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Australia Model Code of Practice Managing the Risks of Biological Hazards at Work
Australia (Commonwealth, states and territories that have adopted the model WHS laws)
vMarch 2026 edition (new model code)
8 domains
34 controls
Safe Work Australia's model code for biological hazards at work: the PCBU primary duty and facilities, officer due diligence, consultation with workers and other duty holders, compliance with overlapping laws, a proportionate risk management process fed by authoritative sources, identification of sources and exposure routes, risk assessment covering vulnerable people and exposure standards, elimination and the hierarchy of controls from substitution and engineering to vaccination, hygiene, cleaning, waste and PPE with fit testing, implementation, training, maintenance, review and records, and response to exposure including first aid, medical care, exclusion of unwell persons, decontamination, work adjustments, emergency plans and notifiable incidents.
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Australia Model Code of Practice Managing the Risks of Biological Hazards at Work is a compliance framework from Australia (Commonwealth, states and territories that have adopted the model WHS laws) with 8 domains and 34 controls. The largest domains are Chapter 10 Response to an exposure: reporting, first aid, medical advice, unwell persons, cleaning, work adjustments, emergency plans and notifiable incidents – Australia Model Code of Practice Managing the Risks of Biological Hazards at Work (8 controls), Chapter 2 Work health and safety duties: PCBUs, officers, workers, other persons, consultation and other frameworks – Australia Model Code of Practice Managing the Risks of Biological Hazards at Work (6 controls), Chapter 6 Controlling the risks: elimination, the hierarchy and selecting controls – Australia Model Code of Practice Managing the Risks of Biological Hazards at Work (6 controls). Every control below carries what it requires and what an assessor expects to see.
Maintained by Gerard Blokdyk
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Framework Domains (8)
Chapter 10 Response to an exposure: reporting, first aid, medical advice, unwell persons, cleaning, work adjustments, emergency plans and notifiable incidents – Australia Model Code of Practice Managing the Risks of Biological Hazards at Work
8 controls
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-risks-of-biological-hazards-at-work::10.1-ADJUST | Support temporary work adjustments for exposed workers (changed location, tasks or leave) guided by the treating practitioner's advice on capacity, to aid recovery, allow quarantine and cleaning of areas and prevent further exposure, in collaboration with the worker and in line with reasonable adjustment law, managing any new hazards; and review the controls after any exposure to decide what changes or additions are needed |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-risks-of-biological-hazards-at-work::10.1-CLEAN | After an exposure, close off contaminated areas, materials and equipment, clean and disinfect them before reopening access, dispose of items that cannot be adequately cleaned, clear the air with purifiers, mechanical ventilation or open windows, equip cleaners with PPE appropriate to the chemicals and exposure, inform any contracted cleaning PCBU of the risk and follow up, and ensure PPE is disposed of or disinfected and hands cleaned afterwards |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-risks-of-biological-hazards-at-work::10.1-FIRSTAID | Provide first aid facilities suited to the biological hazard risks (adequate supplies such as dressings for non-intact skin, eye wash stations), accessible kits suitable for the likely injuries including bite and sting packs for field workers, enough trained first aiders holding the Provide First Aid statement of attainment or equivalent with annual CPR refreshers and three-yearly renewal, additional training for animal bites or penetrating injuries where relevant, and protection of first aiders through vaccination and counselling |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-risks-of-biological-hazards-at-work::10.1-MEDICAL | After an exposure or potential exposure do all that is reasonable to respond to the health risk, including timely medical assessment or emergency department attendance, blood tests, post-exposure prophylaxis where HIV or hepatitis B is known or suspected, medical counselling and ongoing health assessment, and seek expert advice such as from health authorities on containing the exposure |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-risks-of-biological-hazards-at-work::10.1-RESPOND | Encourage and enable immediate reporting of exposures with clear guidance on what to report and how, respecting privacy; take reasonably practicable steps to address the risk to those exposed while keeping the workplace safe, removing people from unsafe environments and protecting first aiders and cleaners with PPE, ventilation or air cleaning; keep policies and procedures setting roles, first aid, medical assessment, follow-up, reporting and out-of-hours or remote contacts; call 000 in an emergency and notify the regulator of serious incidents |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-risks-of-biological-hazards-at-work::10.1-UNWELL | Where someone at the workplace is unwell with a potentially communicable disease, support them to seek treatment, get them to leave as soon as possible and not return until no longer infectious, distance them where removal is not reasonably practicable, support working from home or leave, provide suitable PPE such as P2/N95 respirators, protect close contacts including first aiders and cleaners, and notify close contacts of a disclosed easily spread infection with regard to privacy |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-risks-of-biological-hazards-at-work::10.2 | Prepare, maintain and implement an emergency plan covering effective emergency response, evacuation, early notification of emergency services, medical treatment and assistance, and communication between the coordinator and everyone at the workplace, shaped by the work, hazards, size, location and people, covering uncontrolled escape, spill or leakage in laboratories and notification of offsite workers, reflecting incident notification duties, with defined testing, training and accessibility, regularly reviewed |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-risks-of-biological-hazards-at-work::10.3 | Notify the WHS regulator immediately of notifiable incidents involving biological hazards (injuries or illnesses needing medical treatment within 48 hours of exposure to a substance, work-attributable infections from handling microorganisms, treating or caring for people, contact with human blood or body substances or with animals or animal material, the listed zoonoses Q fever, anthrax, leptospirosis, brucellosis, Hendra virus, avian influenza and psittacosis from animal work, and uncontrolled escape, spill or leakage posing serious risk), preserve the site until an inspector arrives or directs otherwise, and notify regardless of any public health reporting |
Chapter 2 Work health and safety duties: PCBUs, officers, workers, other persons, consultation and other frameworks – Australia Model Code of Practice Managing the Risks of Biological Hazards at Work
6 controls
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-risks-of-biological-hazards-at-work::2.1-DUTY | PCBU primary duty: ensure so far as is reasonably practicable that the work does not put workers and others at risk from biological hazards arising from the work, through a safe work environment, safe plant, structures and systems of work, safe use, handling and storage of substances, adequate facilities, information, training, instruction and supervision, health and workplace monitoring, and safe accommodation; eliminate the risks or minimise them, doing more as the degree of harm and likelihood rise |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-risks-of-biological-hazards-at-work::2.1-FACILITIES | Provide and maintain adequate, accessible, clean and safe worker facilities (toilets, drinking water, washing and eating facilities, ventilated and stocked bathrooms) sized to numbers, shifts, movements and remote or community work, and maintain any worker accommodation so occupants are not exposed to biological hazards |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-risks-of-biological-hazards-at-work::2.2 | Officers exercise due diligence: keep WHS knowledge current, understand the operations and their biological hazards and risks, ensure resources and processes to manage the risks, ensure processes to receive, consider and act promptly on incident, hazard and risk information, ensure compliance processes, and verify that resources and processes are provided and used |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-risks-of-biological-hazards-at-work::2.5-DUTYHOLDERS | Consult, cooperate and coordinate with every other duty holder sharing a biological hazard matter, each retaining responsibility to the extent of its influence and control, exchanging information, settling who does what and working together, including on shared consultation of labour hire or contractor workers |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-risks-of-biological-hazards-at-work::2.5-WORKERS | Consult workers and their HSRs when identifying hazards, assessing risks and choosing controls, deciding on facilities, proposing changes affecting health or safety, and setting procedures for consultation, issue resolution, health and workplace monitoring and training, sharing information, hearing views and taking them into account, in forms accessible to all workers |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-risks-of-biological-hazards-at-work::2.6 | Comply with the other laws, standards and public health orders that apply to biological hazards in addition to WHS duties, recognising that compliance with food safety, biosecurity or public health requirements does not by itself discharge the WHS duty |
Chapter 3 The risk management process and information from reliable sources – Australia Model Code of Practice Managing the Risks of Biological Hazards at Work
2 controls
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-risks-of-biological-hazards-at-work::3 | Apply the four-step risk management process to biological hazards in a planned, systematic, regularly reviewed way covering all foreseeable hazards, scaled to the size and nature of the business, revisited on change and emerging disease situations, with workers and HSRs consulted at every step, controls reviewed and the process repeated when they fail, and the process and outcomes recorded |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-risks-of-biological-hazards-at-work::3.1 | Seek and monitor information and advice from authoritative sources (health, agricultural, biosecurity and WHS authorities, industry groups, Appendix J) relevant to the industry and activity, watch for alerts and updates, review the assessment and controls accordingly, and engage technical specialists such as occupational physicians and hygienists where needed |
Chapter 4 Identifying biological hazards – Australia Model Code of Practice Managing the Risks of Biological Hazards at Work
2 controls
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-risks-of-biological-hazards-at-work::4 | Identify all reasonably foreseeable biological hazards early, understanding where they are found and how people are exposed, using regular testing of sources (animals, people, cooling tower water, air or surfaces) and expert advice where needed, and prepare for unforeseeable hazards with baseline hygiene and cleaning controls and policies that set responsibilities, processes and the authoritative sources to consult |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-risks-of-biological-hazards-at-work::4.1 | Identify hazards by considering the industry's common sources and exposure routes, observing work activities (close contact with people or human material, animals or animal material, organic material, sharps and penetrating objects, dust or aerosol generation) and the work environment (higher-risk locations, air quality, adequate hygienic facilities) across the whole workplace using the Table 2 questions, and reviewing internal records and data for trends |
Chapter 5 Assessing the risks, vulnerable people and exposure limits – Australia Model Code of Practice Managing the Risks of Biological Hazards at Work
4 controls
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-risks-of-biological-hazards-at-work::5 | Assess the risks from identified hazards to find which workers are at risk, what causes it and when, what controls are needed and whether existing controls work, as an ongoing process updated as conditions, activities, worker numbers and hazards change, documented and kept current |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-risks-of-biological-hazards-at-work::5.1 | Assess likelihood from the nature of the hazard (communicable or not, multiple transmission routes, ease of infection), of the source (constant, routine, seasonal or occasional presence) and of the exposure (who, how long, how often, and whether activities or environment raise it), the consequences (vulnerable people, severity or fatality, immediate or gradual, short or long term, reversible or not, psychological effects) and the effectiveness of existing controls against industry standards, vaccines and treatments; do more as severity rises, assess multiple hazards together, and assess off-site work such as field trips |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-risks-of-biological-hazards-at-work::5.2 | Manage the risks to vulnerable people (pregnant and breastfeeding women, infants, the elderly, people with disability, those medically predisposed or immunocompromised) where needs are disclosed or known, with tailored communication for young or culturally diverse workers, temporary work adjustments during outbreaks or changed circumstances, compliance with industrial relations and discrimination law, continued risk minimisation for all workers, and confidentiality of medical information |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-risks-of-biological-hazards-at-work::5.3 | Ensure no person is exposed to an airborne biological contaminant above the workplace exposure standard, monitoring air where needed for cotton, grain and wood dust, knowing the applicable standards and applying them in assessment and control, and transitioning to the workplace exposure limits from 1 December 2026 |
Chapter 6 Controlling the risks: elimination, the hierarchy and selecting controls – Australia Model Code of Practice Managing the Risks of Biological Hazards at Work
6 controls
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-risks-of-biological-hazards-at-work::6 | Control the risks by always aiming to eliminate them and otherwise minimising them so far as is reasonably practicable, usually with a combination of controls, using baseline controls (good air quality, routine cleaning, suitable PPE) supplemented by specific measures such as air monitoring, drawing on authoritative advice, and taking a precautionary approach where knowledge of a new or changing hazard is limited |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-risks-of-biological-hazards-at-work::6.1-ADMIN | Minimise remaining risk with administrative controls: policies and procedures for vaccination against workplace vaccine-preventable diseases per the Australian Immunisation Handbook, hygiene and distancing, routine and post-exposure cleaning, disinfection and sterilisation, inspection and maintenance including monitoring and treatment of air handling, water systems and cooling towers, surveillance testing of staff in contact with vulnerable people during high transmission, waste storage, handling, treatment and disposal, outbreak and pandemic policies; changed work methods such as more frequent cleaning and task rotation; information, training, instruction and signage; and checks that administrative controls are followed |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-risks-of-biological-hazards-at-work::6.1-ELIM | Eliminate exposure where reasonably practicable by removing sources or preventing hazards: pest control, building maintenance and effective ventilation to prevent mould and moisture, rejecting contaminated or damp goods, oral rather than intravenous medication where appropriate to avoid needles, and keeping unwell people away through working from home or leave, sending unwell children home, rescheduling or virtual appointments and remote ordering |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-risks-of-biological-hazards-at-work::6.1-PPE | Minimise remaining risk with suitable PPE provided free, suited to the worker, the work and the environment and meeting relevant Australian Standards, with policies and procedures on use, maintenance, cleaning or disposal and storage, training including safe removal of contaminated PPE, correct selection for the hazard and exposure level including respirator protection factors, fit testing of tight-fitting respirators before first use, regular checks, correct use, and compatibility between items such as goggles and mask seals |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-risks-of-biological-hazards-at-work::6.1-SIE | Where elimination is not reasonably practicable, minimise exposure with substitution (lower-risk activities such as HEPA vacuuming or wet mopping instead of dry sweeping, lower-risk materials and organisms, disposable rather than reusable equipment), isolation (dedicated contained areas, separation of high-risk areas from offices and break areas, dedicated decontamination spaces, access restriction, scheduling, temporary barriers, isolating unwell animals, point-of-generation waste containment, quarantine) and engineering controls (UV disinfection, biosafety cabinets, enclosed HEPA-filtered cabins, safety-engineered sharps, automated handling and water treatment systems, hygiene facilities, non-touch taps and bins, protective screens, food facilities, HVAC and HEPA filtration, local exhaust ventilation, mechanical ventilation of animal facilities, air locks and negative pressure rooms) |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-risks-of-biological-hazards-at-work::6.2 | Select controls in consultation with workers and HSRs, preferring the most effective, reliable and protective measures high in the hierarchy, suited to the workplace and workers, reasonably practicable in the circumstances and not creating new hazards, doing more and combining controls as the risk grows |
Chapter 7 Implementing control measures: testing, policies, training and maintenance – Australia Model Code of Practice Managing the Risks of Biological Hazards at Work
4 controls
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-risks-of-biological-hazards-at-work::7 | Implement controls in a deliberate sequence, managing additional risks they create (aerosolisation by air movement, trip hazards from fans), trial them where time permits to confirm suitability, operation and absence of new risks, let workers adjust, check with workers often and supervise implementation, and adjust as needed |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-risks-of-biological-hazards-at-work::7.2 | Develop policies and procedures for managing biological hazard risks in consultation with workers and HSRs, setting responsibilities and expectations in policies and documenting hazards and safe methods in procedures, and make every worker aware of them and what is expected |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-risks-of-biological-hazards-at-work::7.3 | Provide the information, training, instruction and supervision necessary to protect workers from foreseeable biological hazards, suitable and adequate for them, covering sources, exposure and harm, the controls in place, PPE use, fit, storage, maintenance and disposal, vaccination recommendations, the policies and procedures, and exposure reporting and medical advice; delivered by a person with appropriate expertise, in understandable and culturally appropriate forms, through consulted communication methods, with regular reminders, two-way feedback, and information to other persons entering the workplace |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-risks-of-biological-hazards-at-work::7.4 | Monitor and maintain controls so they remain fit for purpose, suited to the work and correctly set up and used, establishing at implementation what maintenance each control needs and a schedule of routine checks based on the control, the risk and manufacturer instructions, with expert maintenance where needed such as HVAC servicing, water treatment, inspection and cleaning |
Chapters 8 and 9 Reviewing control measures and recording risk management – Australia Model Code of Practice Managing the Risks of Biological Hazards at Work
2 controls
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-risks-of-biological-hazards-at-work::8 | Review controls regularly at a frequency set by the level of risk, more often after an exposure or where likelihood or consequences are high, and as the Regulations require: when a control does not minimise the risk, before a change likely to create a new or different risk, when a new hazard or risk is identified, when consultation indicates it, or when an HSR requests it; use inspection, observation, consultation and records, consult workers and HSRs, gather compliance data, and rework the process where problems are found |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-risks-of-biological-hazards-at-work::9 | Record the risk management process and outcomes in a form suited to the business: hazards, assessment and controls (such as a risk register), policies and procedures, training, consultation, inspection and maintenance, air monitoring, compliance audits, first aid and incident reports, exposure investigations and notifiable incident records, and where relevant respirator fit testing, confidential vaccination records, microbiological testing, rosters and an injury and event log |
What is Australia Model Code of Practice Managing the Risks of Biological Hazards at Work and who does it apply to?
Australia Model Code of Practice Managing the Risks of Biological Hazards at Work is a compliance framework from Australia (Commonwealth, states and territories that have adopted the model WHS laws) with 8 domains and 34 controls. Safe Work Australia's model code for biological hazards at work: the PCBU primary duty and facilities, officer due diligence, consultation with workers and other duty holders, compliance with overlapping laws, a proportionate risk management process fed by authoritative sources, identification of sources and exposure routes, risk assessment covering vulnerable people and exposure standards, elimination and the hierarchy of controls from substitution and engineering to vaccination, hygiene, cleaning, waste and PPE with fit testing, implementation, training, maintenance, review and records, and response to exposure including first aid, medical care, exclusion of unwell persons, decontamination, work adjustments, emergency plans and notifiable incidents. It is used by organisations to establish and maintain compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements.
What does Australia Model Code of Practice Managing the Risks of Biological Hazards at Work actually require?
Australia Model Code of Practice Managing the Risks of Biological Hazards at Work has 34 controls organised across 8 domains. The largest domains are Chapter 10 Response to an exposure: reporting, first aid, medical advice, unwell persons, cleaning, work adjustments, emergency plans and notifiable incidents – Australia Model Code of Practice Managing the Risks of Biological Hazards at Work (8 controls), Chapter 2 Work health and safety duties: PCBUs, officers, workers, other persons, consultation and other frameworks – Australia Model Code of Practice Managing the Risks of Biological Hazards at Work (6 controls), Chapter 6 Controlling the risks: elimination, the hierarchy and selecting controls – Australia Model Code of Practice Managing the Risks of Biological Hazards at Work (6 controls). Each control defines specific requirements that organisations must implement to achieve compliance.
If I already comply with another framework, how much of Australia Model Code of Practice Managing the Risks of Biological Hazards at Work do I already cover?
Australia Model Code of Practice Managing the Risks of Biological Hazards at Work does not currently have cross-framework mappings in our system. Check back as we continuously expand our mapping database.
How do I implement Australia Model Code of Practice Managing the Risks of Biological Hazards at Work?
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