This information is designed to help WA organisations and their associated workforces (including volunteers) understand the role of WorkSafe.

What is the role of WorkSafe?

WorkSafe, part of the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, is the WHS department that will assist the regulator in the administration of the WHS Act. This includes the provision of inspectors and other staff to secure compliance with the legislation.

To align with the legislative change the Department has consolidated all its workplace health and safety inspectorates from the existing WorkSafe, Mines Safety, Petroleum Safety, and the teams that support them, under one shared identity, WorkSafe Western Australia.

A unified identity will simplify communication about the relationship between the WorkSafe Commissioner, as the ‘regulator’ under the WHS Act, and DMIRS as the ‘WHS department’.

The WorkSafe WA identity will assist to reinforce the message that there will be one WHS Act for almost all WA workplaces.

What powers do inspectors have?

Under the WHS Act, inspectors have powers to:

• provide information and advice about how to comply with the WHS Act and regulations
• help resolve work health and safety issues at workplaces
• require compliance with the WHS Act by issuing notices
• review disputed provisional improvement notices (PINs)
• investigate contraventions and help prosecute offences
• attend coronial inquests into work-related deaths and examine witnesses
• investigate and report on matters relating to WHS, including particular types of hazards and matters relating to particular industries or particular businesses or undertakings.

Information on the powers of inspectors in securing compliance, refer to the Overview of Western Australia's Work Health and Safety Act 2020.