There has been several recent incidents of violence and aggression against SafeWork NSW inspectors while carrying out their duties. As the State’s work health and safety (WHS) regulator, SafeWork NSW and its Inspectors play an important role in securing the health and safety of workers. An Inspector may attend your workplace in response to an incident, a complaint, a request for service, or as part of a targeted injury prevention program.
It is a criminal offence to hinder, obstruct, assault, threaten, or intimidate an Inspector or a person assisting an Inspector. Persons convicted under section 190 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 for intimidating, threatening or assaulting a SafeWork NSW Inspector face penalties . For offences committed during the financial year commencing on 1 July 2024 the maximum penalty for an offence by an individual is $73,094 fine and/or imprisonment for two years, or a maximum fine of $365,595 for a body corporate.
Violence and aggression cover a broad range of behaviours and can include:
- verbal abuse, in person or over the telephone
- written abuse via email or text message
- harassment
- threats and intimidation
- physical or sexual assault
- malicious damage to property.
Safety information
Everyone has the right to work in a safe and healthy workplace. Violence and aggression in the workplace is unacceptable and puts workers at risk of physical and psychological harm.
Inspectors have certain powers when visiting a workplace to secure WHS outcomes. They may:
- enter any premises they have reason to believe is a place of work
- conduct interviews and make inquiries, in private if necessary
- take photographs, recordings, measurements and samples
- gather, examine and copy documents
- secure or seize evidence.
If an Inspector attends your workplace, it is important that you are respectful and cooperative. You must provide reasonable assistance to Inspectors who are undertaking their work and provide necessary access to the workplace.
Instances of violence and aggression against Inspectors will be investigated and reported to the NSW Police where necessary.
Related guidance material
- Code of Practice – Managing psychosocial hazards at work
- SafeWork NSW incident response and investigations – what to expect – Customer Service Standard
- Psychosocial Hazards (including bullying) – Service Standards
- SafeWork inspectors
- Hazards A-Z - Violence
- Preventing and responding to work-related violence (PDF, 275.95 KB)
- Mental health at work – legal rights and obligations