Got a WorkSafe Victoria improvement notice? What to do next

If WorkSafe Victoria has issued you an improvement notice, fix the issue it describes before the compliance date on the notice, and keep evidence that you did. If you think the notice is wrong, you can ask WorkSafe's Internal Review Unit to review it within 14 days of becoming aware of it.

Step by step

• Read the notice closely. Note the provision you are said to have breached, the compliance date, and any directions.

• Make the area safe now if there is an immediate risk.

• Work out the root cause, not just the symptom the inspector saw.

• Put controls in place using the hierarchy of control. Elimination and engineering controls beat signs and PPE.

• Update the related documents, such as SWMS, procedures, risk assessments and training records.

• Consult your workers and any health and safety representative.

• Keep evidence: photos, revised documents, training sign-offs and dates.

• If you need more time or disagree with the notice, act early. A review must be requested within 14 days.

Do not just fix the one item

Inspectors often come back. If the notice found one gap, there are usually others in the same system. A short compliance audit after a notice shows you have taken it seriously and finds the next problem before WorkSafe does.

How CWT helps after a notice

Chris Warren reviews the notice, the site and your documents, then writes the corrective actions and rebuilds the SWMS or procedures that need it. A single-site WHS compliance audit is a fixed $2,450 + GST, including the report and corrective action plan. Hourly advice is $225 + GST, with a 2-hour minimum.

Talk to Chris

CWT Safety & Advisory is based in Frankston South and works across Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula and regional Victoria. Call Chris Warren on 0415 637 981, see every fixed fee on the pricing page, or send a request through the contact page.