NSW Expands SafeWork Inspectorate to Strengthen Workplace Safety

The Minns Labor Government has reaffirmed its commitment to safer workplaces with the graduation of 27 new SafeWork NSW inspectors, bolstering regulatory capability across metropolitan and regional New South Wales.

Fourteen of the new inspectors will be based in metropolitan Sydney, while 13 will be deployed across key regional areas including the Hunter, Central Coast, Riverina, South Coast, Illawarra and Central West. This targeted distribution is designed to strengthen on-the-ground compliance, education and enforcement in diverse industries and high-risk sectors.

Since SafeWork NSW became a standalone regulator on 1 July 2025, a total of 68 new inspectors have been recruited, representing a five-year record intake. This expanded inspectorate supports the implementation of robust Work Health and Safety (WHS) management systems, Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) and workplace policies that help duty holders meet their obligations under WHS legislation.

The latest cohort includes five specialist psychosocial inspectors with expertise in psychology, workers compensation and anti-bullying. Their role will focus on identifying, preventing and managing psychosocial risks such as work-related stress, harassment, bullying and fatigue, recognising that psychological harm can be as serious and debilitating as physical injury.

The appointment of these psychosocial inspectors reflects the Government’s commitment to assisting PCBUs and workers to better understand and control psychological hazards, reducing the likelihood of psychological injury and subsequent workers compensation claims. Managing psychosocial risks is one of SafeWork NSW’s five key regulatory priorities, and this uplift in capability is intended to drive better risk management and safer organisational cultures.

The inspectorate expansion aligns with the NSW Government’s record $127.7 million investment over four years to improve WHS outcomes across the state. This investment includes the recruitment of 20 additional psychosocial inspectors as part of an overall increase of 51 inspectors, marking the largest single uplift in SafeWork NSW’s history.

These initiatives sharpen SafeWork NSW’s nation-leading focus on psychological health at work, complementing existing requirements for businesses to implement structured WHS management systems and documented WHS policies and procedures. Organisations seeking to strengthen their WHS governance and compliance frameworks can access tailored WHS management systems and documentation resources via providers such as BlueSafe.

In addition to increasing inspector numbers, the NSW Government is establishing a Psychosocial Advisory Service to provide workers and business owners with tailored, practical advice on managing psychosocial safety at work. New South Wales was also the first state to introduce a comprehensive psychosocial code of practice covering all psychosocial hazards and all workplaces, setting a benchmark for psychological health and safety regulation nationally.

SafeWork NSW inspectors are responsible for taking targeted regulatory action to prevent or reduce the risk of death, injury and illness in workplaces, with a particular focus on high-hazard industries and activities identified in SafeWork NSW’s 2026–27 regulatory priorities. Through workplace visits, audits, incident investigations, enforcement notices and education activities, inspectors support duty holders to comply with WHS laws and embed safer systems of work.

The Government emphasises that SafeWork NSW inspectors are on the frontline of workplace safety, playing a critical role in ensuring that workers start and finish their day safely. The growing recognition of psychological harm as a key WHS issue has reinforced the need for dedicated psychosocial expertise within the regulator, alongside strong organisational WHS frameworks, SWMS and risk management plans.

The newly graduated inspectors will strengthen SafeWork NSW’s capacity to provide guidance, education, compliance monitoring and enforcement across the state. Their work is expected to drive improved WHS performance, influence safer workplace practices, and support the overarching goal that every worker in New South Wales returns home safely at the end of their working day.