Prepared by OHS & HR Management Systems Pty Ltd. Based on

• 2004 OHS Act,
• 2017 OHS Regulations and  
• 2025  OHS (Psychological Health) Regulations.
  
  

With the exception of notifiable incident records (5 years), the Victorian OHS Act and Regulations generally do not prescribe specific retention periods in years. Instead, they require records to be kept, maintained and made accessible.

7-year retention period is a general recommendation. This is because it aligns with limitations periods for civil claims, other legal requirements (such as Fair Work records), and general business record-keeping standards. Recommended retention periods are based on:

• Exposure risks
• Legal defensibility
• WorkSafe guidance

Click here for a detailed summary of your OHS record keeping requirements