SafeWork NSW 2026–27 Priorities: Why Codes of Practice Can No Longer Be Ignored
SafeWork NSW has released its 2026–27 Regulatory Statement (July 2026), identifying four priority areas for proactive compliance and enforcement over the coming year: falls from heights psychosocial risks hazardous substances mobile plant, vehicles and fixed machinery. These priorities reflect the hazards most associated with serious injuries and fatalities across New South Wales. For many organisations, however, the significance of the Regulatory Statement extends beyond i
You Asked, We Listened – HSR Training Now Available One Day Per Week Over Five Weeks
Over the past few months, many clients have told us that while they recognise the importance of Health and Safety Representative (HSR) training, releasing workers from the workplace for five consecutive days, or the traditional three-day and two-day training format, can be challenging. Operational demands, staffing levels, service delivery requirements, and the economic impact of prolonged absences can make attendance difficult, particularly in aged care, manufacturing, logis
Health and Safety Committees: What They Are — and What They Are Not
Health and Safety Committees (HSCs) play an important role in many NSW workplaces. When set up and used properly, they: ✅ strengthen consultation, ✅ improve risk visibility, and ✅ support better health and safety outcomes. When they are not set up and used properly, they may become something else entirely, such as: ⚠️ a forum for off‑topic debate, ⚠️ a substitute for management decision‑making, or worse, ⚠️ a place where managers attempt—intentionally or not—to offload resp
Psychosocial Safety 2026: The Code that becomes Law
The management of psychosocial hazards and risks in New South Wales workplaces is entering a new era. From 13 October 2025, the Industrial Relations and Other Legislation Amendment (Workplace Protections) Bill 2025 introduces section 26A (to commence on 1.7.2026) to the WHS Act 2011 (NSW), transforming approved Codes of Practice including the Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work (2021) Code from advisory guidance into legally enforceable compliance benchmarks. In parallel,
Revisions to the Safe Work Australia Worker Representation and Participation Guide
In 2024 Safe Work Australia amended the Safe Work Australia Worker Representation and Participation Guide previously published in 2022. While no major changes were made to the core information regarding WHS consultation, representation, and participation, the amended guide incorporated changes to integrate recent legislative changes, specifically those related to the Fair Work Act 2009 and the Model WHS Regulation.