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Safe Work Australia’s Best Practice Review: What The Latest Recommendations Mean For Australian Workplaces

Posted on by Marnie Cruickshank

Australia’s work health and safety (WHS) framework is facing an important opportunity for reform, with Safe Work Australia publishing its Best Practice Review of the model Work Health and Safety laws on 19 October 2026. The review makes 21 recommendations aimed at strengthening worker protections, improving regulatory consistency and ensuring the national WHS framework remains fit for modern workplaces.

For employers, officers, safety professionals and workers, the report is an important signal of the direction of future WHS policy. It reinforces the importance of effective risk management while highlighting areas where Australia’s current approach could be clearer, more consistent and better equipped to address emerging risks.

Why Was The Review Undertaken?

Australia’s model WHS laws were developed to create a nationally consistent framework for workplace safety. The objective is straightforward, workers should receive strong protections regardless of where they work, while businesses operating across state and territory borders should face consistent duties and regulatory expectations.

However, differences between jurisdictions have developed over time. These variations, alongside findings from government reviews and inquiries, prompted WHS ministers to commission a Best Practice Review to identify opportunities to improve the framework while maintaining and strengthening harmonisation.

The review represents the first national review of the model WHS laws since 2018. Its findings are informed by extensive consultation undertaken between September 2025 and March 2026, including more than 1,000 submissions and survey responses and over 100 stakeholder meetings. Participants included employers, unions, regulators, workers, health and safety representatives and other members of the WHS community.

The message emerging from that consultation is significant, there is broad support for harmonisation, but stakeholders want laws that are easier to understand, applied more consistently and responsive to the realities of contemporary work.

The Key Findings: 21 Recommendations For A Stronger WHS Framework

The review sets out 21 recommendations intended to maintain and strengthen harmonisation while addressing gaps in the operation of the model laws. Several themes stand out for organisations preparing for the next phase of WHS reform.

  1. Greater Consistency Across Jurisdictions

A central recommendation is to renew the national commitment to harmonisation and establish clear, transparent processes for managing future variations to the model WHS laws.

The review also recommends a new National Compliance and Enforcement Policy to promote greater consistency and clarity in how WHS requirements are enforced.

  1. Stronger Prevention In High-Risk Industries

The review recommends working directly with high-risk industries and relevant unions to reduce work-related fatalities.

This reinforces the importance of identifying critical risks, implementing effective controls and ensuring that safety systems translate into practical action on the ground.

  1. Better Worker Consultation and Participation

Strengthening consultation, representation and participation arrangements is another key focus.

Employers should view worker consultation as an essential part of effective risk management, rather than simply a procedural requirement. Workers and health and safety representatives can provide valuable insight into hazards, work practices and whether existing controls are effective.

  1. Preparing For Emerging and Evolving Risks

The review recommends national strategies addressing three important areas, artificial intelligence, climate change and harmful workplace behaviours, including work-related violence and harassment.

These areas highlight the need for WHS systems to evolve alongside changing technology, working conditions and the broader understanding of workplace health and safety.

  1. Clearer Guidance and Modernised Regulations

The review also calls for improved WHS knowledge and capability among workers and duty holders, practical industry-based Codes of Practice, and modernised model WHS Regulations.

More accessible, industry-relevant guidance could help organisations better understand their obligations and apply suitable controls to the risks they face.

What Does This Mean For Employers and WHS Professionals?

While the recommendations establish a potential direction for reform, organisations should distinguish between proposed changes to the model laws and requirements that are already legally enforceable.

The publication of the report does not, by itself, mean that all 21 recommendations have become law. The recommendations will progress through Safe Work Australia’s tripartite Member processes, with further consultation and policy development where required. Any legislative changes will depend on the relevant implementation processes in each jurisdiction.

In the meantime, there are several practical steps organisations can take to prepare.

Practical Steps To Take Now

Review Your Current WHS Compliance Arrangements

Confirm that your policies, procedures and risk controls reflect the legislation currently applicable in each jurisdiction where you operate.

Assess High-Consequence Risks

Review critical hazards, incident trends, control effectiveness and any gaps in the management of serious injury and fatality risks.

Strengthen Consultation Processes

Check that workers and health and safety representatives are meaningfully involved in identifying hazards and reviewing control measures.

Review Psychosocial and Emerging Risks

Consider workplace violence and harassment, changing work practices, AI-related impacts and climate-related hazards where relevant.

Monitor Regulatory Developments

Track updates from Safe Work Australia and your state or territory regulator and assess any confirmed changes for their impact on your business.

These steps are useful regardless of the timing of future reforms. They also help organisations demonstrate a proactive approach to identifying hazards, managing risks and reviewing the effectiveness of their WHS systems.

Why Harmonisation Matters For Australian Businesses

Regulatory consistency is particularly important for organisations with operations across multiple states and territories.

Different requirements, regulatory approaches and compliance expectations can increase administrative complexity, create uncertainty and make it harder to maintain consistent safety practices across sites. A more coherent framework could help businesses streamline internal processes while supporting consistent protections for workers.

However, harmonisation should not be viewed solely as a compliance or administrative objective. Its broader purpose is to support effective workplace safety and ensure that workers receive appropriate protections wherever they perform their duties.

For employers, the opportunity is to combine consistent organisational standards with controls tailored to the hazards, activities and operating conditions of each workplace.

Emerging Risks Deserve Greater Attention

One of the most forward-looking aspects of the review is its recognition that workplace hazards continue to evolve.

Three areas warrant particular attention.

Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation

As organisations introduce AI-enabled systems and new technologies, they should consider how changes to work design, task allocation, monitoring and decision-making may affect worker health and safety.

Climate Change and Extreme Conditions

Heat, severe weather, changing environmental conditions and emergency events can affect working conditions, particularly for outdoor workers and industries with significant physical or environmental exposures.

Harmful Workplace Behaviours

Work-related violence, harassment and other psychosocial hazards require effective prevention strategies, appropriate reporting mechanisms and management commitment.

The recommendations do not mean that every organisation faces identical risks or that a single control will suit all workplaces. Rather, they reinforce the importance of assessing risks in context and keeping WHS arrangements responsive to changing circumstances.

The Role Of Practical Guidance and Safety Culture

Legislation establishes duties, but the effectiveness of a WHS framework also depends on whether organisations can understand and implement those duties in practice.

The review’s focus on industry-based Codes of Practice and improved WHS capability recognises the value of clear, practical guidance. Different industries face different hazards, and accessible guidance can help translate general legal obligations into workable approaches to risk management.

Organisations should also continue to invest in the capabilities that support effective safety outcomes, including:

  • Training workers and supervisors to recognise and report hazards
  • Ensuring officers understand their due diligence responsibilities
  • Providing workers with meaningful opportunities to contribute to safety decisions
  • Investigating incidents and near misses to identify underlying causes
  • Regularly reviewing whether risk controls remain effective

A strong safety culture is not achieved simply by updating policies. It requires leadership, consultation, accountability and a sustained focus on preventing harm.

What Happens Next?

Safe Work Australia has confirmed that the recommendations will be progressed through its tripartite Member processes, with additional consultation and policy development where needed. This means further work is required before the full implications of the review can be determined.

Businesses should therefore avoid assuming that every recommendation will be adopted in its current form or on a particular timetable. Instead, they should monitor developments and assess confirmed changes against their existing compliance obligations.

For organisations operating across multiple jurisdictions, this monitoring will be especially important. Any changes to model provisions, regulations or Codes of Practice will need to be considered alongside the legislation and guidance applicable in each location.

The review also provides an opportunity for businesses to reflect on whether their current WHS systems are genuinely effective, rather than simply compliant on paper.

Conclusion: Preparing For The Future Of WHS In Australia

Safe Work Australia’s Best Practice Review is an important milestone in the ongoing development of Australia’s WHS framework. Its 21 recommendations seek to strengthen harmonisation, improve enforcement consistency, support better worker participation, reduce work-related fatalities and prepare the framework for emerging hazards.

For employers and WHS professionals, the key takeaway is clear, now is the time to review existing safety arrangements, strengthen risk management practices and prepare for potential regulatory developments.

Although the recommendations are not automatically changes to the law, their direction highlights the continuing importance of practical, proactive and effective workplace health and safety management.

Organisations that invest in these foundations now will be better positioned to respond to future reforms while maintaining their focus on the most important outcome of all, ensuring workers return home safe and healthy.

Further reading: Read the official Best Practice Review report  and Safe Work Australia’s overview of the review and recommendations .

Disclaimer: This article provides general information only and is not legal advice. Organisations should consult the WHS legislation and regulator guidance applicable to their jurisdiction.

Let us help your organisation identify hazards, manage risks and review the effectiveness of your WHS system. Get in touch with us and see how Sherm can help to manage and maintain all of your WHS needs.

When Workers Stop Speaking Up: The Hidden Psychosocial Risk in Workplace Culture

Posted on by Marnie Cruickshank

A new workplace phrase is attracting attention across Australia: “getting disappeared”.

It describes a situation where an employee raises concerns, challenges a decision or becomes perceived as difficult, and then suddenly leaves the organisation, with colleagues receiving little explanation about what happened.

There may, of course, be entirely legitimate and confidential reasons why an employee leaves a workplace. Employers also have obligations to protect personal information and cannot simply disclose the circumstances surrounding an individual’s employment.

The greater risk arises from what the remaining workforce perceives.

When employees repeatedly see people raise concerns and then disappear from the workplace, they may begin to draw their own conclusions.

And that can create a much bigger organisational problem:

People stop speaking up.

Silence Can Become A Safety Risk

A healthy reporting culture is fundamental to effective work health and safety management.

Workers are often the first people to identify emerging hazards, unsafe practices, ineffective controls, unreasonable workloads, interpersonal problems and weaknesses in organisational systems.

If workers believe raising an issue could negatively affect their employment, reputation or career, an organisation may progressively lose one of its most important sources of risk intelligence.

The absence of reported problems does not necessarily mean the absence of problems.

Sometimes it means people have stopped reporting them.

That distinction matters.

Psychological Safety Is Increasingly A Governance Issue

Australian WHS frameworks now place much greater emphasis on identifying and managing psychosocial hazards.

These hazards can arise from the way work is designed, organised and managed, as well as workplace interactions and behaviours.

Poor organisational justice, poor support, inadequate consultation, conflict, bullying, poor change management and ineffective reporting arrangements can all contribute to psychosocial risk.

For organisations, this means workplace culture cannot simply be treated as an annual employee engagement exercise.

It needs to form part of the organisation’s risk management system.

That includes asking practical questions such as:

  • Can workers raise concerns without fear of retaliation?
  • Is there more than one way to report an issue?
  • Are reports acknowledged and investigated?
  • Can actions and decisions be demonstrated afterwards?
  • Are recurring issues being identified?
  • Are managers accountable for closing actions?
  • Are workers informed about outcomes where appropriate?
  • Does leadership receive visibility of emerging trends?

These are management-system questions as much as they are cultural ones.

Reporting A Problem Should Create A Process, Not A Problem For The Person Reporting It

One of the strongest indicators of organisational culture is what happens after someone raises a concern.

Consider two workplaces.

In the first, a worker reports an issue. It is recorded, assessed, assigned to someone, investigated where necessary and followed through to completion. The worker can see that the organisation has responded.

In the second, the concern is raised informally. It moves between emails, conversations and meetings. Responsibility becomes unclear. Nothing appears to happen, or the person raising the concern suddenly finds themselves treated differently.

Even where management believes it has acted appropriately, the experience of the workforce can be very different.

That is why a defensible reporting and action-management process matters.

Poor Organisational Justice Is A Recognised Psychosocial Hazard

Safe Work Australia specifically identifies poor organisational justice as a psychosocial hazard.

Recommended controls include having transparent processes and procedures, providing ways for workers to report concerns or appeal decisions, keeping workers appropriately informed and protecting workers who raise safety concerns from discrimination.

Effective consultation is equally important.

Workers affected by health and safety matters must be given a reasonable opportunity to express their views and raise issues, and those views need to be considered when decisions are made.

For organisations, this moves consultation beyond the occasional toolbox meeting or staff survey.

The objective should be to create a demonstrable feedback loop:

Report → Assess → Act → Communicate → Review

There Is Also An Employment-Law Dimension

Workplace concerns do not exist solely within WHS legislation.

Australia’s Fair Work framework provides general protections relating to workplace rights. Depending on the circumstances, an employee making a complaint or inquiry relating to their employment may be exercising a workplace right.

Corporate whistleblower protections can also apply to eligible disclosures, with protections against certain forms of detriment.

Not every workplace complaint will fall within these protections and not every employee departure following a complaint represents unlawful conduct.

The important governance lesson is simpler:

Organisations should be able to demonstrate that concerns are handled consistently, fairly and through an established process.

The Management-System Test

There is a useful question organisations can ask themselves:

If a worker raised a serious concern today, could we demonstrate six months from now exactly what happened next?

Could the organisation identify:

  • Who received the concern?
  • When was it received?
  • How was the risk assessed?
  • Who was responsible for responding?
  • What actions were assigned?
  • Were those actions completed?
  • Was the worker consulted?
  • Was confidentiality appropriately maintained?
  • Was the effectiveness of the response reviewed?
  • Were similar reports or trends identified?
  • Could senior management see the issue if escalation was warranted?

If the answer depends upon searching someone’s inbox or asking people to remember conversations, there is a governance gap.

This Is Where Digital HSEQ Systems Become Important

A digital HSEQ management system should do more than store policies and forms.

It should create organisational memory.

Within Sherm, organisations can bring together the processes that support effective reporting and governance, including incidents, hazards, issues, inspections, corrective actions, documents, training and competency, audits, registers and reporting.

The objective is not simply digitisation.

It is traceability.

When an issue is raised, organisations need visibility of what happened next: the assessment, responsibility, actions, supporting records, communication and eventual close-out.

That creates a very different organisational environment from one where concerns disappear into email chains or informal conversations.

Importantly, technology cannot create psychological safety by itself.

Leadership behaviour, fairness, consultation and trust remain critical.

But the right system can support those behaviours by making responsibilities visible and creating evidence that concerns are being taken seriously.

From “Speak Up” To “We Acted”

Many organisations tell their workers:

“If you see something, say something.”

The more important question is:

What happens after they do?

A mature safety culture is not demonstrated by how few concerns are reported.

It is demonstrated by whether workers are willing to report them, and whether the organisation can show that those concerns are assessed, managed and closed effectively.

Because when workers believe speaking up achieves nothing, or may place them at risk, reporting decreases.

The hazards do not necessarily disappear with it.

They simply become harder for the organisation to see.

Sherm helps organisations create visibility from reporting through to action and close-out, supporting stronger HSEQ governance, consultation and defensible oversight.

Learn more about how Sherm supports hazard, incident, issue and corrective action management, psychosocial risk governance and workforce consultation.

From Workplace Exposure Standards to Workplace Exposure Limits: What Australian Employers and Workers Need to Know Before December 2026

Posted on by Marnie Cruickshank

Australia is approaching an important change in the way workplace exposure to airborne contaminants is regulated.

From 1 December 2026, the existing Workplace Exposure Standards (WES) for airborne contaminants will transition to Workplace Exposure Limits (WEL). The change follows a national review of workplace exposure standards and has been agreed by Australian Work Health and Safety (WHS) ministers.

For many workplaces, this is more than simply a change of terminology. While many exposure values will remain unchanged, some limits have been revised, some substances have been added or removed, and there are changes to exposure categories and health-related notations.

With the transition date now approaching, employers should be reviewing their chemical inventories, risk assessments, exposure monitoring and control measures now, not waiting until December.

What Is Changing?

The current WES list sets airborne exposure levels for hundreds of substances that workers may encounter in the workplace, including dusts, fumes, gases, vapours and mists.

From 1 December 2026, the WES list will become the Workplace Exposure Limits for Airborne Contaminants (WEL list). Until 30 November 2026, PCBUs must continue to comply with the current WES requirements. From 1 December, the WEL list will apply, subject to implementation in the relevant Commonwealth, state or territory WHS laws.

The terminology is changing partly to make it clearer that these values are limits that must not be exceeded, rather than simply advisory standards or targets. Safe Work Australia says the change also brings Australian terminology more closely into line with international practice.

Importantly, the fundamental duty on employers has not changed.

PCBUs must continue to eliminate risks associated with airborne contaminants where reasonably practicable, or otherwise minimise those risks so far as is reasonably practicable. The WES/WEL value is only one part of a broader risk-management process.

What Does The Change Mean For Employers?

The biggest practical issue for employers is determining whether the substances used or generated in their workplace are affected by the revised WEL list.

Safe Work Australia has identified several types of changes, including:

  • reductions or increases to individual exposure limits;
  • changes to the type of exposure limit applying to a substance;
  • merging or splitting groups of airborne contaminants;
  • changes to substance names or listings;
  • new substances being added to the list; and
  • substances being removed from the list.

There are also changes to advisory notations. For example, the existing SEN sensitisation notation is being separated into DSEN for dermal sensitisation and RSEN for respiratory sensitisation. An OTO notation for ototoxicity has also been introduced for certain contaminants.

These changes can have practical consequences for risk assessments, control measures, air-monitoring programs, worker information and training.

Some Chemicals Require Particular Attention

One of the more significant changes concerns 33 non-threshold genotoxic carcinogens (NTGCs).

From 1 December 2026, these substances will no longer have exposure limits in the WEL list because a practical, protective exposure level cannot be assigned. Where these substances are present, PCBUs must eliminate them where reasonably practicable, substitute them with a safer alternative where possible, or otherwise minimise the risk as far as reasonably practicable.

This means businesses should not assume that the absence of a WEL means there is no regulatory obligation.

The opposite may be true: the risk-management requirements may require particularly strong attention to elimination, substitution and engineering controls.

What About Respirable Crystalline Silica and Other High-Profile Substances?

It is important to distinguish the general WEL transition from separate work that has been undertaken on proposed changes to nine substances.

These include:

  • respirable crystalline silica;
  • benzene;
  • chlorine;
  • copper;
  • formaldehyde;
  • hydrogen cyanide;
  • hydrogen sulphide;
  • nitrogen dioxide; and
  • titanium dioxide.

In June 2026, Safe Work Australia reported that a majority of WHS ministers had not supported the proposed new exposure levels for those nine substances at that stage, and further work was requested. Consequently, their exposure levels will remain at their current WES levels when the WEL framework takes effect on 1 December 2026.

Businesses should therefore use the current Safe Work Australia WEL information rather than relying on older articles, consultant reports or chemical registers prepared before the review was finalised.

What Does The Change Mean For Workers?

For workers, the transition should reinforce an important principle: exposure limits are not a substitute for good risk control.

Workers should continue to follow existing safe-work procedures, use control measures correctly and report problems with ventilation, extraction, PPE or other controls.

Safe Work Australia also recommends that workers familiarise themselves with changes to the limits for airborne contaminants used or generated in their workplace. Workers should be consulted where employers are making decisions about how risks will be eliminated or minimised, or where proposed changes may affect their health and safety.

It is also worth remembering that an exposure limit is not necessarily a guarantee that every individual will experience no health effect below that concentration. Individual susceptibility varies, which is one reason Australian WHS duties continue to require risks to be eliminated or minimised so far as reasonably practicable.

What Should Employers Do Before 1 December 2026?

With the transition only weeks away, businesses should treat this as a practical WHS review rather than simply an administrative change.

  1. Identify every airborne contaminant in the workplace

Start with a complete inventory of substances that could become airborne.

Look beyond chemicals stored in drums or containers. Consider contaminants generated by work processes, including:

  • welding fumes;
  • dust;
  • silica-containing dust;
  • diesel particulate matter;
  • solvent vapours;
  • gases;
  • mists;
  • fumes from heating or cutting;
  • dust generated during machining or processing; and
  • contaminants generated by maintenance, cleaning or waste processes.

Review Safety Data Sheets (SDS), chemical registers, purchasing records and process documentation.

The objective is to identify not only what the business uses, but also what its processes generate.

  1. Compare your current WES against the new WEL

For each relevant airborne contaminant, check the new WEL list.

Do not simply change the heading in your documentation from “WES” to “WEL”.

Determine whether the actual exposure value, exposure category, notation or substance listing has changed.

Safe Work Australia has published comparison information specifically to help PCBUs identify changes between the WES and WEL lists.

This provides a straightforward audit trail for the transition.

  1. Review existing risk assessments

Once the affected substances have been identified, revisit the relevant risk assessments.

Ask:

  • Has the exposure limit changed?
  • Does the current assessment rely on an old WES value?
  • Are workers potentially exposed during particular tasks or maintenance activities?
  • Are there short-term or peak exposure risks?
  • Are contractors or other people at the workplace potentially exposed?
  • Have processes, equipment or chemicals changed since the assessment was completed?
  • Are existing controls still appropriate?

This is particularly important where a new WEL is lower than the existing WES.

  1. Determine whether air monitoring is necessary

Where there is uncertainty about whether workers are exposed above the relevant limit, air monitoring may be necessary.

Safe Work Australia’s new guidance, published in July 2026, provides specific information for PCBUs on when air monitoring may be required, how to engage a competent person, and how to interpret monitoring results.

Air monitoring should not be treated as the first or only control.

The hierarchy of controls remains central. The preferred approach is to eliminate the airborne contaminant where reasonably practicable and, where that cannot be achieved, minimise the risk using appropriate controls.

Where monitoring is undertaken, consider whether personal exposure monitoring is necessary rather than relying solely on general area measurements.

  1. Review engineering controls

The WEL transition is a good opportunity to verify that engineering controls are actually performing as intended.

Depending on the workplace, this may include checking:

  • local exhaust ventilation (LEV);
  • extraction systems;
  • enclosure and isolation systems;
  • process ventilation;
  • dust suppression;
  • automated handling;
  • closed transfer systems;
  • equipment maintenance; and
  • filtration systems.

A documented control that exists on paper but does not adequately control exposure in practice does not provide effective risk management.

  1. Review PPE and respiratory protection

PPE should not be used as a substitute for higher-order controls where those controls are reasonably practicable.

However, businesses should review respiratory protective equipment where it forms part of the control strategy.

Check that:

  • the selected respirator is appropriate for the contaminant;
  • workers are correctly trained;
  • fit testing requirements are addressed where applicable;
  • filters and cartridges are appropriate;
  • maintenance and replacement arrangements are effective; and
  • workers understand when and how the equipment must be used.

Any change in exposure level may warrant a review of the existing respiratory protection arrangements.

  1. Review health monitoring requirements

Some hazardous chemical exposures can trigger specific health-monitoring obligations under WHS legislation.

The WEL transition should therefore prompt a review of whether existing health-monitoring arrangements remain appropriate for the substances and exposure scenarios present at the workplace.

This is separate from air monitoring: air monitoring measures exposure in the workplace, while health monitoring assesses aspects of a worker’s health in accordance with applicable requirements.

Businesses should seek competent professional advice where the interaction between exposure, health monitoring and WHS requirements is unclear.

  1. Consult workers

Worker consultation should be part of the transition process, not something left until the new limits come into effect.

Workers often have practical knowledge about where exposure occurs that may not be obvious from a written risk assessment.

Discuss:

  • which tasks generate dust, fumes, vapours or other contaminants;
  • when exposure appears to be highest;
  • whether controls are practical during real work;
  • problems with extraction or ventilation;
  • PPE issues;
  • changes to work procedures; and
  • any proposed additional monitoring or controls.

Safe Work Australia specifically highlights consultation as part of preparing for the WEL transition.

  1. Update WHS documentation

Once the assessment is complete, update relevant documentation, including:

  • chemical registers;
  • risk assessments;
  • hazardous chemical procedures;
  • Safe Work Method Statements (where applicable);
  • operating procedures;
  • air-monitoring programs;
  • training materials;
  • induction materials;
  • emergency procedures; and
  • internal WHS registers.

Make sure documents distinguish between the requirements applying before and from 1 December 2026 where necessary.

  1. Communicate the changes

Workers do not need to become occupational hygienists, but they should understand what the change means for their work.

For example, toolbox talks or training sessions could explain:

What is changing?

WES will become WEL from 1 December 2026.

Why is it changing?

The WES review has resulted in revised exposure limits and terminology intended to make clear that these are limits that must not be exceeded.

What does it mean for our workplace?

Some of the substances we use or generate may have different limits or classifications.

What do workers need to do?

Continue following established controls, report problems and participate in any monitoring, training or consultation.

A Special Consideration: Diesel Engine Emissions

Businesses that operate diesel-powered equipment should pay particular attention to the transition.

Safe Work Australia has identified a new workplace exposure limit for diesel particulate matter of 0.01 mg/m³, which will apply from 1 December 2026. New guidance has also been released covering industries including mining, quarrying, tunnelling, construction, agriculture, transport and logistics, oil and gas, and vehicle maintenance.

For workplaces with diesel engines, this should trigger a review of sources, ventilation, work practices, maintenance and exposure monitoring.

A Practical WEL Transition Checklist

Before 1 December 2026, employers should consider completing the following:

  • Identify all airborne contaminants used or generated at the workplace.
  • Review relevant Safety Data Sheets and chemical registers.
  • Compare current WES values against the new WEL list.
  • Identify substances with changed exposure limits.
  • Identify new or removed substances and changed notations.
  • Check whether any NTGCs are present.
  • Review existing risk assessments.
  • Determine whether air monitoring is required.
  • Engage a competent occupational hygienist where specialist assessment is needed.
  • Review engineering and ventilation controls.
  • Review respiratory protection and PPE arrangements.
  • Review health-monitoring requirements.
  • Consult workers and health and safety representatives.
  • Update procedures, risk assessments and registers.
  • Update worker training and induction material.
  • Document actions and assign responsibility for outstanding controls.
  • Confirm requirements with the relevant state, territory or Commonwealth WHS regulator.

Don’t Wait Until 1 December

The WES-to-WEL transition is sometimes described as a change in terminology. That description misses the practical implications.

The name is changing, but the more important issue for employers is that some exposure limits and classifications are changing as well.

The good news is that businesses do not need to reinvent their entire hazardous-chemical management system. Existing risk-management processes provide the foundation. The immediate task is to identify where the new WEL requirements differ from the requirements currently being applied and determine whether existing controls remain effective.

For Australian workplaces, the key date is 1 December 2026. Until 30 November, the current WES list continues to apply; from 1 December, the WEL list will apply following implementation in the relevant WHS laws.

Businesses should therefore use the remaining transition period to complete the review, undertake any necessary monitoring, strengthen controls and communicate the changes to workers.

Sherm Software gives businesses the ability to stay ahead of changes such as these and equips the business with powerful tools to maintain comprehensive, accurate and up to date safety records. By centralising data, automating workflows and ensuring compliance, Sherm Software enhances safety management, boosts regulatory compliance and fosters continuous improvement.

Get in touch with us today and see how Sherm Software can support your business.

The Safe Work Australia WEL list and supporting guidance should be treated as the primary reference point, with businesses also checking the requirements of their relevant WHS regulator because Commonwealth, state and territory regulators are responsible for administering and enforcing WHS laws in their respective jurisdictions.

Further Resources

Employers can access the current Safe Work Australia Workplace Exposure Limits list, the comparison of changes between WES and WEL, and the Safe Work Australia guidance on air monitoring and WELs.

For Queensland businesses, WorkSafe Queensland’s information on the new Workplace Exposure Limits is also relevant.

This article provides general information and is not legal or occupational hygiene advice. Australian WHS requirements can differ between jurisdictions, so businesses should confirm the applicable requirements with their relevant WHS regulator and obtain competent professional advice where necessary.

ISO 9001:2026 Is Here – What Has Changed and What Does Your Organisation Need to Do?

Posted on by Marnie Cruickshank

ISO 9001:2026, Quality management systems – Requirements, was officially published on 16 September 2026, replacing ISO 9001:2015.

For organisations already operating an ISO 9001-certified Quality Management System (QMS), the good news is that this is an evolution rather than a complete redesign of the Standard.

The established foundations of ISO 9001 remain. Customer focus, leadership, the process approach, risk-based thinking, evidence-based decision-making and continual improvement continue to underpin an effective QMS.

What has changed is the emphasis.

ISO 9001:2026 places greater attention on how quality management operates in practice, particularly the connection between leadership, organisational culture, ethical behaviour, strategic direction, risks and opportunities, people and business performance.

For many organisations, the transition should therefore be less about rewriting the entire management system and more about determining where the existing system needs to mature.

What Are The Key Changes In ISO 9001:2026?

1. Stronger focus on leadership, quality culture and ethical behaviour

Leadership has always been central to ISO 9001, but the 2026 edition strengthens the expectation that quality is actively supported by organisational leadership.

This means demonstrating more than having an approved Quality Policy or completing an annual Management Review.

Organisations should consider how leadership:

This is an important shift in emphasis.

A mature QMS should be visible in how people make decisions and perform their work, not simply through procedures, forms and records.

2. Greater alignment between the QMS and business strategy

ISO 9001:2026 reinforces the relationship between the Quality Management System, the organisation’s context and its strategic direction.

The QMS should not operate as a separate compliance framework sitting alongside the business.

Instead, quality objectives, operational processes and performance measures should contribute to the organisation’s broader objectives.

For example, if an organisation has a strategic objective to improve customer retention, relevant quality measures might include:

The important question becomes:

Can the organisation demonstrate how its quality objectives and processes contribute to achieving its strategic direction?

This provides an opportunity for organisations to make their management systems more useful to management, rather than maintaining them primarily for certification.

3. Risks and opportunities receive clearer treatment

Risk-based thinking remains fundamental to ISO 9001, but the 2026 edition provides greater clarity around risks and opportunities.

This distinction is important.

Risk management asks:

What could happen that may prevent us from achieving the intended result?

Opportunity management asks:

What could we change, improve or pursue that could produce a beneficial result?

For example, an organisation may identify a risk that critical operational information is not available when employees are working remotely or in the field.

Controls could include access controls, document management, mobile access, backups and system availability arrangements.

The same analysis may identify an opportunity to digitise the process, improve access to current information and obtain better operational data.

Organisations should therefore review whether their existing risk processes genuinely address both sides of the equation rather than simply maintaining a traditional risk register focused on adverse events.

4. Increased emphasis on employee awareness

People remain fundamental to the effectiveness of any management system.

ISO 9001:2026 strengthens awareness around quality culture and ethical behaviour in addition to the established requirements relating to quality policy, objectives and an individual’s contribution to QMS effectiveness.

This means organisations should look beyond whether a worker has attended an induction or signed a training record.

Consider whether employees actually understand:

Effective awareness should be evident through workplace behaviour and decision-making.

5. Climate change remains part of organisational context

Climate change is not entirely new to ISO 9001.

Climate-related considerations were introduced into ISO 9001:2015 through the 2024 Climate Action Amendment and continue under ISO 9001:2026.

This does not mean every organisation needs a separate climate change procedure or extensive climate risk register.

Instead, organisations need to determine whether climate change is a relevant issue within their context and whether relevant interested parties have climate-related requirements.

Depending on the organisation, considerations could include:

Where these matters are relevant, they should be appropriately considered within the organisation’s planning and operational controls.

6. Recognition of the modern digital business environment

The way organisations operate has changed considerably since ISO 9001:2015 was published.

Cloud systems, digital workflows, mobile applications, automated processes, connected supply chains, remote work, data analytics and artificial intelligence increasingly influence business operations.

ISO 9001:2026 better reflects this contemporary operating environment.

Importantly, the Standard does not require organisations to implement artificial intelligence or any particular technology.

The focus remains on ensuring the organisation has appropriate processes, resources, knowledge, information and controls necessary to achieve the intended results of its QMS.

For organisations undergoing digital transformation, this provides an opportunity to consider whether their QMS has kept pace with how work is actually being performed.

7. Annex A provides greater clarification

The revised Annex A provides additional guidance on concepts, terminology and the intended application of requirements within ISO 9001:2026.

This supports an increasingly important principle in management system auditing:

Effectiveness matters more than paperwork for paperwork’s sake.

Rather than simply asking whether a procedure exists, organisations should consider whether the process is understood, implemented, controlled and achieving its intended result.

This is also an important consideration when reviewing management system documentation during the transition.

Not every existing procedure will need to change.

The priority should be identifying where a change is actually required and ensuring the system remains effective, proportionate and suitable for the organisation.

What Hasn’t Changed?

Organisations should not assume that ISO 9001:2026 means starting again.

The familiar management system framework remains, including:

Clause 4 – Context of the Organisation
Clause 5 – Leadership
Clause 6 – Planning
Clause 7 – Support
Clause 8 – Operation
Clause 9 – Performance Evaluation
Clause 10 – Improvement

ISO 9001:2026 also adopts ISO’s current Harmonized Structure, supporting integration with other ISO management system standards.

For organisations operating an Integrated Management System covering quality, health and safety, environment or other disciplines, this continuity is particularly useful.

What Should ISO 9001:2015-Certified Organisations Do Now?

The first step should be a structured ISO 9001:2026 Gap Analysis.

Rather than immediately rewriting procedures, organisations should compare their existing QMS against the revised requirements and determine what actually needs to change.

The review should consider:

Organisational context and interested parties – Are internal and external issues current, and are relevant interested-party requirements understood?

Leadership and quality culture – Can the organisation demonstrate how leaders actively support quality, ethical behaviour and accountability?

Strategic alignment – Is there a meaningful connection between business strategy, the Quality Policy, quality objectives and operational performance?

Risks and opportunities – Does the organisation appropriately consider both threats to intended outcomes and opportunities for improvement?

Competence and awareness – Do employees understand their contribution to quality and what is expected when quality issues arise?

Objectives and KPIs – Are quality objectives measurable, meaningful and connected to organisational priorities?

Internal audits – Do audit programmes and criteria need updating to address the revised requirements and increased focus on effectiveness?

Management Review – Does the Management Review process provide leadership with useful information about the performance and continuing suitability of the QMS?

Documented information – Which policies, procedures, registers, forms, workflows and records genuinely require amendment?

Transition planning – Who is responsible for each required change, when will it be completed and what evidence will demonstrate implementation?

A practical transition register could track:

ISO 9001:2026 Requirement → Current Arrangement → Gap Identified → Required Action → Responsible Person → Due Date → Document/System Change → Evidence of Completion

Don’t Turn The Transition Into A Documentation Exercise

One of the biggest risks during any ISO transition is immediately rewriting the management system before understanding the actual gaps.

For organisations with an established ISO 9001:2015 system, much of the existing framework may remain suitable.

The better approach is to:

Assess → Identify → Prioritise → Implement → Verify

This reduces unnecessary documentation, focuses resources on genuine gaps and provides clearer evidence that the organisation has systematically addressed the transition.

How Sherm Can Support The ISO 9001:2026 Transition

For organisations using Sherm as their management system platform, the transition can be managed through the existing system rather than creating a separate collection of spreadsheets, documents and action lists.

Sherm can support organisations to bring together the evidence required across areas such as:

This creates an opportunity to use the ISO 9001:2026 transition not simply to update certification documentation, but to review whether the QMS is actually providing management with useful operational information.

The Key Takeaway

ISO 9001:2026 does not require organisations to throw out their existing Quality Management System and start again.

It does, however, encourage organisations to look more closely at whether their QMS is genuinely connected to the way the organisation is led and managed.

The increased emphasis on leadership, quality culture, ethical behaviour, strategic alignment, risks and opportunities, employee awareness and system effectiveness reinforces an important principle:

A Quality Management System should be a business management tool, not simply a collection of documents maintained for an audit.

For organisations already certified to ISO 9001:2015, now is the time to understand the changes, undertake a structured Gap Analysis and develop a practical transition plan.

Need help preparing for ISO 9001:2026?

Sherm provides an integrated platform for managing quality, safety, environmental and operational management system requirements, helping organisations manage risks, actions, audits, documents, competency and performance within one central system.

A structured transition provides an ideal opportunity to simplify existing processes, remove unnecessary administration and strengthen the connection between your management system and the way your organisation actually operates.

For more information, see ISO – ISO 9001:2026: What businesses need to know

Safe Work Australia Launches New Hazardous Chemical Information System (HCIS)

Posted on by Marnie Cruickshank

Safe Work Australia has published a new Hazardous Chemical Information System (HCIS), giving Australian businesses and workers a refreshed way to access information about hazardous chemicals and prepare for the introduction of new workplace exposure limits (WELs) on 1 December 2026.

The new HCIS was published on 4 August 2026 and represents a significant update to one of Australia’s key online resources for chemical hazard information.

What Is The HCIS?

The Hazardous Chemical Information System is an online guidance tool developed by Safe Work Australia to help manufacturers, importers, employers and users find information about hazardous chemicals.

The system provides information relating to the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS), including hazard classifications, hazard statements, pictograms and other information relevant to chemical classification and communication.

It can also help manufacturers and importers determine whether a product is a hazardous chemical and, where applicable, support the classification, labelling and preparation of safety data sheets (SDS) under the GHS and model WHS Regulations. Employers and other chemical users can use the system to cross-check information appearing on labels and SDS.

What Is New In The 2026 HCIS?

The new system has been redesigned to make chemical information easier to find and use.

  1. A Refreshed User Interface

The HCIS has a modernised interface intended to make navigation and searching more straightforward.

For businesses that regularly need to check chemical classifications, a simpler interface can reduce the time spent searching through separate pages or sources of information.

  1. GHS and WEL Information In One Place

One of the most important changes is the introduction of a single search function that brings together relevant chemical information.

GHS classification information and workplace exposure limit data can now be displayed together on the same page.

This is particularly relevant as Australia moves from the existing Workplace Exposure Standards (WES) to the new Workplace Exposure Limits (WEL) framework.

  1. Mobile and Tablet Compatibility

The new HCIS has also been designed to work across different devices, including mobile phones and tablets.

This should make it more practical for safety professionals, supervisors and workers who need to access chemical information away from a desktop computer.

  1. Updated Classification Information

As part of the upgrade, Safe Work Australia has updated GHS classification data from the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS).

This is important because chemical classification information can change as new scientific information becomes available or authoritative classification sources are updated.

Why The New HCIS Matters

For businesses managing hazardous chemicals, the HCIS is more than simply a searchable database. It can be a useful part of the process of identifying chemical hazards and checking whether information used in the workplace is current and consistent.

Under Australia’s WHS framework, manufacturers and importers are responsible for determining whether their products are hazardous chemicals and, where required, correctly classifying them. The resulting information is used to prepare labels and SDSs.

The HCIS can therefore provide a valuable reference point when reviewing chemical inventories, SDSs, labels and risk controls.

However, Safe Work Australia emphasises that the HCIS is a guidance tool, rather than a comprehensive register of every hazardous chemical. The classification information should not be treated as a substitute for the manufacturer’s or importer’s legal responsibilities or for professional advice where classification is uncertain.

The Connection With Australia’s New Workplace Exposure Limits

The timing of the new HCIS is significant.

Australia is transitioning from Workplace Exposure Standards (WES) for airborne contaminants to Workplace Exposure Limits (WEL). The new WEL framework takes effect from 1 December 2026. Until 30 November 2026, workplaces must continue to comply with the existing WES requirements.

The new HCIS has been specifically designed to support this transition by bringing chemical classification information and exposure-limit information together.

The WEL changes include revised exposure-limit values and changes to how some chemicals and health risks are represented. There are also changes to advisory notations, including the introduction of separate dermal and respiratory sensitisation notations and an ototoxicity notation.

Safe Work Australia has also identified 33 chemicals that will be removed from the WEL list because they are recognised as non-threshold genotoxic carcinogens. From 1 December 2026, these chemicals will no longer have exposure limits; instead, PCBUs will need to eliminate them where reasonably practicable, substitute them where possible, or otherwise minimise the risk.

This makes it particularly important for businesses to review their chemical management arrangements before the December 2026 transition.

What Should Businesses Do Now?

The release of the new HCIS is a good opportunity for businesses to review their existing chemical information and systems.

Consider taking the following steps:

Review Your Chemical Inventory

Identify the hazardous chemicals currently used, stored or generated in your workplace and confirm that you have current SDSs and labels for them.

Check Chemical Classifications

Use the new HCIS to review relevant GHS classification information and compare it with the information in your SDSs and labels.

Review Exposure Limits

Identify chemicals in your workplace that are subject to exposure limits and determine whether the transition from WES to WEL will affect your existing controls, exposure monitoring or risk assessments.

Review High-Risk Chemicals

Pay particular attention to carcinogens, sensitising chemicals and substances with revised exposure limits or advisory notations.

Update Risk Assessments and Control Measures

Where exposure limits are changing, consider whether existing engineering controls, ventilation, work practices, personal protective equipment and air-monitoring programs remain adequate.

Prepare For 1 December 2026

Do not wait until the new WELs commence. Businesses should allow enough time to understand the changes and implement any necessary controls.

A Useful Tool, But Not The Only Source

It is important to understand what the HCIS can and cannot tell you.

The system contains classification information from authoritative sources, but not every chemical will necessarily have been assessed against every GHS hazard category. Safe Work Australia also notes that classifications can change and that the HCIS should be treated as guidance.

Similarly, finding a chemical in the HCIS, or failing to find one, should not be treated as the sole basis for deciding whether a product is hazardous.

Businesses should consider the HCIS alongside the product’s current SDS, supplier information, relevant WHS legislation, applicable codes of practice and other authoritative chemical information.

What About The Old HCIS?

The launch of the new HCIS does not mean the existing WES requirements have already changed.

Safe Work Australia states that the current WES requirements remain in place until the WELs commence on 1 December 2026. Information relating to the current WES can still be accessed through Safe Work Australia’s website and the previous version of HCIS.

This distinction is important for businesses currently updating their chemical registers and procedures: the new HCIS is available now, but the new WEL obligations do not commence until 1 December 2026.

A Timely Update For Chemical Safety Management

The new HCIS is a welcome development for Australian businesses that need practical access to chemical hazard information.

Its redesigned interface, consolidated search functionality and combination of GHS and exposure-limit information should make it easier for duty holders to investigate chemical hazards and prepare for the upcoming WEL transition.

For businesses, the most important takeaway is that the new HCIS should be incorporated into a broader chemical management review, particularly as 1 December 2026 approaches.

With the transition to WELs only months away, now is a good time to review your chemical inventory, check SDSs and labels, revisit exposure controls and make sure your workplace is prepared for the new requirements.

For the latest information, visit Safe Work Australia’s new Hazardous Chemical Information System and its guidance on Workplace exposure limits for airborne contaminants.

Sherm Software’s Chemical Register is the ideal tool to keep track of chemicals used within your business, while ensuring SDS’s are current. Notifications are sent straight to you when updates are required. Get in touch with us and see what a difference Sherm can make.

Mid-Year Audit Planning: Aligning Strategy With WHS Trends

Posted on by Marnie Cruickshank

As the financial year gets underway, many Australian businesses are focused on budgets, growth plans, and operational priorities. However, the middle of the year is also an ideal time to assess another critical area of business performance, Work Health and Safety (WHS).

A mid-year WHS audit is more than a compliance exercise. It provides an opportunity to evaluate how effectively your current safety systems are working, identify emerging risks, and ensure your business is keeping pace with changing workplace expectations.

With evolving legislation, increased regulatory scrutiny, and new workplace risks continuing to emerge, businesses that review their WHS strategy mid-year are better positioned to protect their workers, maintain compliance, and support long-term business success.

Why Conduct a Mid-Year WHS Audit?

Annual reviews are important, but waiting until the end of the year to evaluate your safety systems can allow issues to persist for months.

A mid-year audit enables business owners to:

  • Identify gaps before they become compliance issues.
  • Review incident and near-miss trends from the first half of the year.
  • Assess whether existing controls remain effective.
  • Confirm that policies reflect current workplace activities.
  • Ensure workers have completed required training and competency refreshers.
  • Prepare for regulator inspections or external audits.

Rather than reacting to incidents, businesses can proactively strengthen their safety management systems.

WHS Trends Australian Businesses Should Consider

Workplaces continue to evolve, and so do the risks they face. During your mid-year review, consider whether your safety approach reflects current WHS trends.

  1. Greater Focus on Psychosocial Hazards

Mental health has become a key component of workplace safety.

Psychosocial hazards, including excessive workloads, workplace bullying, poor communication, fatigue, and role ambiguity, are now recognised as WHS risks that require the same level of attention as physical hazards.

Business owners should review:

  • Workload management
  • Employee wellbeing initiatives
  • Reporting processes
  • Leadership capability
  • Workplace culture

Addressing psychosocial risks early can improve both employee wellbeing and organisational performance.

  1. Increased Regulator Expectations

Australian WHS regulators continue to increase inspections and enforcement activities across many industries.

Businesses are expected to demonstrate not only that policies exist but that they are actively implemented, monitored, and reviewed.

Documentation should clearly show:

  • Risk assessments
  • Consultation with workers
  • Incident investigations
  • Corrective actions
  • Training records
  • Maintenance schedules

Strong records provide evidence that safety responsibilities are being effectively managed.

  1. Better Use of Safety Data

Many organisations now use safety data to identify trends before incidents occur.

Rather than focusing solely on injury statistics, businesses are monitoring:

  • Near misses
  • Hazard reports
  • Safety observations
  • Corrective action completion rates
  • Training compliance
  • Equipment inspections

Reviewing this information during a mid-year audit helps identify recurring issues that may otherwise go unnoticed.

  1. Contractor and Supply Chain Safety

Many businesses rely on contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers to deliver services.

A mid-year audit should confirm that contractor management processes remain effective, including:

  • Prequalification requirements
  • Inductions
  • Safe work procedures
  • Insurance documentation
  • Competency verification
  • Ongoing supervision

Managing contractor safety reduces risk across the entire operation.

Key Areas to Review During Your Mid-Year Audit

A structured audit provides a clear picture of your current WHS performance.

Consider reviewing:

Safety Management System

  • Policies and procedures
  • Risk management processes
  • Emergency plans
  • Safe work instructions

Workplace Inspections

  • Housekeeping standards
  • Plant and equipment condition
  • Hazard identification
  • Maintenance records

Training and Competency

  • New employee inductions
  • Refresher training
  • High-risk work licences
  • First aid qualifications

Incident Management

  • Incident reporting procedures
  • Investigation quality
  • Corrective action follow-up
  • Lessons learned

Worker Consultation

Consulting workers is a fundamental part of effective WHS management.

Review whether employees are:

  • Reporting hazards
  • Participating in safety meetings
  • Contributing to risk assessments
  • Providing feedback on controls

Workers often identify practical improvements that management may overlook.

Turning Audit Findings Into Action

The value of an audit lies in what happens after it is completed.

Prioritise findings according to risk, assign responsibilities, establish realistic timeframes, and monitor progress until actions are complete.

Business owners should also communicate improvements to employees. Demonstrating that concerns lead to meaningful action helps strengthen trust and encourages ongoing participation in workplace safety.

The Business Benefits of Mid-Year WHS Reviews

An effective WHS audit delivers more than regulatory compliance.

Businesses often experience:

  • Reduced workplace incidents
  • Improved operational efficiency
  • Lower workers’ compensation costs
  • Better employee engagement
  • Stronger reputation with clients and stakeholders
  • Greater confidence during regulator inspections

When safety becomes part of strategic planning rather than simply an administrative requirement, it contributes directly to business resilience and long-term performance.

Final Thoughts

Mid-year provides an ideal opportunity to step back and assess whether your WHS systems are supporting both your people and your business objectives.

By reviewing current performance, responding to emerging WHS trends, and addressing gaps before they escalate, Australian business owners can create safer workplaces while strengthening compliance and operational performance.

Rather than viewing a WHS audit as a once-a-year obligation, consider it an ongoing strategy that helps your business adapt, improve, and thrive in an evolving regulatory and workplace environment.

Learn more about audit readiness and use our free checklist to help with your mid-year audit plan.

Fixed Plant Safety

Posted on by Marnie Cruickshank

Workplace safety has always been a legal and moral responsibility for Australian businesses, but Queensland’s Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) is placing an even stronger emphasis on proactive compliance over the coming years. Through its WHS Compliance and Field Services Proactive Compliance Program 2024–2027, WHSQ is targeting high-risk industries and hazards before incidents occur, rather than simply responding after something goes wrong. The program is designed to improve compliance through education, inspections and enforcement in sectors where workers face the greatest risks.

One of the key hazards identified throughout the program is the safe use of plant, including fixed plant. For businesses operating manufacturing facilities, warehouses, food processing plants, distribution centres and other industrial workplaces, this is a timely reminder that plant safety should remain a priority, not just for compliance, but for protecting people.

What is Fixed Plant?

Fixed plant refers to machinery or equipment that is permanently installed or anchored in place to perform industrial or production tasks. Unlike mobile plant such as forklifts or excavators, fixed plant generally remains stationary throughout its operational life.

Common examples include:

  • Conveyor systems
  • Industrial presses
  • Production machinery
  • Fixed lifting equipment
  • Pallet racking systems
  • Packaging equipment
  • Automated manufacturing lines
  • Refrigeration plant
  • Crushers and processing equipment

While fixed plant may appear less hazardous because it doesn’t move around a worksite, the reality is that these machines are involved in many serious workplace injuries every year.

Why Fixed Plant Presents Significant Risks

Serious incidents involving fixed plant often occur because hazards become part of the everyday work environment. Workers may become familiar with equipment and unknowingly accept unsafe practices over time.

Common hazards include:

  • Contact with moving parts
  • Entanglement in rotating machinery
  • Crushing points
  • Unexpected start-up during maintenance
  • Poorly maintained guarding
  • Stored energy hazards
  • Inadequate lockout/tagout procedures
  • Failure to isolate machinery before servicing

These risks can lead to catastrophic injuries including amputations, crush injuries and fatalities.

Importantly, many of these incidents are entirely preventable through effective risk management and safe systems of work.

Fixed Plant Features in WHSQ’s Compliance Strategy

The WHSQ Proactive Compliance Program identifies use of plant as one of Queensland’s priority hazard areas. The regulator is focusing on improving how businesses identify hazards, manage risks and implement effective controls around plant and machinery. This forms part of a broader, risk-based compliance strategy aimed at reducing serious workplace injuries and improving safety outcomes across priority industries.

As the program rolls out, inspectors are conducting targeted campaigns across industries including manufacturing, construction, transport and warehousing. Depending on the industry, inspections may examine machinery guarding, maintenance practices, worker training, consultation processes and the effectiveness of safety management systems.

For transport and warehousing, WHSQ has specifically identified fixed plant such as conveyor systems, fixed racking and shelving, fixed lifting equipment and refrigeration systems as inspection priorities during compliance campaigns.

What Inspectors Are Looking For

During workplace inspections, WHSQ inspectors are typically assessing whether businesses are effectively managing risks rather than simply having paperwork in place.

Areas commonly reviewed include:

  • Machine guarding and physical barriers
  • Safe operating procedures
  • Lockout and isolation systems
  • Maintenance and inspection records
  • Worker competency and training
  • Risk assessments
  • Consultation with Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs)
  • Emergency stop systems
  • Housekeeping around machinery
  • Compliance with relevant Codes of Practice

Inspectors may issue improvement notices, prohibition notices or financial penalties where significant safety breaches are identified.

Building a Proactive Safety Culture

One of the most significant shifts within the 2024–2027 program is its emphasis on proactive safety rather than reactive enforcement.

Instead of waiting for incidents to occur, WHSQ encourages businesses to continually assess their workplace, identify emerging risks and strengthen their safety systems before injuries happen.

Organisations with strong safety cultures generally:

  • Conduct regular plant inspections
  • Review risk assessments whenever processes change
  • Keep maintenance programs current
  • Involve workers in hazard identification
  • Encourage reporting of near misses
  • Regularly review Safe Work Method Statements and procedures
  • Verify that controls remain effective

A proactive approach not only improves compliance but also reduces downtime, equipment damage and workers’ compensation costs.

Practical Steps Businesses Can Take Today

Whether your workplace operates one machine or an entire production line, there are practical actions that can strengthen your plant safety management:

  • Review all fixed plant risk assessments.
  • Inspect machine guarding to ensure it remains effective.
  • Confirm isolation and lockout procedures are current and understood.
  • Verify that maintenance schedules are being followed.
  • Check operator training and competency records.
  • Consult workers about hazards they’ve observed.
  • Investigate near misses before they become serious incidents.
  • Ensure emergency stops are clearly accessible and regularly tested.

Small improvements made today can prevent serious incidents tomorrow.

Safety Is More Than Compliance

While WHSQ’s Proactive Compliance Program will undoubtedly increase regulatory attention on plant safety, the real objective extends beyond passing inspections.

Every worker has the right to return home safely at the end of the day. Businesses that invest in well-maintained equipment, effective risk controls and strong safety leadership are not only meeting their legal obligations, they are creating safer, more productive workplaces.

As WHSQ continues its proactive compliance activities through 2027, now is an ideal time for organisations to review their fixed plant safety systems, identify gaps and ensure they are prepared for both regulatory inspections and the everyday realities of operating high-risk machinery.

A proactive approach to fixed plant safety isn’t simply about avoiding penalties, it’s about preventing injuries before they happen.

Sherm Software will help to ensure your workplace stays safe by automating tasks to be completed and maintaining records and documentation.

Plant Risk Assessments can be completed electronically and records maintained in the Plant Register, regular Workplace Inspections completed easily via the mobile app, Training and Competency can be completed and recorded, hazards and incidents reported immediately, all with notifications sent to the right person.

Get in touch with us and learn more about how Sherm can make staying compliant so much easier.

Falls from Heights Remain One of Queensland Construction’s Biggest Safety Risks

Posted on by Marnie Cruickshank

Construction sites across Queensland are constantly evolving environments, with workers regularly required to perform tasks on roofs, scaffolding, ladders, elevated work platforms, and partially completed structures. While working at heights is often unavoidable, falls from height continue to be one of the leading causes of serious injuries and fatalities in the construction industry.

Whether it’s a fall from a roof edge, through a skylight, from scaffolding, or from an unsecured ladder, the consequences can be devastating for workers, their families, and businesses. Understanding the risks and implementing effective controls is essential for creating safer construction sites and meeting workplace health and safety obligations.

The Reality of Falls from Heights

A fall from height can occur whenever a person works in a position where there is a risk of falling from one level to another. Even falls from relatively low heights can result in serious injuries such as fractures, spinal injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and, in some cases, fatalities.

Common scenarios that lead to falls on Queensland construction sites include:

  • Working near unprotected edges
  • Roof installation and maintenance activities
  • Inadequately secured scaffolding
  • Misuse of ladders
  • Falls through fragile roofing materials or skylights
  • Unsafe use of elevated work platforms
  • Poor housekeeping creating trip hazards near edges
  • Lack of fall protection systems

Many incidents occur because hazards were not properly identified, controls were missing, or workers were not adequately trained and supervised.

Legal Responsibilities for Managing Fall Risks

Under Queensland workplace health and safety laws, persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) have a duty to eliminate risks to health and safety so far as is reasonably practicable. Where elimination is not possible, risks must be minimised using appropriate control measures.

Construction businesses must assess the risk of falls before work begins and implement controls that provide the highest level of protection possible.

Controlling the Risk of Falls: The Hierarchy of Controls

Managing fall hazards should follow the hierarchy of controls, prioritising the most effective measures first.

  1. Eliminate the Need to Work at Height

The most effective control is to remove the hazard entirely.

Examples include:

  • Prefabricating components at ground level before installation
  • Using extendable tools to perform tasks from the ground
  • Redesigning work processes to avoid elevated access

If the work can be completed safely without leaving the ground, the risk of falling is eliminated.

  1. Use Passive Fall Prevention Systems

Passive controls provide protection without requiring active worker intervention.

Examples include:

  • Edge protection and guardrails
  • Scaffold systems with integrated guardrails
  • Safety mesh beneath roof structures
  • Temporary barriers around openings
  • Covered floor penetrations and service openings

These controls are generally preferred because they provide continuous protection for all workers on site.

  1. Use Work Positioning or Fall Restraint Systems

Where passive protection is not reasonably practicable, fall restraint systems may be used to prevent workers from reaching a fall hazard.

Examples include:

  • Travel restraint systems
  • Anchored restraint lines
  • Work positioning systems

These systems are designed to prevent a worker from reaching an exposed edge rather than arresting a fall after it occurs.

  1. Implement Fall Arrest Systems

Fall arrest systems should only be used when higher-level controls are not reasonably practicable.

Examples include:

  • Safety harnesses and lanyards
  • Inertia reel systems
  • Anchor points and lifelines
  • Catch platforms
  • Safety nets

It is important to remember that fall arrest systems do not prevent a fall, they reduce the consequences if one occurs. Rescue procedures must also be in place to ensure a suspended worker can be recovered quickly.

  1. Use Administrative Controls

Administrative controls support physical safety measures and help ensure work is performed safely.

Examples include:

  • Safe work method statements (SWMS)
  • Site-specific risk assessments
  • Permit-to-work systems
  • Worker training and competency verification
  • Toolbox talks
  • Regular inspections and maintenance
  • Effective supervision
  • Clear exclusion zones

Administrative controls should never be relied upon as the sole method of protection where a risk of falling exists.

Ladder Safety: A Common Area of Concern

Ladders are involved in many fall-related incidents on construction sites. While ladders can be useful for short-duration tasks, they should not be used as a primary work platform where safer alternatives are available.

To improve ladder safety:

  • Select the correct ladder for the task
  • Ensure ladders are in good condition
  • Place ladders on stable ground
  • Maintain three points of contact
  • Secure ladders where possible
  • Avoid overreaching
  • Use scaffolding or elevated work platforms for longer-duration work

Planning Is Critical

Effective planning is one of the most important factors in preventing falls.

Before commencing work at height, construction businesses should consider:

  • The height at which work will occur
  • The duration and complexity of the task
  • Environmental conditions such as wind and rain
  • Access and egress requirements
  • Emergency and rescue procedures
  • The competency of workers performing the task
  • Inspection requirements for equipment and systems

A well-planned job significantly reduces the likelihood of incidents occurring.

Creating a Strong Safety Culture

Physical controls alone cannot prevent every fall. A strong safety culture encourages workers to identify hazards, report concerns, and stop work when conditions become unsafe.

Construction companies that prioritise safety typically experience:

  • Fewer incidents and injuries
  • Reduced project disruptions
  • Improved workforce morale
  • Better regulatory compliance
  • Lower financial and reputational risk

When workers feel empowered to raise concerns and safety is embedded into everyday operations, fall risks are more effectively managed.

Final Thoughts

Falls from heights remain one of the most significant hazards on Queensland construction sites. However, many incidents are preventable through proper planning, risk assessment, worker training, and the implementation of effective control measures.

By prioritising elimination, using appropriate fall prevention systems, maintaining equipment, and fostering a strong safety culture, construction businesses can significantly reduce the risk of serious injury and ensure workers return home safely at the end of every shift.

From July 2026, Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) inspectors will visit construction sites across Queensland as part of a compliance campaign focused of work at heights, where they will assess workplace health and safety and take action if non-compliance is identified.

Sherm Software can help you to ensure your business has the right controls in place to manage the risk of falls when working at heights. Training and competency verification can be completed with notification sent when it is due, permits are maintained within the workers profile, regular workplace inspections can be completed electronically using Sherm’s Mobile App, SWMS are made readily available anywhere at any time, and many other features to help keep your business compliant.

Moving Plant – Reducing Workplace Safety Incidents

Posted on by Marnie Cruickshank

Forklifts, elevated work platforms, loaders, pallet jacks and other moving plant are essential to Australian industry. From warehouses and logistics hubs to construction sites and manufacturing facilities, these machines keep operations moving efficiently. Unfortunately, they also remain one of the leading causes of serious workplace injuries and fatalities across Australia.

Among all types of moving plant, forklifts continue to present a particularly high risk. Collisions, pedestrian impacts, tip-overs, falling loads and poor traffic management contribute to incidents that can permanently change lives and significantly disrupt businesses.

Reducing these incidents requires more than compliance paperwork. It demands a practical, site-wide safety culture supported by training, engineering controls, supervision and continuous improvement.

Why Moving Plant Incidents Continue to Occur

Many organisations already have procedures in place, yet incidents still happen because of gaps between policy and day-to-day operations.

Common contributing factors include:

  • Pedestrians and forklifts sharing the same space
  • Poor visibility in warehouses or yards
  • Inadequate traffic management plans
  • Operator fatigue or distraction
  • Lack of refresher training
  • Time pressure and unsafe shortcuts
  • Poor maintenance of plant and equipment
  • Unstable or improperly secured loads
  • Inexperienced or unlicensed operators
  • Complacency in familiar environments

In many cases, incidents are not caused by a single failure, but by multiple small risks aligning at the same time.

Forklifts: One of the Highest-Risk Types of Moving Plant

Forklifts are deceptively dangerous. Although they often operate at relatively low speeds, their weight, turning characteristics and limited visibility can create severe hazards.

A standard forklift can weigh several tonnes, often much heavier than the load it is carrying. Even at slow speeds, collisions can result in crushing injuries or fatalities.

Some of the most common forklift-related incidents include:

Pedestrian Collisions

Workers on foot are at greatest risk when forklifts operate in mixed-use areas without proper separation controls.

Tip-Overs

Forklifts can overturn due to:

  • Excessive speed
  • Turning while elevated
  • Uneven ground
  • Overloading
  • Incorrect load positioning

Falling Loads

Loads may fall when:

  • Pallets are damaged
  • Loads are poorly balanced
  • Operators brake suddenly
  • Forks are incorrectly positioned

Dock and Loading Area Incidents

Busy loading zones create high-risk interactions between trucks, forklifts and pedestrians, particularly during peak operational periods.

Building a Safer Workplace Around Moving Plant

Reducing incidents requires layered controls rather than relying on a single safety measure.

Separate Pedestrians and Plant Wherever Possible

Physical separation remains one of the most effective controls.

Practical measures include:

  • Dedicated pedestrian walkways
  • Safety barriers and guardrails
  • Clearly marked exclusion zones
  • Separate entry and exit points
  • Designated crossing areas
  • One-way traffic systems

Where physical separation is not possible, administrative controls and reduced speed limits become critical.

Develop a Practical Traffic Management Plan

A traffic management plan should reflect actual site conditions rather than exist solely as a compliance document.

An effective plan should identify:

  • Vehicle routes
  • Pedestrian pathways
  • Blind spots
  • High-risk intersections
  • Loading and unloading zones
  • Speed limits
  • Parking areas
  • Emergency access routes

Plans should also be reviewed whenever layouts, workflows or equipment change.

Invest in High-Quality Operator Training

Licensing alone does not guarantee competence.

Operators should receive:

  • Site-specific inductions
  • Familiarisation with each plant type
  • Practical hazard awareness training
  • Refresher training
  • Emergency response instruction

Training should also extend beyond operators. Pedestrians working around moving plant need to understand:

  • Exclusion zones
  • Blind spots
  • Right-of-way procedures
  • Communication signals
  • Safe crossing behaviours

Use Technology to Reduce Human Error

Modern safety technologies can significantly reduce risk when implemented correctly.

Examples include:

  • Proximity detection systems
  • Blue safety lights
  • Reverse cameras
  • Speed limiting devices
  • Telematics and impact monitoring
  • Collision avoidance systems
  • Operator access control systems

While technology is not a substitute for safe systems of work, it can provide an additional layer of protection.

Prioritise Preventive Maintenance

Mechanical failures can quickly become serious safety events.

Maintenance programs should include:

  • Pre-start inspections
  • Scheduled servicing
  • Immediate defect reporting
  • Removal of unsafe equipment from service
  • Tyre and brake inspections
  • Fork integrity checks
  • Hydraulic system inspections

Operators should feel empowered to report faults without fear of operational delays or criticism.

Improve Visibility Across the Site

Poor visibility contributes to many moving plant incidents.

Workplaces can improve visibility through:

  • Better lighting
  • Convex mirrors at intersections
  • Marked crossing zones
  • Reduced storage heights near corners
  • Audible warning systems
  • High-visibility clothing requirements

Warehouse layouts should also minimise blind corners and congested travel paths.

Address Fatigue and Time Pressure

Rushed environments often create unsafe decisions.

Common examples include:

  • Speeding to meet deadlines
  • Carrying unstable loads
  • Skipping inspections
  • Operating while fatigued
  • Ignoring pedestrian controls

Leaders should monitor workloads and production expectations to ensure safety is not compromised by operational pressure.

Leadership Plays a Critical Role

Workplace safety outcomes are heavily influenced by leadership behaviour.

When supervisors and managers:

  • Follow site rules,
  • Address unsafe behaviours immediately,
  • Encourage reporting,
  • Allocate time for training,
  • And prioritise safety over speed,

workers are more likely to adopt safe behaviours themselves.

On the other hand, inconsistent enforcement quickly undermines safety systems.

Encouraging Near-Miss Reporting

Many serious incidents are preceded by smaller warning signs.

Encouraging workers to report:

  • Near misses,
  • Unsafe conditions,
  • Traffic conflicts,
  • Equipment faults,
  • And procedural gaps

can help organisations identify risks before injuries occur.

Importantly, reporting systems should focus on learning and prevention rather than blame.

Compliance Matters, But Culture Matters More

Australian workplace health and safety laws place clear duties on employers to eliminate or minimise risks associated with moving plant so far as is reasonably practicable.

However, genuine safety improvement goes beyond compliance checklists.

The safest workplaces typically share several characteristics:

  • Strong leadership commitment
  • Worker consultation
  • Continuous improvement
  • Practical procedures
  • Ongoing training
  • Clear accountability
  • Open communication

Safety becomes most effective when it is embedded into operational decision-making rather than treated as a separate function.

Final Thoughts

Reducing incidents involving moving plant requires a combination of engineering controls, operational discipline, training and leadership commitment.

No single intervention will eliminate risk entirely. But organisations that proactively separate pedestrians and vehicles, improve visibility, strengthen training, maintain equipment and foster a strong reporting culture can significantly reduce the likelihood of serious incidents.

In high-risk environments, even small improvements can prevent life-changing injuries.

For Australian businesses, investing in moving plant safety is not only a legal obligation, it is a critical part of protecting workers, maintaining productivity and building a resilient workplace culture.

Sherm Software can help your organisation identify risks before injuries occur with the ability for workers to report incidents quickly and effectively with the use of Sherm’s Mobile App with notification sent immediately to management.

Get in touch with us and learn how Sherm can help you stay on top of worker licences and training, pre-start inspections to ensure plant is safe for use, and many other features to help your organisation remain a safe place to work.

Electrical Powerlines – Reducing Risks

Posted on by Marnie Cruickshank

Electrical powerlines are part of almost every Australian worksite. From construction and civil works to agriculture, logistics, arboriculture and mining, overhead and underground electrical assets create a constant risk that can become catastrophic in seconds. Contact with live powerlines can result in serious injury, fatalities, fires, explosions, plant damage, network outages and significant legal consequences for businesses and workers alike.

One of the most effective ways to reduce these risks is through the strict maintenance of electrical exclusion zones. Understanding what exclusion zones are, how they work, and how to maintain them consistently is essential for every Australian workplace operating near energised electrical infrastructure.

Why Powerline Safety Matters

Electricity does not require direct contact to cause harm. High-voltage electricity can arc across gaps, meaning workers, tools, scaffolding, cranes, elevated work platforms, tip trucks and other plant can become energised simply by getting too close.

Across Australia, incidents involving overhead powerlines remain one of the leading causes of workplace electrocutions and serious electrical injuries. Many of these incidents occur during relatively routine activities such as:

  • Operating cranes or mobile plant
  • Delivering materials with tipper trucks
  • Moving irrigation equipment
  • Installing roofing or scaffolding
  • Tree trimming and vegetation management
  • Excavation and earthworks near underground cables
  • Transporting oversized loads
  • Using ladders or long conductive tools

The consequences extend beyond the immediate incident. Businesses may face investigations, prosecutions, project shutdowns, insurance implications and reputational damage under Australian work health and safety legislation.

Understanding Electrical Exclusion Zones

An exclusion zone is the minimum safe distance that workers, plant, equipment or materials must maintain from energised electrical assets unless specific control measures and authorisations are in place.

These distances are designed to prevent:

  • Direct contact with electrical conductors
  • Electrical arcing
  • Unintentional encroachment during movement
  • Equipment sway or load shift entering danger areas

Exclusion zone requirements vary between Australian states, territories and network operators. Factors influencing required distances include:

  • Voltage level
  • Type of electrical infrastructure
  • Whether the worker is authorised or trained
  • The type and size of plant being used
  • Environmental conditions
  • Whether spotters or physical barriers are in place

Because requirements differ across jurisdictions, organisations should always consult the relevant regulator and electricity network provider before commencing work.

Common Causes of Exclusion Zone Breaches

Despite widespread awareness campaigns, exclusion zone breaches continue to occur due to a combination of operational and human factors.

Inadequate Site Planning

Many incidents begin before work even starts. Failure to identify overhead or underground electrical assets during planning can leave workers exposed once equipment arrives onsite.

Effective planning should include:

  • Reviewing site drawings and utility maps
  • Conducting site inspections
  • Identifying all overhead and underground services
  • Assessing plant movement paths
  • Considering maximum reach and load swing
  • Consulting electricity asset owners

Poor Visibility and Environmental Conditions

Powerlines can be difficult to see against certain backgrounds, particularly at sunrise, sunset or during poor weather conditions. Vegetation, structures and terrain can further obscure visibility.

Wind can also cause:

  • Powerline movement
  • Load sway
  • Reduced control of suspended materials

These variables can quickly reduce safe separation distances.

Complacency Around Familiar Tasks

Many powerline incidents involve experienced workers performing routine activities. Familiarity can create a false sense of confidence, especially on repeat worksites.

Workers may incorrectly assume:

  • The line is insulated
  • The line has been isolated
  • Their equipment will not reach the line
  • Spotters are monitoring continuously
  • Minor encroachments are harmless

Maintaining vigilance is critical regardless of experience level.

Maintaining Effective Exclusion Zones

Maintaining exclusion zones requires more than simply marking distances on a site plan. It demands a layered risk management approach involving engineering controls, administrative systems, training and active supervision.

Conduct a Detailed Risk Assessment

Before any work begins near powerlines, organisations should undertake a comprehensive risk assessment that considers:

  • Voltage and location of electrical assets
  • Nature of the work
  • Plant dimensions and operating range
  • Ground conditions
  • Traffic flow
  • Environmental conditions
  • Emergency response procedures

The assessment should determine whether work can be redesigned to eliminate the risk entirely.

Eliminate or Minimise Exposure Wherever Possible

The safest option is always to avoid working near energised powerlines altogether. This may involve:

  • Relocating work areas
  • Changing delivery routes
  • Using smaller equipment
  • Altering excavation methods
  • Scheduling temporary power isolation with the network operator

Where elimination is not reasonably practicable, minimisation controls become essential.

Use Physical Barriers and Visual Controls

Visual reminders help reinforce exclusion zones onsite. Common controls include:

  • Warning signage
  • Barrier bunting
  • Goalposts
  • Height restriction devices
  • Painted ground markings
  • Dedicated no-go zones

These controls should be clearly visible to operators from all working positions.

Implement Competent Spotters

Spotters play a critical role when plant operates near exclusion zones. However, a spotter is only effective when properly trained, positioned and empowered to stop work immediately if risks escalate.

A competent spotter should:

  • Maintain uninterrupted visual contact
  • Understand exclusion distances
  • Use clear communication methods
  • Avoid undertaking other tasks simultaneously
  • Have authority to direct operators

Importantly, spotters should never be treated as the sole control measure.

Ensure Plant Operators Are Properly Trained

Operators working near electrical assets must understand:

  • Electrical hazards and arcing risks
  • Plant reach limitations
  • Emergency response procedures
  • Exclusion zone requirements
  • Site-specific controls

Training should be reinforced through:

  • Pre-start meetings
  • Toolbox talks
  • Site inductions
  • Refresher training
  • Practical competency assessments

Technology Is Improving Powerline Safety

Modern technologies are helping Australian workplaces reduce exclusion zone breaches more effectively than ever before.

Emerging controls include:

  • Height and slew limiters
  • Proximity warning systems
  • GPS-enabled geofencing
  • Crane anti-collision systems
  • Real-time telemetry and monitoring
  • Drone-assisted inspections

While technology can significantly reduce risk, it should complement, not replace safe systems of work and competent supervision.

Emergency Response Preparedness

Even with strong controls in place, organisations must prepare for potential incidents.

If plant contacts powerlines:

  1. The operator should remain inside the cabin where safe to do so.
  2. Other workers must stay away from the equipment.
  3. Emergency services and the electricity provider should be contacted immediately.
  4. The area should be isolated until declared safe.

If evacuation becomes necessary due to fire or immediate danger, workers should jump clear without touching the plant and ground simultaneously, then shuffle or hop away while keeping feet together to minimise step potential risk.

Emergency procedures should be rehearsed regularly so workers can respond quickly under pressure.

Legal Responsibilities Under Australian WHS Laws

Under Australian work health and safety legislation, employers and persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) have a duty to eliminate or minimise electrical risks so far as is reasonably practicable.

This includes ensuring:

  • Safe systems of work
  • Proper risk assessments
  • Worker training and supervision
  • Appropriate plant selection
  • Compliance with exclusion zone requirements
  • Consultation with relevant electricity authorities

Workers also have responsibilities to:

  • Follow safety procedures
  • Use equipment correctly
  • Report hazards
  • Avoid unsafe behaviours

Regulators across Australia continue to enforce electrical safety obligations aggressively, particularly following serious incidents or fatalities.

Building a Strong Powerline Safety Culture

Sustainable powerline safety depends on workplace culture as much as procedures. Organisations with strong safety performance typically:

  • Encourage hazard reporting
  • Stop unsafe work immediately
  • Reinforce exclusion zone discipline
  • Conduct regular audits and inspections
  • Learn from near misses
  • Invest in ongoing training

When workers understand both the seriousness of electrical hazards and the practical controls available to manage them, exclusion zones become part of everyday operational thinking rather than an afterthought.

Final Thoughts

Reducing the risk of workers or plant coming within an unsafe distance of electrical powerlines requires proactive planning, strong supervision, effective training and unwavering attention to exclusion zones.

Electrical incidents are often sudden, severe and unforgiving. However, most are preventable when organisations commit to robust risk management practices and ensure exclusion zones are clearly understood and consistently maintained.

For Australian businesses operating near electrical infrastructure, exclusion zones are not simply regulatory requirements, they are critical life-saving controls that protect workers, communities and operations every day.

Sherm Software will help your organisation reduce risks by ensuring training is up to date, inspections are conducted regularly, hazards are reported easily and you stay compliant. Get in touch with us and see how easy all this can be with Sherm.

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