Updated for 2026 WEL Framework & NSW Code of Practice changes

Australia's Most CompleteWHS Compliance Platform

State-by-state legal compliance tools for builders, tradies, and authorised certificate suppliers. Every rule, every regulator, every 2026 legal update — accurately cited and actionable.

All 8 Australian jurisdictionsLegally cited contentFree to useUpdated July 2026
8 Jurisdictions
State & Territory specific rules
2026 Updated
WEL & psychosocial regulations
17+ HRCW
High Risk Construction Work types
Zero Placeholders
Legally cited, verified content
TRUSTED FOR SERIOUS OPERATIONS

Built to be taken seriously by builders, assessors, and regulators

SiteSafeAU is structured as a real compliance operating platform, not a static reference page. The content, legal framing, and user journeys are designed to support high-stakes WHS decisions in construction and training environments.

Operating framework

Australian entity, Australian data residency, and legally grounded content

Registered trading entity

AMSP (QLD) PTY LTD trading as SiteSafe Australia

Australian data handling

All personal information is framed for Australian processing and storage in Sydney.

Legally cited guidance

Acts, regulations, and update references are presented as part of the compliance workflow.

Operational maturity

Designed for audit readiness, due diligence, and repeatable site process support.

What this means for you

  • Less guessing and more defensible WHS decision-making.
  • Clearer role alignment for builders, tradespeople, and RTOs.
  • More confidence for operators who need practical compliance support now.

Choose the path that fits your role

SiteSafeAU is designed to support three core operating groups with different obligations, workflows, and outcomes.

Builders & Principal Contractors

Manage duty-of-care responsibilities, site setup, due diligence, and contractor coordination with state-relevant guidance.

Explore builder tools

Tradies & Subcontractors

Use the state tools and SWMS workflow to stay compliant before work starts and during site operations.

See tradie tools

RTOs & Assessors

Support credential issuance, verification, and compliance readiness with clear, repeatable evidence handling.

View RTO pathways

Getting WHS wrong in Australia is costly

Australian WHS law is complex, jurisdiction-dependent, and changed significantly in 2026. Here's what catches businesses out.

Every state has different rules

Victoria operates under the OHS Act 2004 — completely separate from the Model WHS Act used in NSW, QLD, WA, SA, TAS, ACT, and NT. A compliant SWMS in one state may not satisfy another. Generic national templates leave you exposed.

2026 regulations changed dramatically

The silica exposure limit halved from 1 July 2026. NSW mandated new Codes of Practice. QLD expanded plant registration requirements. If your compliance approach hasn't been updated, you're already behind — and regulators are actively auditing.

Officers face personal liability

Under the WHS Act, company officers can be personally fined up to $600,000 — or face imprisonment — for failing to exercise due diligence. 'I didn't know' is not a legal defence. Documenting your due diligence is essential.

THE SOLUTION

The right compliance answer for your state, your work, and 2026

SiteSafeAU gives you legally cited, jurisdiction-specific WHS information — not generic templates that could let you down when it matters most. Every tool is calibrated to your state's laws and updated for the 2026 regulatory changes.

  • 1Select your state → get the laws that actually apply to you
  • 2Identify your HRCW activities → generate a Schedule 3-aligned SWMS checklist
  • 3Run the compliance audit → find gaps before a regulator does
Get Started — Select Your State

Legally cited

Every rule references the specific Act, section, and Regulation

State-specific

Separate tools for all 8 Australian jurisdictions

2026 current

WEL transition, NSW Codes, QLD plant amendments — all included

Audit-ready

Designed to produce defensible documentation

Built for Every Role on Site

Whether you're a Principal Contractor, sole-trader tradie, or an RTO issuing White Cards — SiteSafeAU has the compliance tools you need, matched to your state's laws.

Builders & Principal Contractors

  • State-specific PCBU duty-of-care obligations
  • Site induction and SWMS management
  • Officer due diligence documentation support
  • Subcontractor credential verification tools
  • 7-stage expiry notification cascade

Tradies & Subcontractors

  • SWMS generator for your HRCW activities
  • Licence and certificate expiry tracking
  • State-by-state noise and silica exposure tools
  • High Risk Work licence class lookup
  • Push notifications before credential expiry

RTOs & Certificate Suppliers

  • Authorised certificate issuance and tracking
  • QR code credential verification system
  • State regulator submission audit trails
  • NSW Silica Worker Register compliance tools
  • Bulk credential management for training cohorts

Why businesses trust SiteSafeAU

There's no shortage of generic WHS information online. Here's what makes SiteSafeAU different.

Legally cited — not generic advice

Every obligation, limit, and requirement on this platform cites the specific Act, Regulation, and section. You see the legal source, not just a summary.

Jurisdiction-specific accuracy

Victoria's OHS Act is fundamentally different from the Model WHS Act. We treat each of the 8 states and territories separately — because the law does.

Updated for 2026

The 2026 WEL silica transition, NSW mandatory Codes of Practice, NSW audiometric testing obligations, and QLD plant amendments are all reflected and cited.

Built for construction

Designed specifically for builders, tradies, and RTOs — not generic HR teams. The tools match how construction businesses actually operate and face audits.

Free to use

No subscription, no sign-up, no paywall. Check your compliance obligations, generate your SWMS checklist, and run your audit right now — at no cost.

Australian data sovereignty

All data is stored exclusively in AWS ap-southeast-2 (Sydney, Australia). Compliant with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). No overseas data transfer.

How it works

Check your compliance position in under 2 minutes — for free.

1

Select your state

Click your state or territory in the compliance hub below. Instantly loads your jurisdiction-specific laws, regulators, and 2026 alerts.

2

Review your obligations

See 2026 critical alerts, select your HRCW activity types, and generate a Schedule 3-aligned SWMS checklist with control verification.

3

Score your compliance

Run the 7-question weighted audit to get a compliance health score and a prioritised list of gaps to close before a regulator visits.

National 2026 Critical Updates

Applies to all PCBUs in all states and territories (Model WHS jurisdictions)

CRITICALEffective: 1 December 2026

WES → WEL: National Workplace Exposure Limits Replace Exposure Standards

Safe Work Australia's new Workplace Exposure Limits (WEL) framework replaces the previous Workplace Exposure Standards (WES) effective 1 December 2026 across all Model WHS jurisdictions. This is the most significant change to airborne contaminant regulation in two decades. Key changes include: (1) Respirable crystalline silica TWA reduced from 0.1 mg/m³ to 0.05 mg/m³; (2) Coal dust limit significantly reduced; (3) New WEL values for approximately 800 substances; (4) Carcinogenic substances receive ALARP-based limits. All PCBUs managing hazardous substances must update their safety data sheets, risk assessments, air monitoring protocols, and health surveillance programs before 1 December 2026.

Legal Reference

Safe Work Australia Workplace Exposure Limits (2026 edition); Model WHS Regulations cl 49, 52, 53; Safe Work Australia Act 2008 (Cth) s55

Action Required

Conduct a full hazardous substance review against the 2026 WEL list. Engage an occupational hygienist. Update air monitoring frequencies. Review and upgrade respiratory protection programs (RPP). Update health surveillance schedules for exposed workers. Ensure all Safety Data Sheets (SDS) are updated to reflect WEL values.

CRITICALEffective: 1 April 2023 (active enforcement in all jurisdictions by 2026)

Psychosocial Risk Regulations — Equal Legal Weight as Physical Hazards

Model WHS Regulations Part 2A places mandatory obligations on PCBUs to manage psychosocial hazards with the same rigour as physical workplace hazards. Psychosocial hazards include: high job demands; low job control; poor support from supervisors or co-workers; interpersonal conflict; remote or isolated work; workplace violence and aggression; sexual harassment; workplace bullying; and traumatic event exposure. A documented risk assessment and control plan is required. All states and territories (except Victoria, which uses the OHS Act 2004) are enforcing these regulations by 2026.

Legal Reference

Model Work Health and Safety Regulations Part 2A (Psychosocial risks); Safe Work Australia Code of Practice: Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work (2022); WHS Acts of NSW, Qld, WA, SA, Tas, ACT, NT s19

Action Required

Conduct a psychosocial hazard survey using a validated tool (e.g., People at Work). Document a Psychosocial Risk Register. Develop and implement a Psychosocial Safety Climate (PSC) Plan. Train all managers and supervisors. Establish confidential reporting pathways. Review EAP contracts and utilisation.

State & Territory Compliance Hub

Australia does not have a single uniform safety system. Select your state or territory to load legally verified, jurisdiction-specific compliance rules and 2026 updates.

Orange dot = Non-model WHS jurisdiction (Victoria operates under OHS Act 2004 — separate legal framework)

Select a State or Territory

Click any jurisdiction above to view 2026-verified compliance alerts, your SWMS generator, and the compliance health check — all calibrated to that jurisdiction's specific laws and regulators.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Australian WHS law, SWMS obligations, and using SiteSafeAU.

A Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is a document that must be prepared before High Risk Construction Work (HRCW) begins. It identifies the work activities, the hazards arising from those activities, and the control measures to be put in place. Under Schedule 3 of the Model Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 — or Schedule 2 of the OHS Regulations 2017 (Vic) — a SWMS is a legal requirement for the PCBU directing the work.
A SWMS is required before commencing any High Risk Construction Work. HRCW includes: work at heights over 2m, demolition of load-bearing structures, excavation deeper than 1.5m, confined space work, tilt-up concrete, work near energised electrical installations, mobile plant on a construction site, work near overhead power lines, road and railway work, work with drowning risk, explosives, and temporary shoring. There are 17 categories in Schedule 3 of the Model WHS Regulations 2011.
Most states and territories (NSW, QLD, WA, SA, TAS, ACT, NT) have adopted the Model Work Health and Safety Act 2011. Victoria is the significant exception — it operates under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic), administered by WorkSafe Victoria, with different regulations and terminology. Businesses working across state borders must comply with separate legal frameworks. SiteSafeAU covers all 8 jurisdictions with jurisdiction-specific legal accuracy.
Key 2026 changes: (1) The national silica Workplace Exposure Standard dropped from 0.1 to 0.05 mg/m³ TWA, effective 1 July 2026 — requiring updated Silica Management Plans. (2) NSW mandatory Codes of Practice for psychosocial hazards came into force 1 July 2026. (3) NSW audiometric testing for noise-exposed workers commenced 1 January 2026, alongside the NSW Silica Worker Register. (4) The QLD High-Risk Plant Registration Amendment Regulation 2026 expanded plant registration requirements.
Yes. If a sole trader is performing High Risk Construction Work they are a PCBU and must prepare a SWMS before work begins — even if they are the only worker on site. The obligation applies regardless of business size. The SWMS must be prepared, reviewed with any workers involved, and kept on site throughout the work.
PCBU stands for Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking — the entity carrying the primary WHS duty-of-care under s.19 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011. PCBUs include companies, sole traders, partnerships, associations, and government bodies. Most businesses that engage workers or contractors are PCBUs and must ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers and others affected by their work.
No. Safe Work Australia develops Model WHS laws, Codes of Practice, and Workplace Exposure Standards — but does not enforce them. Enforcement is done by each state/territory regulator: SafeWork NSW, WorkSafe Victoria, Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ), WorkSafe WA, SafeWork SA, WorkSafe Tasmania, WorkSafe ACT, and NT WorkSafe.
High Risk Construction Work (HRCW) is defined in Schedule 3 of the Model WHS Regulations 2011 (Schedule 2 in Victoria). There are 17 categories of construction activity that carry a higher risk of serious injury or death and require a SWMS before commencement. Examples include: work at heights over 2m, demolition, confined spaces, deep excavation, tilt-up panels, work near live electrical installations, and work involving explosives or temporary support structures.

Legal content accurate as at July 2026. Not a substitute for legal advice — consult your state regulator or a qualified WHS professional for specific situations.

Check your compliance position now

It takes less than 2 minutes and it's completely free.

Select your state, review your 2026 obligations, generate your SWMS checklist, and run the compliance health check — all in one place.

Free to use No sign-up required All 8 states covered Legally cited
SiteSafeAU — Australian WHS Compliance Platform for Builders & Tradies