Victoria Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 s21-1: s 21(1) Provide and maintain a safe working environment for employees

Every employer must, as far as reasonably practicable, provide and keep up a working environment for its employees that is safe and free of risks to their health, including psychological health. This is the core employer duty; s 21(2) lists particular failures that amount to a breach, without limiting it. Maximum penalty: 1800 penalty units (individual) or 9000 penalty units (body corporate). The offence is indictable (s 21(4)), although it may be heard and determined summarily under the Criminal Procedure Act 2009 (s 28). Whether a measure was reasonably practicable is judged against the s 20 factors.