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Safe Work Australia

Safe Work Australia is an Australian government statutory body established in 2008 to develop national policy relating to work health and safety (WHS) and workers’ compensation.

As a national policy body, Safe Work Australia does not regulate WHS laws. The Commonwealth, states and territories retain responsibility for regulating and enforcing WHS laws in their jurisdictions.

Vision and mission

Healthier, safer and more productive workplaces through improvements to Australian work health and safety and workers’ compensation arrangements.

All workers regardless of their occupation or how they are engaged have the right to a healthy and safe working environment. Safe Work Australia (SWA) believes the effective design of work and work systems, and the systematic management of risks, will allow workers to lead productive working lives.

How Safe Work Australia can help

Safe Work Australia (SWA) is committed to developing policy aimed at reducing the incidence of work related death, injury and illness, and exposure to hazards and risks in the workplace.

SWA is an inclusive, tripartite body — working in partnership with governments, employers and employees — to drive national policy development on WHS and workers’ compensation matters. SWA works to:

  • develop and evaluate national policy and strategies
  • develop and evaluate the model WHS legislative framework
  • developing national education, communication strategies and initiatives
  • undertake research, and
  • collect, analyse and report data.

Recommended links

Last reviewed: April 2021

Information from this partner

Found 30 results

Fatigue | SafeWork NSW

Fatigue makes you feel mentally and/or physically exhausted and reduces your ability to work safely and effectively.

Read more on Safe Work Australia website

Working in heat - Working in heat | Safe Work Australia

Working in heat can be hazardous and can cause harm to workers. As a person conducting a business or undertaking, you have a duty to keep workers and your workplace safe from the risks of working in heat.  The human body needs to maintain a normal temperature to be healthy. Workers may suffer from heat-related illness if the body has to work too hard to keep cool or starts to overheat. 

Read more on Safe Work Australia website

Bullying (a psychosocial hazard) | SafeWork NSW

Information on what is defined as workplace bullying, who to contact and how we can help.

Read more on Safe Work Australia website

- Inorganic Lead | Safe Work Australia

Inorganic lead (lead) and lead compounds are found in many workplaces. Exposure to lead can cause illness and disease. If you are a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) and you have lead at your workplace, you have duties under the model WHS laws to manage and monitor exposure to lead at your workplace. 

Read more on Safe Work Australia website

- Japanese encephalitis | Safe Work Australia

This page provides persons conducting a business or undertaking with information on Japanese encephalitis and their duties under the model WHS laws.

Read more on Safe Work Australia website

- Bushfire smoke in the workplace | Safe Work Australia

Bushfire smoke can affect your health and safety at work.

Read more on Safe Work Australia website

- Mental health | Safe Work Australia

Most jobs involve some psychosocial hazards. These are the hazards that can harm workers’ mental health.  Under the model WHS laws, a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU), such as an employer, must manage psychosocial risks (e.g. risks to mental health) at work.  

Read more on Safe Work Australia website

Agriculture - Managing risks | Safe Work Australia

In agriculture, some risks come from manual tasks, using machinery and vehicles and working with animals. The risks are higher when working in remote areas. You must identify and manage risks to keep yourself and your workers safe.  

Read more on Safe Work Australia website

- Agriculture | Safe Work Australia

The agriculture industry includes businesses that:  grow and cultivate horticultural and other crops (except forestry) breed, raise or farm animals (except aquaculture).

Read more on Safe Work Australia website

Asbestos | SafeWork NSW

Information on asbestos safety at work and home, how to dispose of it safely and key facts on asbestos.

Read more on Safe Work Australia website

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