Links

 Government Departments

Occupational Health and Safety is a state responsibility, and each jurisdiction has it’s own safety bureaucracy.  These all have websites, shown in the table below.  Their websites will have contact details for further advice, and provide authoritative and reliable information.

The range of services and information vary considerably, but usually include:

• Details of legislative requirements
• Codes of practice
• Information and guidelines publications
• Training courses available
• Details of prosecutions and incidents
• Guides for business, especially small businesses
• Links to other relevant websites and organisations, including accredited service providers

 

Government Occupational Health and Safety Websites:
Australian Safety & Compensation Council	www.ascc.gov.au
Australian Government - Comcare	www.comcare.gov.au/safety
Federal Safety Commission (Construction)	www.fsc.gov.au
New South Wales	www.workcover.nsw.gov.au
Victoria	www.workcover.vic.gov.au
Queensland	www.dir.qld.gov.au
South Australia	www.eric.sa.gov.au
Western Australia	www.safetyline.wa.gov.au
Tasmania	www.workcover.tas.gov.au
Australian Capital Territory	www.workcover.act.gov.au
Northern Territory	www.nt.gov.au

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The chemical safety portal –  www.hermes.erin.gov.au/pls/cig_public - is hosted by the federal government, and provides access to a huge range of sites dealing with chemical safety and hazardous substances.

The heads of workplace compensation providers site - www.hwca.org.au  is particularly useful if you have interstate operations.

The Darwin Awards site - www.darwinawards.com describes unusual and bizarre circumstances leading to fatal injuries.  Ignore the flippant tone, and there are some valuable lessons in why engineering controls are preferable to training and instruction.

The Safety Soapbox www.worksafevic.optin.com.au/worksafevic/subscribe  is a regular subscription service provided by the Victorian Worksafe Authority, that gives a weekly rundown of OHS matters Australia wide.  It also provides a weekly “absolute shocker” and “dodgy scaffold” alert, complete with photos.

Information on Australian standards and the standards available to be downloaded (for a fee) can be found at the Standard Australia website - www.standards.com.au

Safety Institute of Australia

The Safety Institute of Australia www.sia.org.au provides a regular update service to its members, supported by regular meetings and briefing sessions.  The personal network the institute can provide is invaluable.  Paying for your safety officer or a member of staff to join the institute is a sound financial investment.