• Specific Year
    Any

WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY (NATIONAL UNIFORM LEGISLATION) ACT 2011

Table of Provisions

PART 1--PRELIMINARY

Division 1-- Introduction

  • 1 Short title  
  • 2 Commencement  

Division 2--Object

  • 3 Object  

Division 3--Interpretation

Subdivision 1--Definitions
  • 4 Definitions  
  • Subdivision 2--Other important terms
  • 5 Meaning of person conducting a business or undertaking  
  • 6 Meaning of supply  
  • 7 Meaning of worker  
  • 8 Meaning of workplace  
  • 9 Examples and notes  

Division 4--Application of Act

  • 10 Act binds the Crown  
  • 11 Extraterritorial application  
  • 12 Scope  
  • 12A Application of Criminal Code  
  • 12B Offences are offences of strict liability  

PART 2--HEALTH AND SAFETY DUTIES

Division 1--Introductory

Subdivision 1--Principles that apply to duties
  • 13 Principles that apply to duties  
  • 14 Duties not transferable  
  • 15 Person may have more than one duty  
  • 16 More than one person can have a duty  
  • 17 Management of risks  
  • Subdivision 2--What is reasonably practicable
  • 18 What is reasonably practicable in ensuring health and safety  

Division 2--Primary duty of care

  • 19 Primary duty of care  

Division 3--Further duties of persons conducting businesses or undertakings

  • 20 Duty of persons conducting businesses or undertakings involving management or control of workplaces  
  • 21 Duty of persons conducting businesses or undertakings involving management or control of fixtures, fittings or plant at workplaces  
  • 22 Duties of persons conducting businesses or undertakings that design plant, substances or structures  
  • 23 Duties of persons conducting businesses or undertakings that manufacture plant, substances or structures  
  • 24 Duties of persons conducting businesses or undertakings that import plant, substances or structures  
  • 25 Duties of persons conducting businesses or undertakings that supply plant, substances or structures  
  • 26 Duty of persons conducting businesses or undertakings that install, construct or commission plant or structures  

Division 4--Duty of officers, workers and other persons

  • 27 Duty of officers  
  • 28 Duties of workers  
  • 29 Duties of other persons at the workplace  

Division 5--Offences and penalties

  • 31 Reckless conduct – Category 1  
  • 32 Failure to comply with health and safety duty – Category 2  
  • 33 Failure to comply with health and safety duty – Category 3  
  • 34 Exceptions  

Division 6--Industrial manslaughter

  • 34A Meaning of alternative offence  
  • 34B Industrial manslaughter  
  • 34C Provisions not applicable to industrial manslaughter  
  • 34D Verdict for alternative offence  
  • 34E Limitation period for prosecution  

PART 3--INCIDENT NOTIFICATION

  • 35 What is a notifiable incident  
  • 36 What is a serious injury or illness  
  • 37 What is a dangerous incident  
  • 38 Duty to notify of notifiable incidents  
  • 39 Duty to preserve incident sites  

PART 4--AUTHORISATIONS

  • 40 Meaning of authorised  
  • 41 Requirements for authorisation of workplaces  
  • 42 Requirements for authorisation of plant or substance  
  • 43 Requirements for authorisation of work  
  • 44 Requirements for prescribed qualifications or experience  
  • 45 Requirement to comply with conditions of authorisation  

PART 5--CONSULTATION, REPRESENTATION AND PARTICIPATION

Division 1--Consultation, cooperation and coordination between duty holders

  • 46 Duty to consult with other duty holders  

Division 2--Consultation with workers

  • 47 Duty to consult workers  
  • 48 Nature of consultation  
  • 49 When consultation is required  

Division 3--Health and safety representatives

Subdivision 1--Request for election of health and safety representatives
  • 50 Request for election of health and safety representative  
  • Subdivision 2--Determination of work groups
  • 51 Determination of work groups  
  • 52 Negotiations for agreement for work group  
  • 53 Notice to workers  
  • 54 Failure of negotiations  
  • Subdivision 3--Multiple-business work groups
  • 55 Determination of work groups of multiple businesses  
  • 56 Negotiation of agreement for work groups of multiple businesses  
  • 57 Notice to workers  
  • 58 Withdrawal from negotiations or agreement involving multiple businesses  
  • 59 Effect of Subdivision on other arrangements  
  • Subdivision 4--Election of health and safety representatives
  • 60 Eligibility to be elected  
  • 61 Procedure for election of health and safety representatives  
  • 62 Eligibility to vote  
  • 63 When election not required  
  • 64 Term of office of health and safety representative  
  • 65 Disqualification of health and safety representatives  
  • 66 Immunity of health and safety representatives  
  • 67 Deputy health and safety representatives  
  • Subdivision 5--Powers and functions of health and safety representatives
  • 68 Powers and functions of health and safety representatives  
  • 69 Powers and functions generally limited to the particular work group  
  • Subdivision 6--Obligations of person conducting business or undertaking to health and safety representatives
  • 70 General obligations of person conducting business or undertaking  
  • 71 Exceptions from obligations under section 70(1)  
  • 72 Obligation to train health and safety representatives  
  • 73 Obligation to share costs if multiple businesses or undertakings  
  • 74 List of health and safety representatives  

Division 4--Health and safety committees

  • 75 Health and safety committees  
  • 76 Constitution of committee  
  • 77 Functions of committee  
  • 78 Meetings of committee  
  • 79 Duties of person conducting business or undertaking  

Division 5--Issue resolution

  • 80 Parties to an issue  
  • 81 Resolution of health and safety issues  
  • 82 Referral of issue to regulator for resolution by inspector  

Division 6--Right to cease or direct cessation of unsafe work

  • 83 Meaning of cease work under this Division  
  • 84 Right of worker to cease unsafe work  
  • 85 Health and safety representative may direct that unsafe work cease  
  • 86 Worker to notify if ceases work  
  • 87 Alternative work  
  • 88 Continuity of engagement of worker  
  • 89 Request to regulator to appoint inspector to assist  

Division 7--Provisional improvement notices

  • 90 Provisional improvement notices  
  • 91 Provisional improvement notice to be in writing  
  • 92 Contents of provisional improvement notice  
  • 93 Provisional improvement notice may give directions to remedy contravention  
  • 94 Minor changes to provisional improvement notice  
  • 95 Issue of provisional improvement notice  
  • 96 Health and safety representative may cancel notice  
  • 97 Display of provisional improvement notice  
  • 98 Formal irregularities or defects in notice  
  • 99 Offence to contravene a provisional improvement notice  
  • 100 Request for review of provisional improvement notice  
  • 101 Regulator to appoint inspector to review notice  
  • 102 Decision of inspector on review of provisional improvement notice  

Division 8--Part not to apply to prisoners

  • 103 Part does not apply to prisoners  

PART 6--DISCRIMINATORY, COERCIVE AND MISLEADING CONDUCT

Division 1--Prohibition of discriminatory, coercive or misleading conductNote for Part 6, Division

  • 104 Prohibition of discriminatory conduct  
  • 105 What is discriminatory conduct  
  • 106 What is a prohibited reason  
  • 107 Prohibition of requesting, instructing, inducing, encouraging, authorising or assisting discriminatory conduct  
  • 108 Prohibition of coercion or inducement  
  • 109 Misrepresentation  

Division 2--Criminal proceedings in relation to discriminatory conduct

  • 110 Proof of discriminatory conduct  
  • 111 Order for compensation or reinstatement  

Division 3--Civil proceedings in relation to discriminatory or coercive conduct

  • 112 Civil proceedings in relation to engaging in or inducing discriminatory or coercive conduct  
  • 113 Procedure for civil actions for discriminatory conduct  

Division 4--General

  • 114 General provisions relating to orders  
  • 115 Prohibition of multiple actions  

PART 7--WORKPLACE ENTRY BY WHS ENTRY PERMIT HOLDERSNOTE FOR PART

Division 1--Introductory

  • 116 Definitions  

Division 2--Entry to inquire into suspected contraventions

  • 117 Entry to inquire into suspected contraventions  
  • 118 Rights that may be exercised while at workplace  
  • 119 Notice of entry  
  • 120 Entry to inspect employee records or information held by another person  

Division 3--Entry to consult and advise workers

  • 121 Entry to consult and advise workers  
  • 122 Notice of entry  

Division 4--Requirements for WHS entry permit holders

  • 123 Contravening WHS entry permit conditions  
  • 124 WHS entry permit holder must also hold permit under other law  
  • 125 WHS entry permit to be available for inspection  
  • 126 When right may be exercised  
  • 127 Where the right may be exercised  
  • 128 Work health and safety requirements  
  • 129 Residential premises  
  • 130 WHS entry permit holder not required to disclose names of workers  

Division 5--WHS entry permits

  • 131 Application for WHS entry permit  
  • 132 Consideration of application  
  • 133 Eligibility criteria  
  • 134 Issue of WHS entry permit  
  • 135 Conditions on WHS entry permit  
  • 136 Term of WHS entry permit  
  • 137 Expiry of WHS entry permit  
  • 138 Application to revoke WHS entry permit  
  • 139 Regulator must permit WHS entry permit holder to show cause  
  • 140 Determination of application  

Division 6--Dealing with disputes

  • 141 Application for assistance of inspector to resolve dispute  
  • 142 Regulator may deal with a dispute about a right of entry under this Act  
  • 143 Contravening order made to deal with dispute  

Division 7--Prohibitions

  • 144 Person must not refuse or delay entry of WHS entry permit holder  
  • 145 Person must not hinder or obstruct WHS entry permit holder  
  • 146 WHS entry permit holder must not delay, hinder or obstruct any person or disrupt work at workplace  
  • 147 Misrepresentations about things authorised by this Part  
  • 148 Unauthorised use or disclosure of information or documents  

Division 8--General

  • 149 Return of WHS entry permits  
  • 150 Union to provide information to regulator  
  • 151 Register of WHS entry permit holders  

PART 8--THE REGULATOR

Division 1--Functions of regulator

  • 152 Functions of regulator  
  • 153 Powers of regulator  
  • 154 Delegation by regulator  

Division 2--Powers of regulator to obtain information

  • 155 Powers of regulator to obtain information  

PART 9--SECURING COMPLIANCE

Division 1--Appointment of inspectors

  • 156 Appointment of inspectors  
  • 157 Identity cards  
  • 158 Accountability of inspectors  
  • 159 Suspension and ending of appointment of inspectors  

Division 2--Functions and powers of inspectors

  • 160 Functions and powers of inspectors  
  • 161 Conditions on inspectors' compliance powers  
  • 162 Inspectors subject to regulator's directions  

Division 3--Powers relating to entry

Subdivision 1--General powers of entry
  • 163 Powers of entry  
  • 164 Notification of entry  
  • 165 General powers on entry  
  • 166 Persons assisting inspectors  
  • Subdivision 2--Search warrants
  • 167 Search warrants  
  • 168 Announcement before entry on warrant  
  • 169 Copy of warrant to be given to person with management or control of place  
  • Subdivision 3--Limitation on entry powers
  • 170 Places used for residential purposes  
  • Subdivision 4--Specific powers on entry
  • 171 Power to require production of documents and answers to questions  
  • 172 Abrogation of privilege against self-incrimination  
  • 173 Warning to be given  
  • 174 Powers to copy and retain documents  
  • 175 Power to seize evidence etc.  
  • 176 Inspector's power to seize dangerous workplaces and things  
  • 177 Powers supporting seizure  
  • 178 Receipt for seized things  
  • 179 Forfeiture of seized things  
  • 180 Return of seized things  
  • 181 Access to seized things  

Division 4--Damage and compensation

  • 182 Damage etc. to be minimised  
  • 183 Inspector to give notice of damage  
  • 184 Compensation  

Division 5--Other matters

  • 185 Power to require name and address  
  • 186 Inspector may witness affidavits  
  • 187 Attendance of inspector at coronial inquests  

Division 6--Offences in relation to inspectors

  • 188 Offence to hinder or obstruct inspector  
  • 189 Offence to impersonate inspector  
  • 190 Offence to assault, threaten or intimidate inspector  

PART 10--ENFORCEMENT MEASURES

Division 1--Improvement notices

  • 191 Issue of improvement notices  
  • 192 Contents of improvement notices  
  • 193 Compliance with improvement notice  
  • 194 Extension of time for compliance with improvement notices  

Division 2--Prohibition notices

  • 195 Power to issue prohibition notice  
  • 196 Contents of prohibition notice  
  • 197 Compliance with prohibition notice  

Division 3--Non-disturbance notices

  • 198 Issue of non-disturbance notice  
  • 199 Contents of non-disturbance notice  
  • 200 Compliance with non-disturbance notice  
  • 201 Issue of subsequent notices  

Division 4--General requirements applying to notices

  • 202 Application of Division  
  • 203 Notice to be in writing  
  • 204 Directions in notices  
  • 205 Recommendations in notice  
  • 206 Changes to notice by inspector  
  • 207 Regulator may vary or cancel notice  
  • 208 Formal irregularities or defects in notice  
  • 209 Issue and giving of notice  
  • 210 Display of notice  

Division 5--Remedial action

  • 211 When regulator may carry out action  
  • 212 Power of the regulator to take other remedial action  
  • 213 Costs of remedial or other action  

Division 6--Injunctions

  • 214 Application of Division  
  • 215 Injunctions for noncompliance with notices  

PART 11--ENFORCEABLE UNDERTAKINGS

  • 216 Regulator may accept WHS undertakings  
  • 217 Notice of decision and reasons for decision  
  • 218 When a WHS undertaking is enforceable  
  • 219 Compliance with WHS undertaking  
  • 220 Contravention of WHS undertaking  
  • 221 Withdrawal or variation of WHS undertaking  
  • 222 Proceeding for alleged contravention  

PART 12--REVIEW OF DECISIONS

Division 1--Reviewable decisions

  • 223 Which decisions are reviewable  

Division 2--Internal review

  • 224 Application for internal review  
  • 225 Internal reviewer  
  • 226 Decision of internal reviewer  
  • 227 Decision on internal review  
  • 228 Stays of reviewable decisions on internal review  

Division 3--External review

  • 229 Application for external review  
  • 229A Court may decline to deal with application if frivolous etc.  
  • 229B Effect of application on prior decision  
  • 229C Procedure for external review  
  • 229D Decision on external review  

PART 13--LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Division 1--General matters

  • 230 Prosecutions  
  • 231 Request for prosecution  
  • 231A Referral to Director of Public Prosecutions  
  • 231B Consent to prosecution  
  • 232 Limitation period for prosecutions  
  • 233 Multiple contraventions of health and safety duty provision  

Division 2--Sentencing for offences

  • 234 Application of this Division  
  • 235 Orders generally  
  • 236 Adverse publicity orders  
  • 237 Orders for restoration  
  • 238 Work health and safety project orders  
  • 239 Release on the giving of a court-ordered WHS undertaking  
  • 240 Injunctions  
  • 241 Training orders  
  • 242 Offence to fail to comply with order  

Division 3--Infringement notices

  • 243 Infringement notices  

Division 4--Offences by bodies corporate

  • 244 Imputing conduct to bodies corporate  

Division 5--The Crown

  • 245 Offences and the Crown  
  • 246 WHS civil penalty provisions and the Crown  
  • 247 Officers  
  • 248 Responsible agency for the Crown  

Division 6--Public authorities

  • 249 Application to public authorities that are bodies corporate  
  • 250 Proceedings against public authorities  
  • 251 Imputing conduct to public authorities  
  • 252 Officer of public authority  
  • 253 Proceedings against successors to public authorities  

Division 7--WHS civil penalty provisions

  • 254 When is a provision a WHS civil penalty provision  
  • 255 Proceedings for contravention of WHS civil penalty provision  
  • 256 Involvement in contravention treated in same way as actual contravention  
  • 257 Contravening a civil penalty provision is not an offence  
  • 258 Civil proceeding rules and procedure to apply  
  • 259 Proceeding for a contravention of a WHS civil penalty provision  
  • 260 Proceeding may be brought by the regulator or an inspector  
  • 261 Limitation period for WHS civil penalty proceedings  
  • 262 Recovery of a monetary penalty  
  • 263 Civil double jeopardy  
  • 264 Criminal proceedings during civil proceedings  
  • 265 Criminal proceedings after civil proceedings  
  • 266 Evidence given in proceedings for contravention of WHS civil penalty provision not admissible in criminal proceedings  

Division 8--Civil liability not affected by this Act

  • 267 Civil liability not affected by this Act  

PART 14--GENERAL

Division 1--General provisions

  • 268 Offence to give false or misleading information  
  • 269 Act does not affect legal professional privilege  
  • 270 Immunity from liability  
  • 271 Confidentiality of information  
  • 272 No contracting out  
  • 273 Person not to levy workers  

Division 2--Codes of practice

  • 274 Approved codes of practice  
  • 275 Use of codes of practice in proceedings  

Division 3--Regulation-making powers

  • 276 Regulation-making powers  

PART 15--TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS FOR WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY (NATIONAL UNIFORM LEGISLATION) ACT 2011

  • 277 Definitions  
  • 278 Interpretation Act 1978 not affected  
  • 284 Authorisations  
  • 285 Consultation with workers  
  • 286 Work groups  
  • 287 Health and safety representatives  
  • 288 Cost sharing agreement  
  • 289 Disqualification of person as health and safety representative  
  • 290 Health and safety committee  
  • 291 Processes underway at commencement  
  • 292 Authorised union OH&S representatives  
  • 293 Application made before commencement  
  • 294 Inspectors  
  • 295 Exercise of compliance powers under old WHS Act  
  • 296 Codes of practice  
  • 297 Work Health and safety Advisory Council  

Navigate