OHS in Schools

admin • August 25, 2025

School Education is an industry with specific OHS challenges. In fact, The Department of Education has been flagged as one of the highest risk government employers and the Government sector has been announced as one of 5 key industries of focus for WorkSafe in reducing workplace harm. Government-health-safety-strategic-approach-2025-08.pdf


OHS Law requires that educational institutions of all types adhere with their legal obligations – and this includes schools.

Schools are not just places of learning—they are workplaces for staff and environments where students spend much of their time. Ensuring safety and well-being through Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) is not only a legal requirement, but is also essential for fostering a positive workplace culture.


The employer has a duty to provide a safe workplace to its’ employees, and also to the students and members of the public.

Part of meeting safety obligations means effectively consulting with their employees on matters relating to safety. The best way for safety matters to be effectively communicated is through proper consultation arrangements. This includes:

·        The establishment of Designated Work Groups (DWG)

·        Electing Health and Safety Representatives

·        The establishment of Health and Safety Committees


Don’t forget that effective consultation is a legal requirement under The OHS Act and that employers are required to set up DWGs if requested by a worker. They are also required to assist with how HSR’s will be elected for each DWG. If an HSR then asks for an HSC to be established, the employer has 3 months to do so. (For more information, see Part 7 of the OHS Act.) Also, don’t forget that HSRs have a right to attend HSR training at a provider of their choice! HSR Training Courses | BeSafe | Regional Victoria


Key OHS Risks in schools may include:

·        Hazardous manual handling

·        Work-related stress, violence, harassment and bullying

·        Slips, trips and falls

·        Plant and equipment

·        Hazardous substances and dangerous goods

·        Additional risks associated with school excursions and camps


While there are specific hazards and risks in the school workplace which need to be addressed, all of the usual obligations and duties under the OHS Act apply.

WorkSafe Victoria has some guidance material relating to OHS in Schools which can be found at:

Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) in schools: A practical guide for school leaders | WorkSafe Victoria

Additional resources can also be found here: Education Websites & information - OHS Reps

As always, BeSafe Victoria are happy to help – so give us a call and we can help to point you in the right direction: HSR Training and support | BeSafe | Regional Victoria

Minister announces WorkSafe's new “Statement of Regulatory Intent”

By admin • August 20, 2025
The Minister for WorkSafe recently made an announcement which included a warning to employers who put workers’ lives at risk. In the press release, the data shows that WorkSafe is issuing more fines - up by $1.1million from the previous financial year. He also stated that WorkSafe have inspected more workplaces, with nearly 7,500 more inspections conducted. Furthermore, there have been more compliance notices – with 13,943 notices issues, compared with 16,300 from the previous year. The Minister announced the launch of a new “Statement of Regulatory Intent” which plans to target the 5 most high-risk industries: Healthcare and social assistance Construction Government Agriculture Manufacturing These industries are responsible for 60% of all deaths and injuries in the workplace. The Minister stated that “Criminal prosecution, substantial fines, and potential imprisonment await employers who fail to meet their legal obligations to protect workers' lives.” The Statement of Regulatory Intent has been published on the WorkSafe website, and it includes an overarching summary document as well as several documents relating to each of the key target industries. Each industry also has some key hazards which will be targeted within that industry, while in all industries a key area of focus will be workplace consultation and psychological health. Falls from heights were called out as a key issue to address in the construction industry, while in the agriculture industry, powered and mobile plant are the deadliest issues to address. In the manufacturing sector, there was a key geographic location of concern - being the 3175 post code (Dandenong and surrounds). The greatest number of injuries were caused by manual handling, with most fatalities being due to lung disease and traumatic injuries. The healthcare and social assistance sectors have safety issues in hazardous manual handling, aggression/violence and slips, trips and falls, which will be areas of focus for WorkSafe. The government sector continues to have major issues around psychosocial hazards. The highest risk of injury is seen in police services, followed by ambulance services and the department of education. However, in terms of fatalities, the worst areas are the Fire Services and Victoria Police. It was notable that employee representation and consultation were identified as a specific area of focus in a number of industries – and this is of course a key area for our Health and Safety Representatives! The Minister’s statements are strong: “Every workplace death is unacceptable – that’s why we are working towards a future of zero deaths and zero excuses.” "If a worker dies on your watch due to negligence, you risk criminal charges. We will not tolerate employers who gamble with workers' lives." We can only hope that this ‘new’ WorkSafe approach may lead to safer workplaces for all. To read the full press release from The Minister for WorkSafe: 250815-Workplace-Prosecutioncts-Hit-Successful-Milestone.pdf The full WorkSafe documents can be found at: Statement of Regulatory Intent 2025-26 | WorkSafe Victoria

Changes to Legislation

By admin • August 4, 2025
The Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Amendment Bill 2025 has passed Parliament. It makes changes to three pieces of legislation: 1. The Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013, 2. The Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and 3. The Accident Compensation Act 1985 The changes aim 'to improve support for injured workers and their families in Victoria, enhancing compensation entitlements and rehabilitation processes.’ In summary, the key provisions of the Bill are: 1. Code of Claimants' Rights to be created to ensure injured workers are treated with dignity and respect 2. Lived Experience Membership on WorkSafe Committees . It is now required that there be lived experience membership on the WorkSafe Board Advisory Committees, creating a ‘seat at the table’ for those personally affected by poor safety practices. 3. Return to Work (RTW) Coordinators: Employers will be required to provide RTW coordinators with necessary assistance and training to improve return-to-work outcomes for injured employees. T he details of this are yet to be made clear, pending directives form The Minister and WorkSafe. There will be penalty units attached to this requirement. 4. Compensation for Families of deceased workers: The bill improves compensation by: a) Allowing for provisional payments be made to dependants following a work-related suicide. b) Extending the length of the provisional payment period from 13 weeks to 26 weeks for dependent partners of deceased workers. This will mean that dependants will be less likely to be left without an income while the claim is being processed. c) Increasing the weekly payments to the dependent children of deceased workers. This is an increase from 5% of ‘pre-injury average weekly earnings’ to 12.5%, allowing for improved financial support of children. d) Grief and Loss payments to be made to close family members following the death of their loved one. This will acknowledge the loss of family members who previously had no eligibility for compensation. 5. Broader Support Services: The amendments will allow access to a wider range of therapy and support services for families affected by work-related deaths and serious injuries. This change allows for ‘support services’ to be broader than just psychology. 6. I ndependent Review Requirement: The bill mandates an independent review of the workers' compensation scheme at least every five years, starting in 2030, to ensure ongoing improvements and accountability. The Bill passed the Victorian Parliament on the 31 st July 2025. The primary aim of the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Amendment Bill 2025 is to strengthen the support system for injured workers and their families. It also requires for injured workers to be treated with dignity and respect during their recovery and rehabilitation processes. Any improvement to the support of those affected by work related injury and death can only be a good thing. For more detail on the changes, take a look at: Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Amendment Bill 2025 | legislation.vic.gov.au