Small business and farmer

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Consultation and worker representation

Learn about worker consultation under the work health and safety laws.
Main responsibilities and duties under WHS
03 May 2023

2023 Work Health and Safety Excellence Awards Finalists

Submissions for the 2023 Work Health and Safety Excellence Awards are now closed. This year 65 submissions were received with 25 companies recognised as finalists. These awards recognise outstanding solutions and innovations to specific workplace health and safety problems in Western Australia. The...
Work Safety Awards
08 Feb 2023

Human factors: Information sheets

These information sheets provide information on how human factors can contribute to a sequence of events that lead to a major incident and how the inclusion of human factors can assist major hazard facility operations. Case study chemical release This case study is based on the fire and a series of...
Human factors
02 Feb 2023

Information sheets

Information sheets provide concise information about legislation, safety and work practices and answers to common questions or how to do instructions. Focus on compliance Construction site security: Unauthorised access Fire risk from transparent bottles containing clear liquids stored in direct...
Information sheets
20 Dec 2022

Work health and safety guides

These guides describe practical measure that can be taken to prevent or minimise the risk of harm and contribute to the overall state of knowledge regarding hazards, risks and controls. Overviews of the WHS laws Western Australia's Work Health and Safety Act 2020 Overview of Western Australia's...
Guides
20 Dec 2022

Podcasts

The department has produced a series of podcasts as part of Safe Work Month 2022 – think psychological – think safety. This series cover a wide range of topics such as asbestos safety, psychosocial hazards, silicosis, consultation and agriculture.
Health and safety podcasts
13 Dec 2022

WHS publications

These publications are designed to help WA organisations and their associated workforces (including volunteers) understand the new Work Health and Safety laws. Statement of Regulatory Intent This Statement from the regulator provides the principles for the regulatory approach that WorkSafe (...
Work health and safety laws
01 Dec 2022

WHS service providers

This information is designed to help WA organisations and their associated workforces (including volunteers) understand the Work Health and Safety laws. A WHS service provider is a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) that provides work health and safety services to another business...
Main responsibilities and duties under WHS
01 Dec 2022

Workers and others at the workplace

Who is considered a worker? Under the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 a worker is any person who carries out work for a PCBU, including work as an employee, contractor, subcontractor, self-employed person, outworker, apprentice or trainee, work experience student, employee of a labour hire company...
Main responsibilities and duties under WHS
01 Dec 2022

Person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU)

The WHS Act and accompanying regulations came into effect on 31 March 2022. Download the Act Download the regulations This information is designed to help WA organisations and their associated workforces (including volunteers) understand the new Work Health and Safety laws. Short video animations...
Main responsibilities and duties under WHS
01 Dec 2022

Pages

Publications

Application to add a class to a high risk work licence

READ
Use this application form to apply for one or more classes of high risk work to be added to your existing WA licence.
WorkSafe
Form – application
31 Jul 2023

Zoonoses on farms - Information sheet

READ
This information sheet provides an overview of zoonoses, control measures to reduce the risk of infection and the reporting to WorkSafe certain occupational zoonose.
WorkSafe
Information
15 Mar 2023

Zoonoses on farms - checklist

READ
This checklist has been developed to help minimise the risks to workers that may be exposed to zoonoses at work. Zoonoses are diseases of animals that can cause serious illness or death in people...
WorkSafe
Checklist
15 Mar 2023

Quad bike safety - poster

READ
This poster is 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 operated safely.
WorkSafe
Poster
01 Mar 2023

Licensing application payment form

READ
If you are submitting your licence application by post or in person, and are making payment by credit card, you must complete this application form and attach it to your application. Applications...
Consumer Protection
Form – application
25 Jan 2023

Health and Safety Bulletin No. 5 Fraudulent qualifications in the WA mining industry

READ
Persons conducting businesses or undertakings (PCBUs), including mine operators, have an obligation to carefully assess the validity of qualifications, supporting documentation and training...
WorkSafe
Bulletin
20 Sep 2022

Health and Safety Bulletin No. 4 Managing drilling breakthroughs in underground mining

READ
WorkSafe Mines Safety has received a number of notifications reporting potentially serious incidents involving breakthroughs into areas or headings that have not been barricaded. Recent incidents...
WorkSafe
Bulletin
20 Sep 2022

Health and Safety Bulletin No. 3 Ruptured aluminium air conditioning flushing canisters

READ
From 2018 to 2021, six serious incidents relating to air conditioning flushing canisters have been reported on mine sites in Western Australia. In five of these incidents, the flushing canister had...
WorkSafe
Bulletin
20 Sep 2022

Health and Safety Bulletin No. 2 Lifting, lowering or suspending loads

READ
A number of incidents have recently occurred when plant has been used to lift, lower or suspend loads near workers. Incidents have resulted in serious injuries and fatalities. Contributory factors...
WorkSafe
Bulletin
20 Sep 2022

Health and Safety Bulletin No. 1 Embrittlement - Serious risk to alloy lifting chain integrity when lifting loads in a corrosive environment

READ
Alloy lifting chains and associated components (such as hooks, shackles and links) are used widely across a variety of industries and environments to lift and move loads. There are a number of forms...
WorkSafe
Bulletin
20 Sep 2022

Pages

Announcements

‘Bitumen bandits’ named in organised scam operation

Travelling conmen target WA consumers as part of international based scam Thirty-one reports in nine months totalling payments of over $264,000 Commissioner for Consumer Protection says avoid these scam con artists who leave you with dodgy work Consumer Protection is warning WA home and business owners to avoid dealing with at least eight road construction companies currently travelling around...
Consumer Protection
Media release
19 Sep 2023

Charges laid for Wickepin-Narrogin bushfire

Building and Energy has completed its investigation into the Wickepin-Narrogin bushfire, which occurred on 6 February 2022. It has now commenced proceedings against Western Power for alleged breaches of the Electricity (Network Safety) Regulations 2015. The legislation requires network operators to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that their network is designed, constructed, operated...
Building and Energy
Media release
16 Aug 2023

High-voltage guide to empower facility owners

Updated guidance on management of high-voltage electrical installations Publication issued by Building & Energy and endorsed by WorkSafe Revised version aligns with current regulations including new WHS Act Owners and managers of premises with high-voltage electrical installations can now access updated guidance from WA’s energy and workplace safety regulators. Facilities such as large...
Building and Energy
Media release
24 Apr 2023

Commerce Minister media statement – Building on payment protections for subcontractors

Media statement from Hon Sue Ellery BA MLC, Minister for Commerce Latest stage of security of payment reforms to protect building and construction subcontractors now in effect McGowan Government retention trust scheme election commitment delivered Increased powers to ensure good commercial behaviour in the building sector The McGowan Government has further improved payment protections for...
Building and Energy
Media release
01 Feb 2023

Electrical safety warning for heat press machine

Vevor 5-in-1 heat press is used to prints designs on clothing and mugs Electrical defects could put users at risk of electric shock Building and Energy has banned the machine’s use, sale or hire in WA Users of a heat press machine could be at risk of electric shock due to defects uncovered by WA’s energy safety regulator. Due to safety concerns, Building and Energy has banned the use, sale or...
Building and Energy
Media release
24 Jan 2023

Regulations on psychosocial hazards

Work health and safety regulations for the control of psychosocial risks will come into effect on 24 December 2022. These regulations will require a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) to eliminate psychosocial risks, or to minimise them so far as is reasonably practicable. This new duty places psychosocial hazards on the same footing as other significant hazards such as falls or...
WorkSafe
Department News
23 Dec 2022

Digital Identity and WARAM Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) available

Two new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) sheets are now available. The new FAQs cover digital identity and the WA Relationship Authorisation Manager (WARAM). The My Account FAQ has also been updated. The FAQs provide answers to common questions such as: What is a digital identity and why we need to protect it? What is the WARAM and how can it benefit our customers and their business ? Both new...
Corporate
Department News
29 Sep 2022

Review of commercial tenancy laws for retail shops

Friday, 10 June 2022 Commercial tenancy laws covering retail shops now under review Various emerging issues to be canvassed during consultation phase Lease rights regarding rents, operating costs and duration of tenancy explored The laws which govern commercial tenancy agreements between small retailers and landlords, including shopping centre owners, are being reviewed by the McGowan Government...
Consumer Protection
Media release
10 Jun 2022

Important Changes to High Risk Work Licensing - New Work Health and Safety rules to begin 31 March 2022

The new Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022 (WHS Regulations) were gazetted on 11 March 2022 and will commence on the 31 March 2022, bringing the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 into full force and effect. The WHS Regulations replace the current Occupational and Safety Regulations 1996 (OSH Regulations). You can access the WHS Regulations on the WA Legislation website: WALW - Work...
WorkSafe
Department News
25 Mar 2022

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

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