Prohibition notice changes in Victoria

WorkSafe Victoria has announced the reasons for issuing a prohibition notice have changed. Here’s what you need to know.

What’s changing?

WorkSafe inspectors in Victoria will now issue a prohibition notice if they think an activity “involves or will involve a serious risk to the health and safety of a person from an immediate or imminent exposure to a hazard.”

Under these circumstances WorkSafe inspections will also be allowed to give verbal or written directions. The directions are effective immediately and will be used to stop dangerous activity while the prohibition notice is being processed. 

How is this different to what happened before? 

Previously, WorkSafe could only issue a Prohibition notice if the risk had an “immediate health and safety risk or consequence”. WorkSafe inspectors can now issue a prohibition notice or give a direction relating to non-immediate yet serious health and safety risks and prohibit an activity until satisfied the risks have been addressed and the workplace made safe.

Does this mean businesses will shut down?

Prohibition notices are only issued in relation to a particular activity. If the risk is confined to a specific activity the entire workplace won’t be shut down.

I’m a small building company doing a handful of builds a year, do I need to worry about this?

Yes, all duty holders may be impacted. 

Activities that pose a serious risk to health and safety of a person, arising from an immediate or imminent exposure to a hazard, can be prohibited by WorkSafe until the activity no longer poses that risk.

You need to be aware of these changes and to comply with any notices issued. 

When is this happening?

Changes are effective from 17 March 2022.

We’re here to support you, so don’t hesitate to get in touch for a chat if you have any questions or concerns. Give us a call on 1800 954 702 or email info@hazardco.com.

For more information about these changes, visit the WorkSafe Victoria website.