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Small business rebate

The rebate provides up to $500 to small business owners and sole traders in NSW who buy and install equipment to make their workplace safer.

Changes have been made to support small business and sole traders in NSW that have recently been impacted by a natural disaster, state of emergency or COVID-19

  1. Any sole trader or small business owner that has completed an eligible event with SafeWork after 1 August 2019 has 12 months to apply for the rebate.
  2. New workplace hygiene items are also eligible. Please check "What can I buy? - Hygiene products" below for more information.

Before you apply

You need to:

  1. check the terms and conditions to make sure you are eligible
  2. attend a free eligible event or arrange a free advisory visit from a SafeWork NSW officer
  3. buy and install eligible safety items to address a safety problem in your workplace.

Watch this short video on how to claim the $500 small business rebate

Frequently asked questions

Am I eligible?

If you meet all the following criteria, you're eligible to apply for a small business rebate:

  • you’ve attended an eligible event (eg free SafeWork NSW safety workshop, webinar), or had an advisory visit or digital engagement with a SafeWork NSW officer
  • you are the owner of a small business or sole trader who employs less than 50 people (equivalent full time)
  • you haven’t previously received a small business rebate from SafeWork or WorkCover NSW
  • you’re conducting a commercial business producing goods or providing services in NSW
  • your business is registered in NSW and comes within the scope of the work health and safety legislation in NSW
  • Details of who is not eligible can be found in the terms and conditions.

How do I apply?

Within 12 months of attending the advisory visit, safety workshop, program or event, you must:

  • identify, purchase and implement your eligible safety item
  • get a paid tax invoice and receipt (or proof of purchase). The item must be purchased after you attend an eligible SafeWork NSW safety activity.
  • complete an online rebate application form or print an application form and return it to us by:
    • email - safetyrebate@safework.nsw.gov.au
    • post to Small Business Rebate, SafeWork NSW, Locked Bag 2906, Lisarow NSW 2252.
  • attach a copy of your paid tax invoice and receipt.

Your application may be delayed if the form isn't complete, tax invoices/receipts are not attached or details are incorrect.

What can I buy?
Hygiene items

Items

Temporarily eligible to support business hygiene measures during COVID-19.

  • Portable hand sanitiser stations*
  • Fixed hand sanitiser stations*
  • Fixed disinfectant wipes dispenser*
  • Safety signs for COVID-19 workplace arrangements e.g. fixed hand sanitiser stations and disinfectant wipes stations
  • Bins with hands free lid operation (foot pedal or sensor)*
  • Sneeze/ cough guards
  • Roller cleaning buckets
  • Chemical storage

*limit of 5 per application

Exclusions

  • Personal protective equipment
  • Hand sanitiser
  • Bin liners
  • Other hygiene items not listed

If you’re unsure if your item is eligible, please email us.

Hazardous manual tasks items
Lifting, carrying, transporting

Items

  • manual,  mechanical, hydraulic, vacuum or magnetic lifting devices
  • hoist, crane,  fork lift, tool suppression system
  • adjustable loading platform, jigs, trestles, racking or stacking systems
  • conveyor  or elevator systems, stock picking machine
  • access ramps, skids, tailgate lifter, dock leveller
  • patient handling and/or transfer devices
  • animal handling

Items should be designed to limit issues that arise due to manual handling, pushing, pulling, carrying or moving, holding or restraining in workflows. Where specific standards apply to items eg. Australian Standards, the item should comply with that standard.

Typical items include:

  • trolleys
  • ute cranes
  • pallet rollers
  • stockyard systems
  • pen doors/chutes
  • drafting gates
  • overhead shearing plant
  • warehouse racking
  • light-weight portable fencing
Handling objects

Items

  • pulley system and harnesses for confined spaces
  • back-pack industrial equipment
  • rotary, tilt and carousel table/platform
  • power stretchers for carpet installation

Typical items include:

  • industrial backpack vacuum cleaners, sprayers
  • telephone headsets – hands free
Muscular stress

Items

  • adjustable or tilting work bench, table, or work station
  • ergonomic adjustable work vehicle  seats including anti-vibration and all spring suspension
  • anti-fatigue and high density, absorbent floor matting

Typical items include:

  • anti-fatigue mats
  • adjustable examination table
  • ergonomic truck seat
Repetitive work

Items

  • retractable hoses/leads
  • low vibration, ergonomic equipment

Typical items include:

  • pneumatic nail gun
Slips, trips and falls items
Falls from a height

Items

  • portable ladders, steps or platforms
  • accessories for fixed access ladder – eg cage
  • scaffolding or elevating work platforms
  • warning signage (including translated safety signage)
  • industrial fall arrest systems, harness support and devices, rope access equipment
  • physical restraint barrier and guard railing systems
  • extension equipment for height access – eg water jets for window height
  • emergency position-indicating radio beacons – 406 MHz (EPIRBs)
  • pit cover or open penetration and void protection
  • mechanical tripod to support people, loads and materials being lifted or lowered from openings

Typical items include:

  • ladders
  • retractable stairs
  • harnesses
  • roof anchors
  • guard rails
  • grab rails/handles
  • stair treads
  • edge protection
  • rails, and screens
Falls on the same level

Items

  • installation of improved general, entrance or exit lighting
  • portable or battery-powered lighting and generators
  • anti-slip treading or matting
  • surface treatment machinery,
  • installation of balancers or restraint supports to mount processing equipment, tools, power cords, leads or hoses to prevent trip hazards.
  • cable guards, hose suspension system or stand
  • storage system to improve work design

Typical items include:

  • pressure cleaners
  • lighting
  • racking systems
  • stair capping,
  • nosings and safe plates
Stepping, kneeling or sitting on objects

Items

Kneeling pads and knee protection equipment

Typical items include:

  • kneepads
  • support frames for kneeling and stooping
Injuries from moving objects items
Being hit or bitten by an animal

Items

  • animal restraint equipment or device
  • sliding segregation gate for livestock transport vehicles

Typical items include:

  • cattle crush
  • lamb marking cradle
  • head bales
  • race panels
Being hit by falling and stationary objects

Item

  • guard and foot rails
  • falling object protective barrier
  • signage for access / egress (including translated safety signage)
  • restraint supports for equipment and tools
  • vehicle load covers and load restraints

Typical items include:

  • cargo nets
  • tarp covers
  • fixed nets
  • pallet nets
  • mesh canopies
  • tarp spreader
  • tag lines
  • non-rebounding tensioners or strapping to secure loads
Colliding with moving or stationary objects

Items

  • warning/safety lights
  • corner vision or convex mirrors
  • traffic management tools
  • reversing cameras, sensor devices or alarms
  • elevated walkway or pedestrian crossing gates
  • safety  cages or guarding  for tyre rim assembly/fitting
  • stanchions or chocks to secure log stacking

Typical items include:

  • signage (including translated safety signage)
  • reversing cameras
  • marking
  • safety cone
  • flag, barricade or bunting
  • bollards
Being trapped by machinery or equipment

Items

  • machine guarding
  • emergency stop switches
  • power take off guards
  • for tractors only: rollover protective structures (ROPs), runover  protective devices, and side access steps/platforms

Typical items include:

  • safety bar for wool press
  • cut out switch
  • forklift spring belts
Being assaulted

Items

  • communication radios or vehicle tracking systems
  • closed circuit television (CCTV)
  • high-value goods storage – eg drop/time-delay safes
  • installation of improved internal/external security lighting

Typical items include:

  • Personal duress alarms
Chemicals and dangerous goods items
Contact with chemicals, substances or sun exposure

Items

  • chemical/dangerous goods (DG) storage cabinets or wire mesh secure partitioning
  • bunding, spills containment system
  • installation of safe ventilation, exhaust or extraction systems
  • air filtering systems for machinery
  • dust suppression tools and attachments
  • asbestos and hazardous dust vacuum cleaners with dust class level ‘H’ filter and compliant with AS 60335.2.69:2003
  • detection system, alarm or shut  down device Installation or repositioning of emergency stop buttons
  • closed chemical delivery system
  • automatic chemical dispensing system
  • chemical signage, marking and placarding system (including translated safety signage)
  • bottom fill equipment for fuel tanks
  • sun shade protection for rural and outdoor work areas

Typical items include:

  • specialised dust extraction units
  • CO2 monitor
  • gazebos, marquees
  • sharps disposal container
Hazardous noise items
Exposure to sound

Items

  • sound absorbent surface/film, barriers or screens to block direct path of sound
  • enclosures, door seals or sound proof covers around noise sources
  • acoustic silencers or mufflers for intake or exhaust systems
  • specialised personal hearing protectors, as part of hearing conservation program
  • signage to indicate areas of hazardous noise and protection required (including translated safety signage)
  • visual warning signal system
  • hand-held noise monitor
What can't I buy?
Items not eligible
  • GST, freight and insurance costs
  • the design and manufacture of new safety items or items that you have had designed and manufactured to your specifications. Items must be existing manufactured items that meet relevant standards and available from commercial outlets
  • purchase of raw materials, for example making shelves from wood, nails, screws
  • service repairs or maintenance eg. engine and motors
  • sponsorship arrangements, including funding of events, educational programs or materials, advertising, or consultants
  • normal business operating expenses, including general business administration, computers and software, ergonomic furniture (items such as chairs, keyboard and mouse), housekeeping, amenities, assets/equipment, repairs, maintenance, servicing
  • normal safety requirements including licensing, certification, fines, testing and auditing services, return-to-work, rehabilitation, counselling or vaccination services
  • training fees or courses – training needs to be reinforced with safety tools eg knowledge of manual handling needs to be supported with the right manual handling equipment or modifications to the work environment in order to have greatest impact on injuries
  • personal protective equipment (PPE) - for the majority of risks, PPE is deemed to be the lowest control, and funds should not subsidise perishable items eg sun creams, disposable gloves, vests, etc. PPE items are not presently covered in current rebate programs
  • non-tangible items - safety solutions need to have a direct impact on safety, and clear eligibility criteria in order to approve and process rebate payments
  • backdated improvements made prior to attending an eligible SafeWork NSW safety event
  • domestic, recreational or social products or equipment including items for home-based businesses that may be deemed as being used for domestic/household purposes or contributing to the value of residential assets.
  • items and services that are not purchased from a registered business ABN/ACN/BRN and do not meet all relevant standards, approvals, local government and legislative requirements.
What do I need to complete my application?
  • a tax invoice from a supplier with an ABN. The tax invoice should show a nil balance or note proof of payment. A 'PAID' stamp across the invoice is not sufficient
  • a receipt for payment in full for the goods (or proof of payment)
  • details of your eligible event – where, when, with whom.  If you attended a webinar, attach your certificate of attendance.
  • your business details including ABN, trading name, business bank account and workers compensation policy number (if applicable).

Read the terms and conditions for more information.

If I apply, will an Inspector visit my workplace?

Not as a result of receiving the rebate. The rebate is given out to help you adopt solutions to address high risk safety problems in your workplace.

An Inspector might visit if there are concerns an item has not been installed or we need to check the item is being used as intended eg. machine guards.

Things to keep in mind
  • the rebate is for a maximum of $500.  For example, if you have a solution that totals $250 then you will receive $250 or, if you have one or many (different) eligible solutions that total $2,800 you will receive $500.
  • you can claim for more than one eligible solution on your application form but can only apply once for the small business rebate. For example, you could purchase a number of safety solutions to prevent falls from a height - such as scaffolding, edge protection and industrial fall arrest equipment - and include all three invoices in your one rebate application form
  • you must buy your goods after your eligible interaction with SafeWork NSW
  • make sure the copies of your tax invoice(s) and receipt(s) you scan and send are clear and easy to read
  • applications are usually processed within 4 weeks of being received (if all information is complete and correct)
My question hasn't been answered

Call us on 13 10 50 or email safetyrebate@safework.nsw.gov.au.

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