Occupational Health and Safety Act

Understand how the Occupational Health and Safety Act applies to each phase of a project.

Legislative context

The Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (OH&S Act) is the main workplace health and safety law in Victoria. It sets out the key principles, duties of employers and rights of workers with respect to occupational health and safety.

The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 (OH&S regulations) build on the OH&S Act. The OH&S regulations set out an organisation's duties and obligations during infrastructure projects.

Click on the following links to access the current Victorian OH&S Act, OH&S regulations as well as other relevant legislation.

Construction works undertaken by TAFEs are covered by the OH&S Act. Key obligations under the OH&S Act are outlined below.

The following sections provide guidance on how the OH&S regulations must be applied across each phase of the project.

It is also important to note that WorkSafe will likely have the following roles across the project lifecycle under the OH&S Act:

  • monitor and enforce compliance with the OH&S Act and regulations
  • promote public awareness and discussion about occupational health, safety and welfare issues, and
  • publish OH&S statistics.

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