Weekly WHS Round-Up  

National Safe Work Month Launch, NSW Regulation Changes & Key Enforcement Actions

Date Range: 29 September – 6 October 2025

Below is your comprehensive summary of the latest Australian workplace health and safety (WHS) developments. This week includes the launch of National Safe Work Month 2025, new NSW WHS Regulations, and major Victorian enforcement actions.

Use this for your weekly safety briefing or leadership update.

1. National Highlights

Safe Work Month 2025 officially commenced on 1 October under the theme “Every Job. Every Day.”
Safe Work Australia (SWA) released Week 1 resources focused on hazard identification — the first step in the risk-management cycle (Identify → Assess → Control → Review).
🔗 Safe Work Month 2025 campaign page
Action: Download the Week 1 toolkit, hold a short hazard-ID workshop or “SafeTea” session, and align internal comms with SWA’s weekly themes.

Model WHS Act and Regulation Review – Consultation open until 3 Nov 2025.
SWA’s Best Practice Review discussion paper invites feedback on how to modernise the model laws.
🔗 Model WHS Law Review – Discussion Paper & Submission Portal
Action: Forward to your legal/compliance lead to assess whether a submission should be made.

2. Victoria

2 Oct 2025 – Chemical company charged after fatal factory fire
WorkSafe Victoria charged ACB Group Pty Ltd following a 2023 explosion that killed a worker. Failures are alleged in bonding/earthing and supervision.
🔗 Company charged after worker killed in chemical fire
Action: Review your flammable-liquid handling, static control, and operator-training systems.

24 Sep 2025 – Builder and director charged over stair-void fatality
WorkSafe charged a residential builder and its director after a worker fell through an internal stair-void.
🔗 Company and director charged after worker dies in fall through stair void
Action: Verify void protection (covers/guardrails) and supervision of scaffolding and temporary works.

18 Sep 2025 – Contractor fined $60,000 after scaffold fall
A steel-fixing business was fined for unsecured planks and missing mid-rails.
🔗 Company fined $60,000 after worker fell from scaffold
Action: Audit scaffold inspections and ensure competent sign-off prior to use.

30 Sep 2025 – Physiotherapist charged with WorkSafe billing fraud
A healthcare provider allegedly billed for services not delivered to injured workers.
🔗 Physiotherapist charged over fraudulent WorkSafe claims
Action: Review billing compliance and documentation for allied-health and RTW providers.

3. New South Wales

WHS Regulation 2025 now in effect (commenced 22 Aug 2025)
The 2017 regulation has been remade with:

• new psychosocial-hazard hierarchy-of-control requirements

• expanded penalty-notice offences

• a silica-exposure worker register effective 1 Oct 2025
  🔗 Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 – NSW Government Gazette Notice
  Action: Update WHS legal registers, ensure psychosocial-risk procedures and silica registers meet the new rules.

Hospital Industry Action Group formed to tackle violence in healthcare
SafeWork NSW has launched an industry taskforce and body-worn camera pilot to protect frontline health staff.
🔗 SafeWork NSW – Hospital Industry Action Group launched
Action: Review workplace-violence policies, security measures and incident-response training.

4. Queensland / ACT

Safe Work Month activities and events
Queensland and ACT are running regional events under the national Every Job. Every Day theme.
🔗 Workplace Health & Safety Qld – Safe Work Month
🔗 WorkSafe ACT – National Safe Work Month 2025
Action: Register for local webinars, toolbox sessions, or conferences; integrate weekly campaign topics into your October comms.

5. Regulation & Standards Watch

Transition from Workplace Exposure Standards (WES) to Workplace Exposure Limits (WEL) remains on track for 1 Dec 2026.
🔗 Safe Work Australia – Airborne Contaminants WEL Transition Information
Action: Begin comparing measured exposures (e.g., welding fume, silica, wood dust) to the draft WELs.

No new Australian Standards or ISO 45001 amendments were issued this week.

6. Practical Actions for Managers

✅ Hold a hazard-identification toolbox or “SafeTea” this week (use SWA resources).
✅ Audit fall-prevention and scaffold systems across sites.
✅ Confirm NSW compliance with new WHS Regulation 2025 (psychosocial & silica).
✅ Nominate a representative to prepare a submission to SWA’s model law review (due 3 Nov).
✅ Check bonding, earthing, and flammable-liquid supervision if operating with chemicals.

Sources:
Safe Work Australia | WorkSafe Victoria | SafeWork NSW | Workplace Health & Safety Queensland | WorkSafe ACT | Comcare

Compiled by: Work Safety Hub – Helping organisations build safer, stronger workplaces.
🔗 worksafetyhub.com.au