Safe Work Australia reminds businesses to protect workers from COVID 19

Safe Work Australia reminds businesses to protect workers from COVID 19, confirming that employers, workers, and small businesses retain a legal duty of care despite the easing of public health directions.

Even as restrictions relax across states and territories, workplace obligations under health and safety legislation remain firmly in place. Employers must continue to actively manage COVID-19 risk within their operations.

Employer Duties Under WHS Obligations

"Employers have a duty to protect the health and safety of their workers and minimise the risks of COVID-19 as much as reasonably practicable," Safe Work Australia said.

This duty extends beyond simple compliance. Businesses are expected to identify potential hazards, assess associated risk, and implement practical controls that support a safer working environment for staff and visitors alike.

Support and Resources for Small Businesses

Safe Work Australia's Small Business COVID 19 WHS Information Hub offers tailored guidance and resources to help businesses manage risks from COVID-19 and keep people safe across workplaces.

The hub gives small business owners practical support as they navigate ongoing health considerations, including:

• Tools for assessing workplace-specific COVID-19 risks
• Guidance documents covering hygiene and cleaning practices
• Information on managing unwell staff and close contacts
• Templates supporting broader safety planning obligations

These resources complement existing safety systems and can be adapted alongside documents such as a Safe Work Method Statement, which many businesses already rely on for managing task-specific risk.

Transitioning Back to Usual Operations

The hub also provides information and guidance for businesses transitioning back to usual operations as restrictions continue easing.

Rather than treating this shift as a return to pre-pandemic conditions, Safe Work Australia encourages employers to view it as an evolution of ongoing health management. Ongoing vigilance, rather than a one-off response, remains central to sustained safety outcomes.

Businesses managing higher-risk tasks alongside COVID-19 considerations, such as those requiring a Safe Work Method Statement, should ensure health protocols are integrated into existing documentation rather than treated as separate, standalone requirements.

Why Ongoing Vigilance Matters

Complacency poses a genuine threat to workplace safety as public health measures ease. Safe Work Australia's continued messaging reinforces that legal responsibilities toward worker wellbeing have not diminished, even where government-mandated rules have relaxed.

For further reading, see our coverage of how Safe Work Australia urges employers to protect workers during periods of rising case numbers, plus insights on how the pandemic continues shaping workers returning to work after injury.

Where to Find More Information

For more information, see COVID-19 information for workplaces, a central resource maintained by Safe Work Australia for employers seeking clarity on current obligations.

Businesses handling elevated-risk activities, such as structural work requiring a Structural Glazing SWMS or a Glass Panel Installation SWMS, should factor health considerations into broader risk management planning, ensuring COVID-19 controls sit alongside established site safety measures.

Safe Work Australia's data also feeds into broader compensation trends; for context, read our summary of the recent workers' compensation comparison report, which highlights how health-related claims continue influencing national safety support frameworks.