Why Do You Need to Do This?
All businesses — including sole traders and contractors — have work health and safety (WHS) responsibilities under Australian law.
Even if you work alone, you're still required to think about safety risks and show that you are managing them responsibly. Larger companies who engage you as part of their supply chain need to verify that you meet basic WHS obligations — this is part of their duty under the law.
What Should You Do?
Prepare and upload a simple Health and Safety Policy document.
This document should outline:
How you work safely
The steps you take to avoid injury
Any tools, checks, or safety practices you use
What you do if an incident occurs
This helps demonstrate that you:
Understand your WHS responsibilities
Apply safe work practices
Can document your approach clearly for clients or contractors
✅ What Should Your Policy Include?
Even a one-page document can be enough if it's clear and relevant.
Build your policy document:
Part 1: Your policy header
Your business name (must be included)
Date the policy was created
Who signs it? (you as sole trader, or your senior manager)
Part 2: Your safety commitment (pick what's TRUE for you)
What type of work does YOUR business do?
What are YOUR safety goals? (zero injuries, safe workplace, etc.)
Who's responsible for safety? (you, everyone, specific person)
What do you expect from anyone working with you? (if applicable)
Part 3: Your safety practices
What protective equipment do you actually use?
What checks do you do before starting work?
How do you handle dangerous items/situations?
What would you do if someone got hurt?
Write your policy: Include company name at top, 3-5 sentences about your commitment and practices, then sign and date it.
Then add bullet points for specific practices:
Don't just say "PPE" - name what you use (hard hat, safety glasses, gloves)
Don't just say "safety checks" - describe your actual routine
Include real emergency contacts you would call
Mention actual regulations relevant to YOUR industry
You can read more on these links: