Safe Work Australia releases updates to the model WHS regulations

Safe Work Australia has announced changes to the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act and Regulations, after receiving approval from WHS ministers. Reporting triggers are now broader — covering psychosocial harm, violence and long absences — but the amendments only apply once a state or territory writes them into local law.

Quick summary: the key updates at a glance

• Mobile plant and falls: dangerous events involving mobile plant or falls now attract a notification obligation.
• Violence at work: violent events, including sexual assault, are captured.
• Suicide: work-related suicide and attempted suicide must be reported.
• Extended absence: time away from the job of 15 or more calendar days is covered.
• Adoption matters: enforcement follows jurisdictional uptake, not the model text on its own.

Safe Work Australia releases updates to the model WHS Regulations

According to the updated model WHS Act, the obligations for notification have been expanded to cover ‘dangerous incidents involving mobile plant and falls, violent incidents, including sexual assault, work-related suicide and attempted suicide, and extended worker absences (15+ calendar days).’

Recognising violence and suicide signals a shift many safety professionals have long expected: mental health now sits alongside physical injury as a reportable matter under the model WHS laws.

When do the new requirements take effect?

The agency reminds workplaces that any changes to incident notification requirements will not be enforced unless they are adopted within their jurisdiction.

Before altering internal reporting systems or escalation pathways, employers should confirm the current position with a local WHS regulator. Timing varies between states and territories, so check what has already been legislated where your crews operate. Until adoption occurs, treat the announcement as advance news rather than an enforceable obligation.

Why this safety news matters for employers

Broader triggers change how organisations record, investigate and escalate harm to worker health and wellbeing.

Businesses already logging near misses, hazards and psychosocial risk will adapt quickly. Where escalation relies on informal conversations, stronger documentation becomes the immediate priority.

Steps that support compliance readiness include:

• Mapping existing reporting triggers against the amended safety regulations.
• Training supervisors to recognise reportable events, including psychosocial risk indicators.
• Confirming who may contact a regulator, and inside what timeframe.
• Feeding every investigation outcome back into your risk register.
• Refreshing worker safety inductions so frontline staff know exactly what to escalate.

Sound record keeping also reduces exposure to legal risk should an inspector investigate later. Early alignment keeps compliance straightforward once your jurisdiction adopts the amendments.

Keeping up with WHS news and regulatory change

Regulator bulletins remain the most reliable source of truth for Australian businesses. Monitoring them alongside industry news gives safety leaders time to prepare paperwork before obligations shift.

Full details are available on the Safe Work Australia website.

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