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Safe Work Australia

Safe Work Australia is an Australian government statutory body established in 2008 to develop national policy relating to work health and safety (WHS) and workers’ compensation.

As a national policy body, Safe Work Australia does not regulate WHS laws. The Commonwealth, states and territories retain responsibility for regulating and enforcing WHS laws in their jurisdictions.

Vision and mission

Healthier, safer and more productive workplaces through improvements to Australian work health and safety and workers’ compensation arrangements.

All workers regardless of their occupation or how they are engaged have the right to a healthy and safe working environment. Safe Work Australia (SWA) believes the effective design of work and work systems, and the systematic management of risks, will allow workers to lead productive working lives.

How Safe Work Australia can help

Safe Work Australia (SWA) is committed to developing policy aimed at reducing the incidence of work related death, injury and illness, and exposure to hazards and risks in the workplace.

SWA is an inclusive, tripartite body — working in partnership with governments, employers and employees — to drive national policy development on WHS and workers’ compensation matters. SWA works to:

  • develop and evaluate national policy and strategies
  • develop and evaluate the model WHS legislative framework
  • developing national education, communication strategies and initiatives
  • undertake research, and
  • collect, analyse and report data.

Recommended links

This information was originally published on healthdirect - Safe Work Australia.

Last reviewed: April 2021

Information from this partner

Found 23 results

Fatigue | SafeWork NSW

Fatigue makes you feel mentally and/or physically exhausted and reduces your ability to work safely and effectively.

Read more on Safe Work Australia website

Heat-related illness | SafeWork NSW

‘Heat-related illness’ is a term that describes a range of progressive heat-related conditions.

Read more on Safe Work Australia website

Be Silica Smart. | Safe Work Australia

Work processes can release invisible dusts, gases, fumes, vapours, mists and microorganisms into the air.

Read more on Safe Work Australia website

- Carcinogens | Safe Work Australia

A carcinogen is something that can cause cancer.

Read more on Safe Work Australia website

- Hazardous chemicals | Safe Work Australia

Hazardous chemicals can be dangerous if they are not properly managed.

Read more on Safe Work Australia website

- Fatigue | Safe Work Australia

Fatigue is a state of physical, mental or emotional impairment. Fatigue can develop over the short or long term, can prevent people from functioning safely and can have health effects on workers.

Read more on Safe Work Australia website

- Inorganic Lead | Safe Work Australia

Inorganic lead (lead) and lead compounds are found in many workplaces. Exposure to lead can cause illness and disease. If you are a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) and you have lead at your workplace, you have duties under the model WHS laws to manage and monitor exposure to lead at your workplace.

Read more on Safe Work Australia website

- Japanese encephalitis | Safe Work Australia

This page provides persons conducting a business or undertaking with information on Japanese encephalitis and their duties under the model WHS laws.

Read more on Safe Work Australia website

- Noise | Safe Work Australia

Noise can damage your hearing if it’s too loud. Both sudden, loud noises, like an explosion, and constant, loud noise, like working near industrial machinery, can damage your hearing. Hearing damage includes permanent or temporary hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing in the ears).

Read more on Safe Work Australia website

- Sitting and standing | Safe Work Australia

Sitting for long periods of time is common in Australian workplaces. Too much sitting or standing is bad for your health. Prolonged standing can increase risk of fatigue and illness. Workers should not stay in a seated, standing or static posture for long periods.

Read more on Safe Work Australia website

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Healthdirect Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to the Traditional Owners and to Elders both past and present.

This information is for your general information and use only and is not intended to be used as medical advice and should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any medical condition, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes.

The information is not a substitute for independent professional advice and should not be used as an alternative to professional health care. If you have a particular medical problem, please consult a healthcare professional.

Except as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, this publication or any part of it may not be reproduced, altered, adapted, stored and/or distributed in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of Healthdirect Australia.