WHS Compliance Checklist for Australian Businesses
A practical Work Health and Safety compliance checklist for PCBUs operating under the WHS Act 2011. Use this checklist to identify gaps in your WHS management system before a regulator inspection or internal audit.
WHS obligations under Australian law
The Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act) imposes a primary duty of care on Persons Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBUs) to ensure the health and safety of workers and others so far as is reasonably practicable. This duty is not passive — it requires active identification of hazards, assessment of risks, and implementation of appropriate controls.
Officers of a PCBU have a separate due diligence obligation under the WHS Act. Officers must take reasonable steps to acquire and maintain knowledge of WHS matters and ensure the PCBU has appropriate resources and processes to meet its obligations. Failure to exercise due diligence can result in personal liability, regardless of whether the officer was directly involved in a safety incident.
State and territory WHS regulators (SafeWork NSW, WorkSafe Victoria, SafeWork SA, and others) can conduct proactive inspections at any time and do not need to be triggered by an incident. The checklist below covers the key areas regulators assess.
WHS compliance checklist by area
Management commitment and governance
- WHS policy approved by senior management and communicated to all workers
- WHS roles and responsibilities assigned and documented
- WHS is a standing item on leadership meeting agendas
- Budget allocated for WHS activities, training, and equipment
- Officer due diligence obligations understood and being met
Hazard identification and risk assessment
- Formal hazard identification process in place for all work areas and activities
- Risk assessments conducted for identified hazards using a recognised methodology
- Risk register maintained and reviewed at least annually or after any significant change
- Controls implemented according to the hierarchy of controls
- Residual risk assessed after controls are applied
Incident reporting and investigation
- Incident reporting system in place and communicated to all workers
- Notifiable incidents reported to the relevant WHS regulator within required timeframes
- All incidents and near misses investigated to identify root causes
- Corrective actions assigned, implemented, and followed up
- Incident records maintained and accessible for at least five years
Training and competency
- WHS induction completed for all new workers before starting work
- Training needs identified and training records maintained for each worker
- Workers with specific licences or tickets are verified and records kept current
- Refresher training scheduled for high-risk activities and hazardous tasks
Consultation and communication
- Mechanism for worker consultation on WHS matters in place (e.g., HSR, WHS committee)
- Workers consulted when changes are made that may affect health and safety
- WHS information accessible to all workers, including contractors
- Health and safety representatives (HSRs) trained if elected
Emergency preparedness
- Emergency response plan documented and communicated
- Emergency evacuation procedures posted and practiced at least annually
- First aid equipment and trained first aiders available and appropriate to risk
- Emergency contact list current and accessible
Contractor and visitor management
- Contractor WHS prequalification process in place
- Contractors provided with site-specific WHS induction
- WHS obligations included in contracts and service agreements
- Visitor sign-in process and emergency briefing in place
Using this checklist alongside a formal risk assessment
A compliance checklist identifies whether required systems are in place — but it does not replace a formal risk assessment. The WHS Act and regulations require that specific hazards be assessed by a person with relevant knowledge, using a documented methodology, and that controls be selected from the hierarchy of controls.
Businesses that rely solely on checklists can satisfy the administrative requirements of WHS compliance while still carrying unassessed operational risk. A formal risk assessment addresses the substance of the obligation, not just the process.
Request a WHS Risk Assessment
If this checklist has identified gaps in your WHS risk documentation, a managed risk assessment can address them and produce inspection-ready evidence of compliance.
Contact a Risk Advisor