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. Your Health and Safety Policy might include:
A short statement like:
“As a sole trader, I take responsibility for my own health and safety at work. I use the correct tools and PPE for each job, check my work area for risks, and follow safe work methods. I stay up to date with any safety regulations that apply to my work.”Bullet points covering things like:
Use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
Daily or pre-task safety checks
How you handle hazardous materials or environments (if applicable)
Emergency contacts or incident reporting process