What WHS policies does a small business need in Australia?

There is no fixed list, but the core policies most small Australian businesses adopt are: a Work Health and Safety Policy (the primary duty statement under s 19 of the model WHS Act), a Consultation Policy (ss 47-49), Incident and Hazard Reporting, Emergency Procedures (reg 43), Drug and Alcohol / fitness for work, Manual Handling (reg 60), PPE (reg 44), Contractor and Visitor Safety, First Aid (reg 42) and Return to Work / injury management. This builder lets you pick the ones you need and assembles them into one pack. They are templates to adapt, not legal advice.

Are WHS policies legally required?

The WHS duties are legally required — under the model Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (and in Victoria the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004) a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) must ensure health and safety so far as is reasonably practicable, consult workers, and have an emergency plan. A written policy is not itself a separate legal requirement, but it is how you show how you meet those duties. Each policy in this pack names the duty it addresses.

Can I edit these WHS policies?

Yes. Enter your business name, industry and the person responsible for WHS, select the policies you need, and the builder weaves your details through each one. The assembled pack is shown on screen so you can read it, then print or save it as a PDF and adapt any bracketed details to your actual workplace before you rely on it.

Is this WHS policy pack legal advice?

No. These are general templates to adapt to your business, not legal advice. The WHS duties they describe are the law; a written policy is one way you show how you meet them. Review each policy, fill in any bracketed details, and check it against your actual workplace and the WHS law in your state or territory before you rely on it. Your WHS regulator (for example SafeWork NSW, WorkSafe Victoria or Safe Work Australia for the model laws) offers free general guidance.

How many WHS policies do I need?

Start with the policies that match your actual hazards. Almost every workplace benefits from a WHS Policy, Consultation, Incident and Hazard Reporting, Emergency Procedures and First Aid. Add Manual Handling, PPE, Drug and Alcohol, Contractor and Visitor Safety and Return to Work where they apply to your work. A handful of well-followed policies beats a large set that no one reads.

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