OH&S Acts
States and territories are responsible for making and enforcing laws about Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S). Each state and territory has its own OH&S Act, setting out requirements for ensuring that workplaces are healthy and safe. These requirements spell out the duties of different groups of people who play a role in workplace health and safety.
OH&S Regulations and Codes of Practice
Some workplace hazards can cause so much injury or disease that specific regulations or codes of practice are needed to control them. These regulations and codes, adopted under state and territory OH&S Acts, explain the duties of particular groups of people in controlling these risks. There is a difference between regulations and codes:
- Regulations are legally enforceable
- Codes of Practice provide advice on how to meet regulatory requirements. Codes are not legally enforceable, but they can be used in courts as evidence that legal requirements have or have not been met.
