Safety information for your sector
This section is relevant to all people who work in the Health Care and Social Assistance sector. You will find information related to:
- Managing harms
- SafeWork NSW activities and commitment
- When to notify SafeWork NSW
- Codes of practice and your legal obligations
- Translated resources
- Manager's toolkit
- Related information
Managing harms
The nature of the work in this sector presents specific hazards for workers. It is important you know what the hazards are in your workplace so you can assess the risks they pose.
Find a list of common hazards and learn how to manage the risks below.
SafeWork NSW activities and commitment
Read about what SafeWork NSW is doing to prevent injury and improve health outcomes:
- Our commitment to the health care and social assistance sector, including our action plan to 2025.
- Project Report September 2020 (PDF, 104.87 KB)
When to notify SafeWork NSW
If there is a serious injury, illness, dangerous incident, or death relating to staff, customers or visitors to your worksite or your place of employment (even if it's off-site), you must report it to us immediately.
Incidents can be notified 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling 13 10 50. If you're unsure of whether to notify, use Safe Work Australia's Incident notification information sheet to help you decide. Read more about notifying SafeWork NSW.
Codes of practice and your legal obligations
Hazardous chemicals
Exposure to chemicals is 100% preventable. Without the proper controls chemical exposure can cause cancer, respiratory illnesses, skin and eye irritations, as well as fire and explosion-related injuries.
Our Hazardous Chemicals Code of Practice (PDF, 1171.43 KB) to help you manage hazardous chemicals in the workplace.
Manual tasks
For many businesses, manual tasks are an important part of getting the job done. Some of these tasks can be hazardous and are often the most common cause of workplace injuries.
Our Hazardous manual tasks Code of Practice (PDF, 1499.23 KB) can help you create a safer work environment.
Psychosocial hazards at work
NSW businesses need to manage exposure to psychosocial hazards and risks to psychological and physical health and safety at work.
Our Managing psychosocial hazards at work code of practice can help you manage psychosocial hazards at work.
Managing the work environment and facilities (remote and isolated work)
Download SafeWork NSW's Code of Practice for Managing the work environment and facilities (PDF, 422.29 KB).
Translated resources
There is a range of support and information available to you if you’re faced with a difficult situation at work.
The getting support at work pocket guide (PDF, 182.07 KB) is your starting point to finding the support you need. It is available in the following languages:
- Arabic (PDF, 412.26 KB)
- Simplified Chinese (PDF, 566.21 KB)
- Filipino (PDF, 377.89 KB)
- Hindi (PDF, 430.55 KB)
- Nepali (PDF, 430.56 KB)
Visit our translated resources hub for other print, web and multimedia resources.
Manager’s toolkit
The WHS Manager's Toolkit provides the health care and social assistance sector with key resources to help them manage health and safety in their
.