The Work Health and Safety Approved Codes of Practice 2011 (WHS Codes of Practice) are critical to understanding the duties contained in the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) (WHS Act) and WHS Regulations.
The WHS Codes of Practice provide practical guidance to support the WHS Act and WHS Regulations. Non-compliance with Codes of Practice does not necessarily constitute a non-compliance of WHS legislation.
WHS Codes of Practice are not mandatory and if the Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) can find an equivalent means of providing the same level of health and safety—as provided for in the WHS Code of Practice - then that is an acceptable course of action. However, WHS Codes of Practice do have evidentiary status in court.
Codes of Practice in effect in the Commonwealth jurisdiction
Following the finalisation of the model Work Health Safey Act and Regulations, Comcare approved two compilation Codes of Practice: the Work Health and Safety Codes of Practice 2011 and Work Health and Safety Codes of Practice 2012.
The following Codes of Practice are approved under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011:
- How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice 2015
- Work Health and Safety Consultation, Co-operation and Co-ordination Code of Practice 2015
- Abrasive Blasting Code of Practice 2015
- Confined Spaces Code of Practice 2015
- Construction Work Code of Practice 2015
- Demolition Work Code of Practice 2015
- Excavation Work Code of Practice 2015
- First Aid in the Workplace Code of Practice 2015
- Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice 2015
- How to Manage and Control Asbestos in the Workplace Code of Practice 2015
- How to Safely Remove Asbestos Code of Practice 2015
- Labelling of Workplace Hazardous Chemicals Code of Practice 2015
- Managing Electrical Risks in the Workplace Code of Practice 2015
- Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work Code of Practice 2015
- Managing Risks in Stevedoring Code of Practice 2017
- Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace Code of Practice 2015
- Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice 2015
- Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice 2015
- Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice 2015
- Preparation of Safety Data Sheets for Hazardous Chemicals Code of Practice 2015
- Preventing Falls in Housing Construction Code of Practice 2015
- Safe Design of Structures Code of Practice 2015
- Spray Painting and Powder Coating Code of Practice 2015
- Welding Processes Code of Practice 2015,
NOTE: To check currency of the codes, go to the Comcare website
In addition to the codes, Comcare has a number of guidance documents, and fact sheets, all available on the Codes of Practice page.
Preventing and Managing Fatigue in the Workplace and Responding to Workplace Bullying draft Codes of Practice
In addition, the Preventing and Managing Fatigue in the Workplace and Preventing and Responding to Workplace Bullying draft model Codes of Practice are currently being revised based on public comment. They are expected to be finalised in the first half of 2013. (NOTE: these have not yet been finalised or enacted, June 2021)
Last amended June 2021