Product Overview

Summary: This Occupational Health Safe Operating Procedure provides a clear, practical framework for managing health risks in Australian workplaces, from noise and hazardous substances to mental health and fatigue. It helps organisations turn WHS obligations into day‑to‑day routines that protect workers, demonstrate due diligence, and reduce the likelihood of costly health-related claims.

This Occupational Health Safe Operating Procedure is designed to help Australian businesses systematically identify, assess and control health risks that arise from everyday work activities. Unlike task-specific safety procedures, this SOP focuses on the longer-term health impacts of work, including exposure to noise, hazardous chemicals, psychosocial hazards, manual tasks, poor ergonomics, and fatigue. It provides a structured, repeatable approach for integrating occupational health considerations into planning, supervision, consultation, and review processes across your organisation.

The procedure translates WHS legislation and guidance into practical steps your managers and workers can follow, reducing ambiguity and inconsistency between sites or departments. It sets out how to conduct health risk assessments, implement control measures using the hierarchy of control, manage health monitoring and surveillance programs, and respond to early signs of work-related illness or stress. By adopting this SOP, businesses can strengthen their duty of care, improve worker wellbeing and engagement, and create a defensible record of how occupational health risks are managed in line with Australian WHS expectations.

Key Benefits

• Ensure a consistent, organisation-wide approach to identifying and controlling occupational health risks.
• Reduce the likelihood of work-related illness, long-term injury, and associated workers compensation costs.
• Demonstrate compliance with Australian WHS legislation and due diligence requirements for officers and PCBUs.
• Streamline health risk assessments, health monitoring, and follow-up actions into a clear, auditable process.
• Support a proactive wellbeing culture by addressing psychosocial hazards, fatigue, and early intervention for health concerns.

Who is this for?

• WHS Managers
• Health and Safety Advisors
• HR Managers
• Operations Managers
• Site Supervisors
• Business Owners and PCBU Representatives
• Injury Management Coordinators
• Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs)
• Return to Work Coordinators
• People and Culture Managers

Hazards Addressed

• Prolonged exposure to hazardous chemicals and substances (including carcinogens and sensitisers)
• Noise-induced hearing loss from ongoing exposure to high noise levels
• Musculoskeletal disorders from repetitive or sustained manual tasks and poor ergonomics
• Heat stress and cold stress in extreme environmental conditions
• Respiratory issues arising from dusts, fumes, vapours and poor air quality
• Psychosocial hazards such as work-related stress, bullying, harassment, and high job demands
• Fatigue related to shift work, long hours, and inadequate rest breaks
• Biological hazards including infectious diseases in relevant workplaces
• Vision strain and discomfort from screen-based work and poor lighting

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Key Terms
• 3.0 Legal and Other Requirements
• 4.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Consultation
• 5.0 Occupational Health Risk Identification
• 6.0 Risk Assessment and Prioritisation Process
• 7.0 Control Measures and the Hierarchy of Control
• 8.0 Management of Specific Health Hazards (Noise, Chemicals, Manual Tasks, Psychosocial, Fatigue, etc.)
• 9.0 Health Monitoring and Surveillance Procedures
• 10.0 Incident, Symptom and Early Intervention Reporting
• 11.0 Training, Induction and Competency Requirements
• 12.0 Recordkeeping, Privacy and Confidentiality of Health Information
• 13.0 Communication, Consultation and Worker Participation
• 14.0 Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement
• 15.0 References, Supporting Documents and Forms

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory WHS Acts
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 and equivalent state and territory WHS Regulations
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Work Environment and Facilities
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Hazardous Manual Tasks
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work
• Safe Work Australia – Model Code of Practice: Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work
• AS/NZS 4801: Occupational health and safety management systems (superseded but still referenced by many businesses)
• ISO 45001: Occupational health and safety management systems – Requirements with guidance for use
• AS/NZS 1269 series: Occupational noise management