Summary of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004: A handbook for workplaces

What it contains

This handbook outlines how OHS laws apply to workplaces. It is useful for:

• employers
• employees
• health and safety representatives
• suppliers, designers and manufacturers

The handbook explains:

• the purpose of the OHS Act and who it covers
• the role of WorkSafe in ensuring workplaces comply with the Act
• the general OHS duties that apply to employers, self-employed people and employees
• how employees should be consulted about health and safety
• what happens when there is a workplace incident
• how employers should consider what licences, registrations, permits and certificates of competency are needed for a workplace
• the role of WorkSafe inspectors in enforcing health and safety laws
• how decisions made under OHS laws can be reviewed
• how WorkSafe and inspectors can initiate legal proceedings under the Act

At the end of the document, there is:

• information about repealing the previous OHS Act
• a glossary of terms from the Act
• a table of penalties under the Act