Your Rights
Occupational Health & Safety and Workers Compensation
Occupational Health & Safety law relates to your rights as an employee to have hazards removed from your work environment. At common-law, your employer has an obligation to provide a safe system of work. As an employee you always have the right to refuse to work if to do so would represent a hazard to your health or safety.
While these rights are clear, all States and Territories have enacted specific laws to deal with:
- Workplace Health and Safety: by requiring employers to comply with safety standards, establishing workplace procedures for dealing with hazards; and
- Workers’ Compensation: to compensate employees who suffer injury or illness as a result of work.
These laws vary greatly between the various States and Territories. If you would like a very brief summary of what you should do if you have a health and safety or Workers Compensation problem, click on the relevant State or Territory below.
Please note that the information provided on the State and Territory pages below is no substitute for personal advice and assistance. Please contact your Branch or Division for detailed industrial advice.
Further information:
| Australian Capital Territory | ACT occupational health and safety and workers compensation information. |
| New South Wales | New South Wales occupational health and safety and workers compensation information. |
| Northern Territory | Northern Territory occupational health and safety and workers compensation information |
| Queensland | Queensland occupational health and safety and workers compensation information. |
| South Australia | South Australian occupational health and safety and workers compensation information. |
| Tasmania | Tasmanian occupational health and safety and workers compensation information. |
| Victoria | Victorian Occupational Health and Safety and Workers Compensation information. |
| Western Australia | Western Australian occupational health and safety and workers compensation information. |