Workplace safety signage plays a critical role in reducing risks, communicating hazards, and helping businesses meet their obligations under Victorian Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) laws. Appropriate signage helps workers, contractors, volunteers, and visitors identify hazards and understand required safety actions quickly and clearly. Safety signs should be easy to understand, appropriately positioned, regularly maintained, […]
How to identify and control health and safety hazards in small businesses to make them safer.
Psychosocial hazards are workplace factors that can cause psychological or physical harm to workers. These hazards may arise from the design of work, workplace interactions, organisational systems, or exposure to traumatic or stressful situations. If psychosocial hazards are not properly identified and controlled, they can contribute to stress, anxiety, burnout, psychological injury, fatigue, conflict and […]
Moodle is an open-source Learning Management System that helps small businesses and not-for-profits deliver effective workplace inductions efficiently. It offers cost-saving, standardized training, strong compliance tracking, and flexible access. The platform supports engaging content, easy updates, and automates assessments, ultimately enhancing safety culture while adhering to OHS requirements.
Introduction Psychological health is no longer a “grey area” in workplace safety—especially in Victoria. With the introduction of the Occupational Health and Safety (Psychological Health) Regulations 2025, Victoria has now moved much closer to the harmonised Work Health and Safety (WHS) model used across most of Australia. For small businesses and not-for-profits, this is a […]
But the real question is: 👉 Are you confident your business is fully compliant? Does your business employ staff or engage contractors? If so, you have clear legal responsibilities under the WorkSafe Victoria framework to ensure a safe and healthy workplace. Many small and medium businesses believe they are meeting their obligations—until an incident, inspection, […]
If you’re running a business in Victoria, keeping on top of workplace health and safety (OHS) training can quickly become overwhelming. Between inductions, refresher training, high-risk licences, and compliance obligations, it’s easy for things to slip through the cracks. That’s where an OHS Training Matrix becomes essential. What is an OHS Training Matrix? An OHS […]
Prepared by OHS & HR Management Systems Pty Ltd. Based on 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 […]
Survey tools and practical consultation methods for Victorina Workplaces From 1 December 2025, employers must actively identify and control psychosocial hazards under the new regulations administered by WorkSafe Victoria. A key legal requirement and initial step towards compliance is consultation with employees when identifying psychosocial hazards, assessing risks, and implementing control measures. Consultation ensures workers […]
Designed for Small Businesses in Victoria. Based on WorkSafe Victoria 2025 Psychological Health Regulations and Compliance Code. Detailed requirements: https://ohsmanagementsystems.com.au/2025/10/02/psychological-health-at-work-in-victoria-a-simple-guide-for-small-medium-businesses/ Workplace Psychological Health Compliance Planning Checklist – Victoria Also, here is a very simple survey that WorkSafe Victoria provide on their website to help comply with the “Consultation” actions. WorkSafe Victoria “Employee Engarement Survey” 26/3/26 […]
A strong safety induction isn’t optional in Australia—it’s a legal requirement and a critical first step in protecting workers, preventing incidents, and meeting Work Health and Safety (WHS) obligations. According to Safe Work Australia, employers must train workers before they start work so they become familiar with their tasks, workplace environment, and the hazards around […]
Hazardous chemicals are widely used across Australian workplaces—from cleaning products and fuels to solvents, paints and industrial chemicals. While these substances are often essential for business operations, they can also create significant risks for workers if not properly managed. Across Australia, employers have legal obligations under work health and safety legislation to manage risks associated […]
Technology is reshaping Australian workplaces faster than ever. AI‑powered tools, automated systems, robotics, drones, and digital workflow platforms are now common—even in small businesses and NFPs. While these technologies offer major productivity gains, they also bring new categories of OHS risks that employers must manage as part of their legal obligations. Businesses are expected to […]
They are finally here!! Occupational Health and Safety (Psychological Health) Regulations 2025. From December 2025, Victorian workplaces have clearer rules for managing psychological health. This means employers must not only protect workers from physical injury but also from psychological harm — things like work overload, bullying, poor work design, or exposure to traumatic events.The new […]
WorkSafe Victoria has recently updated their document “OfficeWise 2006 ” with “Office Health and Safety 2024” In today’s evolving work environment, ensuring the health and safety of everyone in the office is more critical than ever. The 2024 Office Health and Safety guide, developed by WorkSafe Victoria, delivers clear and comprehensive advice that not only […]
Workplace noise hazards are a significant health and safety issue in many industries, from manufacturing and construction to hospitality and retail. Prolonged exposure to excessive noise can lead to serious health problems, including hearing loss, tinnitus, stress, and reduced productivity. In Victoria, Australia, the Compliance Code for Noise provides detailed guidance on how to manage […]
For Vocational Education and Training (VET) trainers, maintaining vocational currency and undergoing professional development is critical. Vocational currency refers to the process of staying up to date with industry skills, knowledge, and best practices to ensure that training remains relevant and aligned with industry needs. In the field of Work Health and Safety (WHS) (Occupational […]
When it comes to workplace safety, especially in industries involving significant physical labour, manual handling is a major concern. Many organisations emphasize training workers on proper lifting techniques, believing this will mitigate the risks associated with manual handling. However, while training is crucial, it is only one part of a comprehensive approach to managing manual […]
Meeting Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) obligations is a critical responsibility for all businesses, including small businesses and not-for-profit organisations. However, with limited resources, it can be challenging to implement comprehensive safety measures. Here’s a guide on how to effectively manage OHS obligations without straining your budget. 1. Understand Your Legal Obligations The first step […]
Make sure your kitchen staff are trained in kitchen safety