WorkSafe, part of the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS), is the division that will assist the regulator in the administration of the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WHS Act).

The principal objective of the WHS Act is to provide a framework to protect the health, safety and welfare of workers in Western Australian workplaces, and of other people who might be affected by the work.

As a division of DMIRS, WorkSafe works to support a safe, fair and responsible future for the Western Australian community, industry and resource sector. The implementation of Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws was a top priority for the Government of Western Australia and the division. Consistent with this priority, the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 came into effect on 31 March 2022.

WorkSafe’s Vision is safe and healthy Western Australian workplaces.

WorkSafe’s collaborative approach with industry, employers and the workforce is focused on:

• influencing the commercial environment in Western Australia to ensure the achievement of best safety and health outcomes in the workplace;
• empowering business and community partners to lead in the reduction of workplace hazards and associated risks to health;
• developing a modern, world class regulatory environment;
• enforcing the law; and
• strengthening organisational capacity to assist business operators and workers to manage WHS effectively.

Our approach to ensuring workplace participants meet their obligations under the WHS Act is tailored to workplace circumstances and presenting risk. Our model for compliance extends from education, capacity building and preventative measures through enforcement. 

To ensure businesses, employers, workers and organisations are fully aware of their WHS obligations and how to meet them, WorkSafe provides information and guidance in a variety of formats. WHS publications on the DMIRS website are designed to help Western Australian organisations and their associated workforces (including volunteers) understand the WHS laws.

Identified contraventions of the WHS laws are subject to the application of WorkSafe’s compliance and enforcement policy. WorkSafe inspectors, appointed by the regulator, may conduct site visits to workplaces in response to an incident, complaint or as part of a targeted proactive or reactive compliance program.

The WHS Act brings together WHS for general industry, mines, petroleum and geothermal energy operations and covers all workplaces.

Securing a safe future

Online information and education – WorkSafe’s website has a wide range of  information to assist you in meeting your WHS obligations. In addition WorkSafe has developed interactive training programs including SmartMove, an online educational program for senior high school students and new workers, and Fatigue management training for commercial vehicle drivers.

Further information

The global code of integrity for labour inspection