Australian Standards and Australian/New Zealand Standards (Australian Standards) are developed by an independent organisation called Standards Australia. It prepares and publishes voluntary technical and commercial standards which are sometimes adopted by work health and safety regulations.
Australian Standards set out specifications and design procedures to ensure products and services consistently perform safely, reliably, and the way they're intended to. Conforming to Australian Standards is mandatory where laws require this.
Australian Standards are developed specifically for Australian workplaces and are likely to contain more relevant information for Australian operating conditions, such as load factors, climatic conditions, licencing requirements etc. than an international standard. However an international standard could be considered in conjunction with the equivalent Australian Standard. An international standard may be a useful, additional source of information for duty holders, particularly where its use achieves the same or better overall level of safety to its Australian Standard equivalent.
Officers of a PCBU have a duty to take reasonable steps to acquire and keep up-to-date knowledge of work health and safety matters. Up-to-date knowledge may include acquiring knowledge of standards that are relevant to the work of their PCBU.
What if an approved code of practice refers to a standard?
A relevant approved code of practice can be used by anyone who has a duty of care in the circumstances described to determine what they should do to meet that duty. Under the work health and safety (WHS) laws, approved codes of practice are admissible in court proceedings to demonstrate what is known about a hazard, risk or risk control and a court may rely on an approved code of practice in determining what is reasonably practicable in relation to a matter.
If an approved code of practice recommends following a specific Standard, then it would be reasonable to consider the specified standard forms part of that approved code of practice. However, following codes of practice is not mandatory. Compliance with the WHS Act and Regulations may be achieved by following another method if it provides an equivalent or higher standard of work health and safety than the code of practice.
Australian Standards referenced in WHS Regulations
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Australian / Joint New Zealand Standard | Title | WHS Regulation |
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AS 1200:2015 | Pressure equipment | Schedule 5 Part 2 and 4 |
AS/NZS 1269.1:2005 | Occupational noise management—Measurement and assessment of noise emission and exposure | Regulation 56 |
AS/NZS 1576.1:2019 | Scaffolding — General Requirements | Regulation 142 Regulation 225 |
AS/NZS 1715:2009 | Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment | Regulation 529B |
AS/NZS 1716:2012 | Respiratory protective devices | Regulation 529B |
AS/NZS 1891.1:2007 | Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices—Harnesses and ancillary equipment | Regulation 221 |
AS 2030.1:2009 | Gas cylinders – General requirements | Regulation 5 Schedule 5 Part 1 |
AS/NZS 2299.1:2015 | Occupational diving operations — Standard operational practice | Regulation 5 Regulation 183 Regulation 184 |
AS 2397:2015 | Safe use of lasers in the building and construction industry | Regulation 223 |
AS 2593:2004 | Boilers—Safety management and supervision systems | Regulation 5 Regulation 15 |
AS 2601-2001 | The demolition of structures | Regulation 5 Regulation 142 |
AS/NZS 2815 | Training and certification of occupational divers | Schedule 5 Part 1 Schedule 5 Part 2 Regulation 171 |
AS/NZS 3012:2010 | Electrical installations—Construction and demolition sites | Regulation 146 Regulation 163 Regulation 166 |
AS 3533.1:2009 | Amusement rides and devices—Design and construction | Schedule 5 Part 1 Schedule 5 Part 2 |
AS 3850:2003 | Tilt‑up concrete construction | Regulation 306 |
AS 4343:2014 | Pressure equipment — Hazard levels | Schedule 5 Part 2 |
AS 4964:2004 | Method for the qualitative identification of asbestos in bulk samples | Regulation 419 |
AS/NZS ISO 45001 | Occupational health and safety management systems — Requirements with guidance for use | Regulation 5 |
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Australian / Joint New Zealand Standard | Title | WHS Regulation |
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AS/NZS 1200:2015 | Pressure equipment | Schedule 5 parts 2 and 4 |
AS/NZS 1299:2009 | Electrical equipment for mines and quarries - Explosion-protected three-phase restrained plugs and receptacles for working voltages up to and including 3.3 kV | Regulation 641 |
AS/NZS 1269.1:2005 | Occupational noise management — Measurement and assessment of noise immission and exposure | Regulation 56 |
AS/NZS 1576.Parts 1 to 6 | Scaffolding — General Requirements | Regulation 142 Regulation 225 |
AS/NZS 1716:2012 | Respiratory protective devices | Regulation 184A |
AS/NZS 1747:2003 | Reeling, trailing and feeder cables used for mining - Repair, testing and fitting of accessories | Regulation 641 |
AS/NZS 1802:2018 | Electric cables - Reeling and trailing - For underground coal mining | Regulation 641 |
AS/NZS 1891.1:2007 | Industrial fall‑arrest systems and devices — Harnesses and ancillary equipment | Regulation 221 |
AS 2030.1:2009 | Gas cylinders — General requirements | Schedule 5 Part 1 Regulation 5 |
AS/NZS 2299.1:2015 | Occupational diving operations — Standard operational practice | Regulation 5 Regulation183 Regulation 184 |
AS 2397:2015 | Safe use of lasers in the building and construction industry | Regulation 223 |
AS 2593.2004 | Boilers — Safety management and supervision systems | Regulation 5 |
AS 2601:2001 | The demolition of structures | Regulation 5 Regulation 142 Regulation 676 |
AS/NZS 2802:2000 | Electric cables—Reeling and trailing— For mining and general use (other than underground coal mining | Regulation 641 |
AS/NZS 2815 | Training and certification of occupational divers | Regulation 171 |
AS/NZS 3007:2013 | Electrical equipment in mines and quarries - Surface installations and associated processing plant | Regulation 641 |
AS/NZS 3012:2010 | Electrical installations — Construction and demolition sites | Regulation 146 Regulation 163 Regulation 166 |
AS 3850:2003 | Tilt-up concrete construction | Regulation 5 Regulation 306 |
AS 4343:2014 | Pressure equipment — Hazard levels | Regulation 718 Schedule 5 Parts 1 2 and 4 |
AS 4964:2004 | Method for the qualitative identification of asbestos in bulk samples | Regulation 419 |
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Australian / Joint New Zealand Standard | Title | WHS Regulation |
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AS 2700S:1996 | Colour standards for general purposes - Swatches | Regulation 2 |
AS 1940:2017 | The storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids | Regulation 126 |
AS/NZS 2299 | Occupational diving | Regulation 96 |
AS/NZS 2106 | Methods for the determination of the flash point of flammable liquids (closed cup) - Abel closed cup method | Regulation 126 |
AS/NZS 1269.1:2005 | Occupational noise management — Measurement and assessment of noise immission and exposure | Regulation 116 |
Further information
Interpretive guidelines
Code of practice
Australian Standards
Copies of the Australian Standards for WHS Regulations are available to purchase from Standards Australia or can be viewed at the WorkSafe library.
For more information contact:
The Librarian
Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety Library
1st Floor North, Mineral House
100 Plain Street, East Perth WA 6004
Telephone: +61 8 9222 3165