12 Ways to Make Your Small Business Safer (Based on WorkSafe Victoria Guidance) + Psychological Hazards
How to identify and control health and safety hazards in small businesses to make them safer.
Tag: worksafe victoria
Information and resources related to WorkSafe Victoria requirements, compliance guidance, safety alerts and employer obligations.
Psychosocial Hazards in the Workplace: Categories, Risk Controls and Training Examples
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 […]
Psychological Health at Work: Key Differences Between Harmonised WHS legislation and Victorian OHS Laws
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 […]
Are You Meeting Your OHS Duty of Care Obligations in Victoria?
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, […]
How to Consult Workers to Meet Victoria’s Psychological Health Regulations
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 […]
Workplace Psychological Health Compliance Planning Checklist – Victoria
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 […]
Psychological Health at Work in Victoria: A Simple Guide for Small & Medium Businesses
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 […]
Understanding Workplace Noise Hazards Based on the Victorian Compliance Code for Noise
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 […]
Demystifying Australian Health and Safety Terminology – WHS, OHS, PCBU etc
WHS v OHS – What’s the difference? Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) and Work Health and Safety (WHS) are two terms that are often used interchangeably, but they actually have distinct meanings and implications in the field of workplace safety. The 2 terms (OHS and WHS) specifically refer to the legislative framework and regulations that […]
2026 OHS HEALTH CHECKS – BOOK NOW!
Are you meeting your OHS obligations under OHS Legislation? Do a quick check of your OHS Management Systems now, complete this free survey and check your score: SafetyMAP Diagnostic Quiz Get your OHS health check now and plan for the next 12 months A ½ day site visit includes review of your documentation, observation and […]
Hazardous Manual Handling – New Free Tools from WorkSafe Victoria
WorkSafe Victoria have some great new free online tools to help you identify and control the risks relating to hazardous manual handling at work. It is a legal requirement that employers risk assess all hazardous manual handling task in consultation with employees, and up until now this has been difficult to document. The new documents […]
New Victorian WorkSafe Compliance code: Workplace facilities and the working environment
The Compliance code for Workplace facilities and the working environment focuses on ensuring that employers provide safe and suitable facilities for their employees. This includes areas such as toilets, rest areas, drinking water, and temperature control. The code emphasizes the importance of maintaining cleanliness, hygiene, and accessibility in these facilities. It also addresses the need […]
When will we see the Victorian OHS Regulations Amendment for Psychosocial Hazards?
Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) regulations are crucial for ensuring the well-being of employees in the workplace. In recent years, the focus on workplace safety has extended beyond physical hazards to include psychosocial hazards, which can have a significant impact on employees’ mental and emotional health. In Victoria, Australia, there has been growing anticipation regarding […]
Workplace Gendered Violence including Sexual Harassment – Victoria
WorkSafe Victoria and the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (VEOHRC) have recently released new guidance on this topic. In Victoria, sexual harassment has previously been covered by the Equal Opportunity Act 2010, and was not seen at an OHS hazard. Now that WorkSafe is providing guidance, it is most definitely seen as an […]
Summary and Comment – Occupational Health and Safety Amendment (Psychological Health) Regulations Draft
WorkSafe has just released this draft for public comment which is planned to come into operation 1 July 2022. The purpose of this article is to summarise the key requirements in the draft and comment on my opinion of the draft. Here is the link to the draft and related information https://engage.vic.gov.au/proposed-psychological-health-regulations The objectives of […]
Do Health and Safety Representatives (HSR)s have more power or responsibility?
We held a LinkedIn survey last week, see results in the picture below. Our survey results suggest that people generally think that responsibility is more important than power for HSRs. Speaking about requirements in Victoria, if we go by the “Vic OHS Act 2004 s58 Powers of health and safety representatives”, I suggest that the […]
Summary of Victoria’s new Workplace Manslaughter offences as discussed in the WorkSafe Victoria “Understanding Workplace Manslaughter” Webinar May 2020
The Workplace Safety Legislation Amendment (Workplace Manslaughter and other matters) Bill 2019 passed Parliament in November 2019 and comes in to place on the 1st July 2020. There are no additional duties required by duty holders, however the consequence for not meeting current duties under the Victorian OHS Act 2004 have been significantly increased. Therefore, […]
WHS Harmonisation in Victoria? Nope.
1st May 2012 “The Government will not sign up to the current proposal for harmonised legislation for occupational health and safety. It offers little benefit for Victoria to offset the $3.4 billion of estimated costs, the majority of which falls on small business. Victoria will continue to work towards best practice legislation.” 2012-13 Treasurer’s Speech […]
How to determine who is an officer? Relevant for 2004 OHS Act Vic and Harmonised legislation
One proactive activity within every organisation is to determine who in your organisation is an “officer”, hence carrying personal liability if OHS is not managed as per legislated requrements. This link provides a detailed article, which has been summarised below http://www.mondaq.com/australia/x/170736/Directors+Officers+Executives+Shareholders/An+officer+and+a+defendant+personal+liability+of+managers&email_access=on?goback=%2Egde_4386381_member_107248272 Who in your organisation might be an officer under the OHS Act? The Corporations […]