Consultation on options to improve WHS incident notification

This consultation has now closed. Thank you for your contributions. If you'd like further information, please contact INConsult@swa.gov.au 

Safe Work Australia invites your feedback on potential options to improve the coverage and operation of the incident notification provisions in the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act (the ‘incident notification provisions’).

The options explored in this consultation paper are based on the findings of a review of the incident notification provisions (‘incident notification review’) undertaken by Safe Work Australia in 2021-22. This review identified opportunities to address specific gaps in the current notification requirements and also expand the framework to capture a broader range of injuries, illnesses, hazards and harms.

Most significantly, the consultation paper includes options for consideration that would:

  • capture psychological injuries, illnesses and harm, and psychosocial hazards (including workplace violence, bullying and harassment), and
  • introduce periodic reporting (six-monthly) for certain incidents where immediate notification is not required.

Your views and supporting evidence on the proposed options will inform findings to be provided to Safe Work Australia Members and any final recommendations to Commonwealth, state and territory WHS ministers, who are the decision makers in relation to amendments to the model WHS laws.

Safe Work Australia thanks you for your time in contributing to this important consultation process.

A note to readers

This paper discusses a range of sensitive issues, including work-related fatalities, suicide and attempted suicide, workplace violence, sexual assault, exposure to trauma, and bullying and harassment. While specific cases are not discussed, circumstances are described that may cause distress for readers.

Help is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, anywhere in Australia. If you need help now, call:

Submissions will be accepted until 10am AEST 11 September 2023.

Please download the Submission document under the Key Document section and upload your completed submission using the link below.

If you are unable to lodge your submission using Engage, please email INConsult@swa.gov.au.

If you are planning to make a submission via email or mail, please fill out the cover sheet. This is not required if you are making a submission online via the Engage portal.

Respondents may choose how their submission is published on the Safe Work Australia website by choosing from the following options:

  • submission published
  • submission published anonymously, or
  • submission not published.

For further information on privacy and the publication of submissions on Engage, please refer to the Privacy Collection Notice, Safe Work Australia Privacy Policy and the Engagement HQ privacy policy.

Any enquiries about this consultation process can be directed to: Director, Psychosocial and Consultation Policy by email: INConsult@swa.gov.au.

Safe Work Australia invites your feedback on potential options to improve the coverage and operation of the incident notification provisions in the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act (the ‘incident notification provisions’).

The options explored in this consultation paper are based on the findings of a review of the incident notification provisions (‘incident notification review’) undertaken by Safe Work Australia in 2021-22. This review identified opportunities to address specific gaps in the current notification requirements and also expand the framework to capture a broader range of injuries, illnesses, hazards and harms.

Most significantly, the consultation paper includes options for consideration that would:

  • capture psychological injuries, illnesses and harm, and psychosocial hazards (including workplace violence, bullying and harassment), and
  • introduce periodic reporting (six-monthly) for certain incidents where immediate notification is not required.

Your views and supporting evidence on the proposed options will inform findings to be provided to Safe Work Australia Members and any final recommendations to Commonwealth, state and territory WHS ministers, who are the decision makers in relation to amendments to the model WHS laws.

Safe Work Australia thanks you for your time in contributing to this important consultation process.

A note to readers

This paper discusses a range of sensitive issues, including work-related fatalities, suicide and attempted suicide, workplace violence, sexual assault, exposure to trauma, and bullying and harassment. While specific cases are not discussed, circumstances are described that may cause distress for readers.

Help is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, anywhere in Australia. If you need help now, call:

Submissions will be accepted until 10am AEST 11 September 2023.

Please download the Submission document under the Key Document section and upload your completed submission using the link below.

If you are unable to lodge your submission using Engage, please email INConsult@swa.gov.au.

If you are planning to make a submission via email or mail, please fill out the cover sheet. This is not required if you are making a submission online via the Engage portal.

Respondents may choose how their submission is published on the Safe Work Australia website by choosing from the following options:

  • submission published
  • submission published anonymously, or
  • submission not published.

For further information on privacy and the publication of submissions on Engage, please refer to the Privacy Collection Notice, Safe Work Australia Privacy Policy and the Engagement HQ privacy policy.

Any enquiries about this consultation process can be directed to: Director, Psychosocial and Consultation Policy by email: INConsult@swa.gov.au.