Product Overview

Summary: This Employee Health and Safety Safe Operating Procedure sets out a clear, practical framework for protecting workers and meeting WHS obligations across Australian workplaces. It translates legal requirements into day-to-day actions for managers and staff, helping you create a safer, healthier, and more compliant work environment.

This Employee Health and Safety Safe Operating Procedure provides a structured, organisation-wide approach to managing health and safety in line with Australian WHS legislation. Rather than focusing on a single task or piece of equipment, it sets out how your business identifies hazards, consults with workers, manages risks, responds to incidents, and continuously improves safety performance. It is designed to be adaptable across industries—from offices and retail through to construction, manufacturing, and community services—while still aligning with the core duties of a Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU).

The procedure helps bridge the gap between legal obligations and what actually happens on the ground. It clearly defines roles and responsibilities, outlines minimum safety practices for everyday activities, and provides step-by-step guidance for reporting hazards, managing injuries and illnesses, and escalating issues. By implementing this SOP, businesses can reduce confusion, ensure consistent safety practices across sites and teams, and demonstrate due diligence to regulators, insurers, and workers. It is especially valuable for growing organisations that need to formalise their WHS systems without creating unnecessary red tape.

Key Benefits

• Ensure clear, documented processes for managing employee health and safety across all levels of the business.
• Reduce the likelihood of workplace incidents, injuries, and illnesses through consistent hazard identification and risk control.
• Demonstrate compliance with WHS legislation and due diligence obligations for officers and PCBUs.
• Strengthen worker consultation, reporting, and participation in safety matters, improving safety culture and engagement.
• Streamline induction, training, and supervision by providing a central reference for expected health and safety practices.

Who is this for?

• Business Owners
• Directors and Officers (PCBUs)
• Human Resources Managers
• WHS Managers and Advisors
• Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs)
• Operations Managers
• Site Supervisors and Team Leaders
• Office Managers
• Facilities Managers
• Return-to-Work Coordinators

Hazards Addressed

• Slips, trips and falls in office, warehouse, and site environments
• Manual handling and musculoskeletal injuries from lifting, pushing, and repetitive tasks
• Psychosocial hazards such as work-related stress, bullying, harassment, and fatigue
• Exposure to hazardous chemicals, dusts, fumes, and other airborne contaminants
• Use of plant, tools, and equipment without adequate guarding, maintenance, or training
• Poor workstation ergonomics and prolonged sedentary work
• Inadequate emergency preparedness for fire, medical events, and other critical incidents
• Biological hazards including infectious diseases in customer-facing or care environments

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Key Terms
• 3.0 Legal and Other Requirements (WHS Act, Regulations, Codes of Practice)
• 4.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Accountability (PCBU, Officers, Workers, HSRs)
• 5.0 Worker Consultation, Participation and Communication
• 6.0 Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Risk Control Process
• 7.0 General Workplace Health and Safety Rules
• 8.0 Management of Psychosocial Hazards and Wellbeing
• 9.0 Incident, Injury, Near Miss and Hazard Reporting Procedure
• 10.0 Incident Investigation and Corrective Actions
• 11.0 Emergency Preparedness and Response Overview
• 12.0 Training, Induction, Competency and Supervision
• 13.0 Health Monitoring and Return-to-Work Considerations
• 14.0 Documentation, Recordkeeping and Privacy
• 15.0 Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement
• 16.0 Appendices – Forms, Checklists and Reporting Templates

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth and harmonised state/territory Acts)
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011
• Safe Work Australia – Model Code of Practice: How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks
• Safe Work Australia – Model Code of Practice: Work Health and Safety Consultation, Cooperation and Coordination
• Safe Work Australia – Model Code of Practice: Managing the Work Environment and Facilities
• Safe Work Australia – Model Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces
• Safe Work Australia – Model Code of Practice: Hazardous Manual Tasks
• Safe Work Australia – Model Code of Practice: Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work
• AS/NZS ISO 45001:2018 Occupational health and safety management systems – Requirements with guidance for use