SafeWork NSW’s Priorities Have Not Changed. What Does That Mean for Businesses?

SafeWork NSW has released its 2026–27 Regulatory Statement (SRS), setting out the hazards it will continue to target through its compliance and enforcement activities over the coming year. The four priorities are:

• falls from heights;

• psychosocial risks;

• hazardous substances; and

• mobile plant, vehicles and fixed machinery.

There is an important point in the announcement: these priorities have remained largely unchanged for the past two years.

That is not necessarily bad news. But the question could be: why are the same hazards continuing to require regulatory attention?

The numbers are sobering. In the past year, SafeWork received reports of more than 600 incidents involving falls from height, including five fatalities. Mobile plant was involved in more than 500 incidents and eight fatalities. SafeWork also received more than 2,200 requests for service relating to psychosocial hazards.

SafeWork Commissioner Janet Schorer says the lack of significant change should prompt businesses to consider what is working well and what needs to improve.

For company directors and other WHS officers, this is also a WHS due-diligence issue. An officer's responsibility is not satisfied simply because the business has WHS policies, procedures and risk assessments. Due diligence requires officers to take reasonable steps to ensure the business is meeting its WHS duties, including ensuring appropriate systems and practices are in place.

The new SRS therefore provides an opportunity for officers to ask some straightforward questions:

• Are the controls for these priority hazards actually being implemented?

• Are workers being consulted about the risks and the controls?

• Is management receiving reliable information about whether controls are effective?

• How does the officer know that the WHS system is working in practice?

SafeWork's message is essentially that these risks continue to cause serious harm and businesses need to make meaningful improvements. The response should not necessarily be another review of the WHS manual.

It should be finding out whether the systems and controls already in place are actually preventing harm.

For officers, that is not just good practice.

It is part of WHS due diligence.

It is the overarching duty of every organisation to provide a WHS management system that ensures the safety and wellbeing of its workers. If you require support in improving or strengthening your WHS management system, Courtenell can assist through tailored training, consulting services, and management system review. Please contact one of our Training Consultants on 02 9552 2066 or email train@courtenell.com.au