archive: November 2020 - Work Health and Safety Act 2020 receives assent

The Work Health and Safety Bill 2019 was passed as the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WHS Act) and assented to by the Governor on 10 November 2020. The WHS Act will not commence until proclamation...
WorkSafe
Information
04 Nov 2021

Archive - Submissions - Work Health and Safety Regulations

The three-month public consultation period for developing recommendations for the adoption of the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) regulations in Western Australia ended on 26 November 2019. A...
WorkSafe
Information
04 Nov 2021

Archive - WA Modernising Work Health and Safety Act – Submissions – closed 31 August 2018

The two-month public consultation period for the modernisation of Western Australia’s Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws ended on 31 August 2018. A total of 66 submissions provided a range of views on...
WorkSafe
Information
04 Nov 2021

Work Health and Safety Excellence Awards 2021 booklet

READ
The Work Health and Safety Excellence Awards were held at Optus Stadium on 22 October 2021. Find out about the finalist in this prestigious event in the Work Health and Safety Excellence Awards 2021...
WorkSafe
Brochure
22 Oct 2021

Safe Work Month 2021 - Campaign kit

READWATCH
October is Safe Work Month, it is easy to join us in promoting safety in your workplace. Be a safety champion throughout October by: Using our campaign kit to promote safety in your workplace;...
WorkSafe
Information
06 Oct 2021

Safety bulletin 02/2021 - Uncontrolled movement of vehicles and plant

READ
WorkSafe has recently had a number of reported incidents involving the unplanned and uncontrolled movement of plant or vehicles, which have resulted in the death or serious injury of workers. A...
WorkSafe
Bulletin
30 Aug 2021

Safety alert 06/2021 Off-highway haul truck tyre blowout in workshop injures workers

READWATCH
In February 2020, a haul truck arrived at a workshop for maintenance with no tyres fitted in position 4 or 5. The position 6 tyre casing blew out 15 days later. Four workers were working on the haul...
WorkSafe
Alert
30 Aug 2021

Checklist - Motorcycle retailing

READ
This checklist has been developed to provide information and assistance to employers, self-employed persons, persons having control of workplaces and employees working in the motorcycle retailing...
WorkSafe
Checklist
30 Aug 2021

Quad bikes in workplaces - guide

READ
Quad bikes in workplaces guide outlines the legal requirements for those operating or in charge of workplaces where quad bikes are used and will assist riders, as well as managers, to ensure they are...
WorkSafe
Guide / handbook
12 Nov 2021

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Announcements

Draft Work Health and Safety regulations (exposure drafts) released

The McGowan Government has released exposure drafts of regulations under the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 ahead of the commencement of major work health and safety (WHS) reforms in March 2022. Releasing the exposure drafts of the supporting regulations provides all participants in Western Australian workplaces the opportunity to prepare themselves to meet the requirements of the new Act and to...
WorkSafe
Alert
20 Dec 2021

Changes to work health and safety laws timeline

On 15 December 2021, Minister Stephen Dawson MLC made a Brief Ministerial Statement in Parliament advising that the Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws will come into effect in March 2022. Originally scheduled for January 2022, the new laws will bring together work health and safety for general industry, mines and petroleum and geothermal operations under a single WHS Act. Draft WHS regulations...
WorkSafe
Department News
16 Dec 2021

Battery burn warning after pocket fires like ‘flares and fireworks’

Two separate incidents in WA resulted in serious leg burns Loose lithium-ion batteries can ignite if they touch coins or keys Safety warning for users of vapes and other portable devices WARNING: Images of burn injuries below. A Perth man has described the horrifying moment that a lithium-ion battery caught fire in his pocket with an “intense white light and heat”, causing agonising burns that...
Building and Energy
Media release
23 Jun 2021

Public comment sought - Code of practice on workplace behaviour

WA’s Commission for Occupational Safety and Health is seeking public comment on the code of practice for workplace behaviour . At the May meeting the Commission endorsed the draft workplace behaviour code of practice and agreed to a three-month public consultation period ending 30 August 2021. The guidance in this draft code of practice should be considered in conjunction with the general duties...
WorkSafe
Department News
31 May 2021

World Day for Safety and Health at Work and Workers' Memorial Day

Wednesday 28 April 2021 is World Day for Safety and Health at Work and Worker's Memorial Day. This day provides us an opportunity not only to raise awareness of safety and health in workplaces but to remember those who have died from a work-related injury or illness. The International Labour Organisation annually sets a theme for the day. This year's theme is Anticipate, prepare and respond to...
WorkSafe
Event
23 Apr 2021

Amendments to assist early detection of silicosis

Amendments to the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996, relating to health surveillance for workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica will come into effect on 15 April 2021. The amendments will require employers to provide a low-dose HRCT scan, supervised by an appointed medical practitioner, instead of the previously required chest X-ray. Western Australia is the first...
WorkSafe
Alert
18 Jan 2021

Asbestos Awareness Week 2020

Asbestos Awareness Week 2020 runs from 23-29 November 2020. Please take this opportunity to ensure your workplace asbestos management systems are up to date, and that workers are aware of these systems. And remember – buildings built before 1990 are likely to contain materials with asbestos content. Follow the links for more information: Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency Industry checklist...
WorkSafe
Event
06 Nov 2020

Workplace exposure standards for silica and coal dust halved

Workplace exposure standard for respirable crystalline silica halved to 0.05 milligrams per cubic metre effective today and respirable coal dust halved to 1.5 milligrams per cubic metre effective October 27, 2021 Media statement Silica Guidance about dusts and other airborne contaminants
WorkSafe
Department News
27 Oct 2020

November 2020 - Work Health and Safety Bill passes Parliament

The Work Health and Safety Bill 2019 was passed by Parliament on 3 November 2020 and is awaiting royal assent. When assented, the WHS Act will not be operational until regulations are complete. Work to develop the regulations is presently underway and will continue in 2021. The new Work Health and Safety Act 2019 (WHS Act) will replace the current Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984, and...
WorkSafe
Alert
22 Oct 2020

Water safety advice for dormant buildings

As many businesses prepare to reopen, WA’s plumbing regulator is urging owners and managers of recently unoccupied buildings to ensure that hot and cold water services are thoroughly flushed before use to clear potentially hazardous stagnation. Building and Energy is supporting an advisory note issued by the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB), which warns that water quality could change if it...
Building and Energy
Media release
21 May 2020

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