Safety and
Compliance

Understanding WHS law and Regulations  (Non‑Accredited)

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Program purpose

 

• Provide clear, practical explanation of Work Health & Safety (WHS) laws and regulations to help workplaces meet legal obligations, reduce risk, and support a safety culture.

• Non‑accredited information course developed with input from regulators to ensure accuracy and currency.

 

Who this is for

• Workers, supervisors, managers, health & safety representatives, small business owners, HR and compliance staff who need a solid, practical grounding in WHS law but not formal certification.

 

Key topics covered

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1. WHS laws and regulatory framework

   • Structure of WHS legislation (Commonwealth/state/territory interaction where relevant)

   • Primary Acts, Regulations, model WHS laws and Codes of Practice

   • How law is made, updated, and where to find authoritative guidance

2. Duties and legal responsibilities

   • Duties of persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs)

   • Officers, workers, contractors, suppliers, and visitors: roles and obligations

   • Due diligence, consultation, and reasonable practicability

3. Compliance and requirements

   • Legal compliance vs best practice

   • Required documentation (safety policies, SWMS, registers, incident reporting)

   • Notices, enforcement actions, penalties and legal consequences

4. Risk and hazard recognition

   • Hazard identification and risk assessment concepts

   • Typical workplace hazards (physical, chemical, biological, psychosocial, ergonomic)

   • Control hierarchy and selecting appropriate controls

5. Responsibilities for implementing controls

   • Planning, risk controls, monitoring and review

   • Consultation and worker participation mechanisms

   • Training, supervision and competency expectations

6. Incident management and investigation

   • Immediate response, reporting obligations, notifiable incidents

   • Basic investigation principles and corrective action

 

Learning outcomes

• Explain the structure and purpose of relevant WHS laws and where to find current requirements.

• Identify legal duties for key roles and translate those into workplace actions.

• Recognize common hazards and apply the hierarchy of controls.

• Describe compliance mechanisms, reporting obligations and likely enforcement outcomes.

• Use regulator guidance and Codes of Practice to support decision making.

 

Delivery format & duration

• Options: single half‑day session (3–4 hours) or two short modules (2 × 2 hours).

• Flexible delivery: face‑to‑face workshop or live online session with slides, discussion and case studies.

 

Assessment and certification

• Non‑accredited: formative checks (quiz, group tasks) to confirm understanding.

• Participants receive a Statement of Participation (not a formal qualification).

 

Prerequisites and recommended background

• No formal prerequisites; basic literacy and workplace experience recommended.

• Prior workplace safety induction helpful but not required.

 

Resources and references

• Links to relevant Acts, Regulations, Codes of Practice and regulator guidance (localized by jurisdiction on delivery).

• Suggested further reading and accredited training pathways for those seeking qualification.

 

Quality assurance

• Content developed in consultation with WHS regulators and updated periodically to reflect legislative changes and regulatory guidance.

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