Regulatory priorities

Comcare has identified 4 regulatory priorities for proactive programs of work in 2026–2027.

Comcare's proactive regulatory approach enables organisations within our jurisdiction to meet their duties and obligations under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act).

We do this through the delivery of our national and regional engagement programs, such as inspections, education, compliance and enforcement activities.

For 2026–27 our regulatory priorities are:

  1. Work Health and Safety (WHS) Management Systems – officer due diligence
  2. Psychosocial hazards
  3. Airborne contaminants
  4. Vehicle, plant and people interaction

Our regulatory priorities are identified using a risk-based and evidence-led approach, informed by analysis of our regulatory and claims data. 

1. WHS Management Systems – officer due diligence

Well-implemented and effective WHS Management Systems provide a framework for maintaining and improving WHS performance across an organisation. They are essential to ensuring the health and safety of workers. 

Our focus within this priority will be officer due diligence. 

Due diligence requires officers of a PCBU to proactively ensure that the PCBU complies with its duties under the WHS Act.

Measures that demonstrate due diligence include:

  • ensuring well-documented systems are in place to identify, report and respond to actual and potential workplace hazards
  • ensuring the provisions of training and instruction to workers about WHS
  • ensuring adequate time and resources are allocated to health and safety matters.  

Proactive inspections program

Throughout 2026–27, Comcare will conduct proactive inspections of persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) within the Commonwealth jurisdiction. Inspections will assess whether PCBUs have policies, procedures and documented arrangements in place that enable officers to comply with their duties under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 Div. 4 s27 Duty of Officers and effectively exercise due diligence. 

The program is risk-based and intelligence-led, with inspections focused on PCBUs selected through this process rather than every PCBU in the jurisdiction.

For selected PCBUs, inspections will focus on the organisational arrangements that support effective WHS governance, reliable information flows, active oversight and assurance that controls are working. 

Inspections will not assess individual officer performance.

The Comcare regulatory update 2026–27 information session, held on 31 August 2026, provides an overview of this program of work and explains how it will be conducted by our inspectors, including key considerations for organisations.

In-house presentations

In 2026–27, Comcare will also offer free one-hour, in-house presentations on officer due diligence from November 2026. 

This initiative supports greater understanding of due diligence among senior leaders, newer SES officers and smaller agencies.

For further information or to arrange a presentation, contact education@comcare.gov.au.

Guidance and resources

2. Psychosocial hazards

Psychosocial hazards are aspects of work that have the potential to cause psychological or physical harm. 

PCBUs have a duty under the Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (WHS Regulations) to eliminate psychosocial risks, or minimise them so far as is reasonably practicable, using effective risk controls. 

Employers have a positive duty under the Commonwealth Sex Discrimination Act 1984 to eliminate, as far as possible, workplace sexual harassment and discrimination.

We will take both a proactive and a responsive approach to regulating psychosocial hazards.

Our Psychosocial Inspection Program helps employers meet their WHS obligations and prevent work-related injuries and illness. It also helps us understand how effectively employers are managing psychosocial hazards and risks in their workplaces. 

We will continue to enhance our guidance and training resources on the assessment and management of psychosocial risks in the workplace.,

We have also partnered with Beyond Blue to provide access for Commonwealth employers to the Before Blue program, which provides mental health coaching to employees. The program is evidence-based and has been shown to be particularly effective as an early intervention tool.

Guidance and resources

3. Airborne contaminants

Airborne contaminants are dusts, gases, fumes, vapours and mists released into the air through work processes. They vary widely and include welding and exhaust fumes, asbestos, chlorine, coal dust, silica, and other chemicals and gases. 

In recent years, exposure to airborne respirable crystalline silica has increased.

Workplace exposure standards (WES) have been established in Australia for approximately 700 substances and mixtures, including silica, to ensure that airborne concentrations do not exceed prescribed limits. PCBUs must ensure that no person at the workplace is exposed to a substance or mixture above its workplace exposure standard.  

Transition to Workplace exposure limits (WELs)

From 1 December 2026, the Workplace exposure standards for airborne contaminants will be renamed Workplace exposure limits for airborne contaminants.

As part of this change, some new WELs are being introduced for certain airborne contaminants. Key changes include significant reductions in the limits for:

  • welding fumes
  • aluminium
  • BPA (Bisphenol A)
  • diacetyl 
  • silicon carbide.

PCBUs need to review and update their controls to meet the new limits.

Proactive inspections

This priority is a particular focus for our specialist Major Infrastructure Projects team.

Throughout 2026–27, in addition to continuing to respond to notified incidents and WHS concerns, we will take a proactive approach to ensure PCBUs and their contractors are complying with their WHS obligations and taking active measures to manage workplace risks where exposure is heightened.

Guidance and resources

4. Vehicle, plant and people interaction 

Vehicle, plant and people interaction is a new priority for 2026–27, focused on injury mechanisms associated with people being hit by plant and vehicles in the workplace, resulting in fatalities, serious injuries and dangerous incidents. 

Vehicle incidents and incidents involving people being hit by moving objects are among the leading causes of notifiable injuries and fatalities in the Comcare jurisdiction. 

Incidents involving people being hit by moving objects frequently occur in complex work environments involving multiple duty holders, including contractors and MOPs, particularly where plant and vehicles intersect with pedestrians.

Traffic management will be an overarching focus within this priority, with an emphasis on managing interactions between vehicles, mobile plant and people in the workplace to prevent injuries, collisions and fatalities. 

Guidance and resources

Duty holders are expected to maintain appropriate oversight and controls across all relevant WHS risks, including those associated with previously identified priority areas.

Page last reviewed: 7 days ago
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