WHS Questions Answered
Straight answers to the questions clients ask us most, based on Victorian law and 20 plus years on high risk sites. No sales spin. If your question is not here, call Chris on 0415 637 981.
Do I need a SWMS in Victoria?
Yes, if the work you are doing falls within high risk construction work under the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 (Vic). The SWMS must be prepared before that work starts, must be site specific, and must be available on site for the duration of the work. Victoria runs its own OHS Act 2004 and Regulations. It has not adopted the model WHS laws used in most other states.
What counts as high risk construction work?
The Regulations list the categories. Common ones include a risk of a fall more than two metres, demolition, asbestos removal, structural alterations needing temporary support, confined spaces, trenches or excavations deeper than 1.5 metres, tilt up and precast concrete, work on or near energised electrical installations, work in or near a road or rail corridor, work near mobile plant, work near pressurised gas or chemical lines, and work where there is a risk of drowning.
Who prepares the SWMS, the contractor or the principal contractor?
The person conducting the high risk construction work prepares the SWMS. That is usually the subcontractor doing the task. The principal contractor is responsible for obtaining it before the work starts, checking it is adequate and site specific, and making sure work is carried out in line with it. Passing a head contractor template down the chain unchanged does not meet the duty.
How long do I need to keep a SWMS?
Keep it and make it available for the duration of the high risk construction work it covers. If a notifiable incident happens in connection with that work, keep the SWMS for at least two years from the date of the incident.
Can I just buy a template SWMS?
A template is a starting point, not a compliant document. Regulators and principal contractors reject generic SWMS constantly, and a rejected SWMS stops your crew at the gate. The document has to reflect your actual site, plant, sequence and people. CWT reviews an existing SWMS for $190 or builds a custom one for $390 ex GST.
What does a safety audit actually cover?
A CWT site compliance audit covers your documented system, site conditions and how the two match up. Scope and methodology, documents reviewed, site and personnel inspected, findings backed by evidence, non conformances against the relevant legislative or ISO requirement, observations and opportunities, and a corrective action plan with an owner and a due date against every item. You get a defensible report, not a tick sheet.
How often should we audit our safety system?
Most small to mid size contractors get value from one full system audit a year, with lighter site verification checks each quarter. Higher risk work, a new principal contractor, a recent incident, an ISO surveillance audit or a tender requirement will push that frequency up. If your system has never been externally reviewed, start with one baseline audit and work from the findings.
What happens if WorkSafe Victoria turns up on site?
Inspectors can enter a workplace, ask questions, take photographs, review documents and issue improvement or prohibition notices. Have your SWMS, risk assessments, inductions, training records, plant records and incident records available and current. Be cooperative and factual. If a notice is issued, comply within the timeframe and record what you did. Get advice before you respond to anything you disagree with.
What is a notifiable incident in Victoria?
Broadly, a death, a serious injury or illness of the type set out in the OHS Act 2004, or a dangerous occurrence such as a collapse, an uncontrolled spill or escape, an explosion, or an uncontrolled implosion. Notifiable incidents must be reported to WorkSafe Victoria immediately, and the site must be preserved until an inspector arrives or you are told otherwise. Written notice follows within 48 hours.
Do we need ISO 45001 certification to win work?
Not always. Plenty of tenders ask for a safety management system aligned to ISO 45001 rather than certified to it. Certification matters most for government panels, Tier 1 head contractor prequalification and larger infrastructure work. Check the actual tender wording before you spend the money. If alignment is enough, you save a five figure sum.
What is an ISO 45001 gap analysis?
A structured comparison of your current system against every clause of the standard, showing exactly what you have, what is missing and what needs rework. You end up with a prioritised action plan instead of a guess. CWT gap analyses start at $3,800 ex GST and are the sensible first step before committing to a full certification build.
How long does ISO 45001 take?
For a small to mid size contractor, expect three to nine months from gap analysis to certification audit, depending on how much documented system already exists and how quickly your team implements. The delay is almost never the paperwork. It is the evidence trail. Certification bodies want to see the system in use over time, not a folder built the week before.
Is CWT a registered training organisation?
No. CWT Safety and Advisory is not an RTO and does not issue nationally recognised statements of attainment or high risk work licences. CWT delivers non accredited, tailored workplace training built around your actual site, plant and risks. Where you need an accredited outcome, we will tell you and point you to the right RTO.
What is a VOC and when do we need one?
A verification of competency confirms a worker can safely operate specific plant or perform a specific task in your environment. It is not a licence. Most principal contractors want a VOC when a worker is new to your site, returning after a long break, moving onto unfamiliar plant, or after an incident or near miss. Chris was formerly a WorkSafe Victoria authorised assessor for crane, EWP and forklift.
Do you deliver training on site?
Yes. On site delivery is the default because the training is built around your plant, your sequence and your hazards. A two hour toolbox or training session for up to 25 people is $1,200 ex GST. A half day workshop for up to 30 people is $2,400 ex GST.
What does a WHS consultant cost in Victoria?
Australian WHS consultants typically bill between $100 and $350 per hour. CWT publishes fixed fees so you can budget without a discovery call. Hourly advisory is $225 per hour with a two hour minimum. A full advisory day is $1,450. A site compliance audit is $2,450. A single custom SWMS is $390, with a bundle of five at $1,490. All prices ex GST, current as at July 2026.
Do you work on retainer?
Yes. Compliance Watch starts at $1,650 per month for ongoing document control, review and advisory support. External HSEQ Advisory starts at $3,500 per month and functions as your outsourced safety manager, including site attendance, system ownership and regulator support. Retainers suit contractors who need a safety lead but cannot justify a full time salary.
What areas do you service?
Based in Frankston South. Regular on site work across the Mornington Peninsula, south east Melbourne, greater Melbourne and regional Victoria. Document work, audits, system builds and advisory are delivered remotely Australia wide.
How quickly can you start?
SWMS and document work usually turn around within two to five business days. Audits and site attendance are booked by availability, generally within one to two weeks. Urgent work stoppages, notices and incident response are prioritised. Call 0415 637 981 rather than emailing if it is urgent.
Still not sure what you need?
Call Chris Warren on 0415 637 981 or send the details through the contact form. Tell us the site, the work and the deadline, and you will get a straight answer on scope and cost. No obligation, no sales pitch.
More detail: Pricing | WHS Compliance & Consulting | Safety Training & Competency