SWMS Templates › Victoria

SWMS templates for Victoria

Victoria never adopted the model WHS laws. It works under its own Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic) and Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 (Vic), administered by WorkSafe Victoria. The vocabulary is different, the regulation numbers are different, and Victoria defines 19 categories of high risk construction work rather than 18. A document written for a WHS state does not become Victorian by changing the regulator’s name.

The law in Victoria

What a VIC safe work method statement must get right

Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic) · Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 (Vic)

High risk construction work

Defined in regulation 322 of the OHS Regulations 2017 (Vic): 19 categories, one more than the model law, because some tilt-up and precast activities are listed separately.

When a SWMS is required

Regulation 324: before high risk construction work starts, developed in consultation with the workers doing it, and kept available for inspection during the work.

Fall threshold

A fall of more than 2 metres, the same figure as the model law.

Compliance codes

Victoria publishes compliance codes rather than codes of practice: Prevention of Falls in General Construction, Excavation, Confined Spaces, Demolition and Hazardous Manual Handling among them.

Notifiable incidents

WorkSafe Victoria on 13 23 60, 24 hours. General advice on 1800 136 089.

What the VIC version of every template carries

• Cites the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic) and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 (Vic), never a WHS Act.
• Names WorkSafe Victoria, with 13 23 60 for incidents and 1800 136 089 for advice.
• References the Victorian compliance codes by their own names.

VIC questions