WHS Policy Template

A WHS Policy is the foundational document of any workplace health and safety management system. It is a signed statement by senior management that establishes the organisation's commitment to protecting the health and safety of workers and other persons, complying with WHS legislation, consulting with workers on safety matters, and driving continuous improvement in safety performance.

This template provides a comprehensive WHS policy that addresses all the elements expected by regulators, auditors, and clients. It goes beyond a generic statement of commitment to include specific commitments to hazard identification and risk management, provision of safe plant and systems of work, provision of information, training, instruction, and supervision, maintaining a safe working environment, worker consultation and participation, and incident investigation and corrective action.

The policy is structured to be signed by the most senior person in the organisation, demonstrating top management commitment. It includes provisions for communication to all workers, display in the workplace, and periodic review to ensure it remains current and relevant.

A WHS Policy is expected of all PCBUs as evidence of their commitment to meeting their duties under the WHS Act 2011. While the Act does not specifically mandate a written WHS policy, having one is considered essential evidence of a systematic approach to safety management and is routinely assessed by regulators during inspections.

ISO 45001:2018 specifically requires a documented WHS policy that includes commitments to providing safe and healthy working conditions, eliminating hazards and reducing risks, compliance with legal requirements, consultation and participation of workers, and continual improvement of the OH&S management system.

Many procurement processes require contractors and suppliers to have a documented WHS policy as a minimum prequalification requirement. The policy establishes the baseline expectations for safety management within the organisation.

How This Is Different

This WHS policy template is authored by safety professionals who understand what regulators and auditors assess when reviewing a WHS policy. The template includes specific, measurable commitments rather than vague aspirational statements. Each commitment is framed in language that is both legally sound and practically actionable. Generic WHS policies often consist of a few generic paragraphs that could apply to any organisation. Our template provides a structured policy with specific commitments covering all elements of WHS management, creating a meaningful reference document that drives action rather than simply satisfying a compliance checkbox.