Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing the Work Environment and Facilities
The Safe Work Australia model code of practice on managing the work environment and facilities: entry and exit, work areas, workstations, floors, lighting, ventilation, heat and cold, toilets, drinking water, washing, eating, storage, change rooms, showers, remote and isolated work, accommodation and emergency plans. Guidance, not law: once a jurisdiction approves it under WHS Act s 274 it is admissible evidence of what is reasonably practicable (s 275).
Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing the Work Environment and Facilities is a compliance framework from Australia (model for the harmonised WHS jurisdictions: Commonwealth, NSW, Qld, SA, WA, Tas, ACT, NT; not Victoria) with 5 domains and 41 controls. The largest domains are Section 2: The work environment – Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing the Work Environment and Facilities (14 controls), Section 3: Facilities – Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing the Work Environment and Facilities (12 controls), Section 1: Introduction, duty holders and monitoring – Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing the Work Environment and Facilities (7 controls). Every control below carries what it requires and what an assessor expects to see.
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Framework Domains (5)
Section 1: Introduction, duty holders and monitoring – Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing the Work Environment and Facilities
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-work-environment-and-facilities::1.1a | 1.1 The PCBU must provide a work environment and facilities free of risk, physical and psychosocial |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-work-environment-and-facilities::1.1b | 1.1 Persons managing or controlling a workplace keep it, its entry and exit safe |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-work-environment-and-facilities::1.1c | 1.1 Designers of structures, officers, workers and visitors hold their own duties |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-work-environment-and-facilities::1.1d | 1.1 Consult workers on the adequacy of facilities and give feedback |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-work-environment-and-facilities::1.1e | 1.1 Consult, cooperate and coordinate with other duty holders; identify needed facilities |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-work-environment-and-facilities::1.2 | 1.2 Manage work environment and facilities risks through the four step process |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-work-environment-and-facilities::1.3 | 1.3 Monitor and maintain the work environment and facilities |
Section 2: The work environment – Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing the Work Environment and Facilities
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-work-environment-and-facilities::2.0 | 2 General workplace facilities: layout, space, floors, lighting, ventilation, heat and cold, essential services |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-work-environment-and-facilities::2.0b | 2 Psychosocial risks: eliminate them or minimise them, having regard to design and layout of the workplace |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-work-environment-and-facilities::2.1 | 2.1 Provide safe entry and exit, including for workers with disability |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-work-environment-and-facilities::2.2 | 2.2 Lay out work areas with clear space to move, work and evacuate |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-work-environment-and-facilities::2.3 | 2.3 Provide workstations and seating suited to the person and the task |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-work-environment-and-facilities::2.4 | 2.4 Design, install and maintain floors and surfaces to prevent slips, trips and strain |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-work-environment-and-facilities::2.5 | 2.5 Provide lighting suited to the task, outdoors and in an emergency |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-work-environment-and-facilities::2.6 | 2.6 Keep the workplace tidy with spills cleaned, walkways clear and waste removed |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-work-environment-and-facilities::2.7a | 2.7 Ventilate workplaces so work is possible without risk to health |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-work-environment-and-facilities::2.7b | 2.7 Service ventilation systems, control Legionella risk and keep airborne contaminants below exposure standards |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-work-environment-and-facilities::2.8a | 2.8 Manage heat and cold exposure and train workers to recognise illness |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-work-environment-and-facilities::2.8b | 2.8 Provide thermal comfort for the work, noting psychosocial effects |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-work-environment-and-facilities::2.8c | 2.8 Control hot environments and treat heat illness |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-work-environment-and-facilities::2.8d | 2.8 Control cold environments and treat hypothermia |
Section 3: Facilities – Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing the Work Environment and Facilities
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-work-environment-and-facilities::3.0 | 3 Provide and maintain adequate and accessible facilities in good order |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-work-environment-and-facilities::3.1 | 3.1 Give all workers access to facilities within reasonable reach and time |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-work-environment-and-facilities::3.2 | 3.2 Provide free clean drinking water at all times, safely supplied |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-work-environment-and-facilities::3.3a | 3.3 Provide clean toilets to all workers while at work, in adequate number |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-work-environment-and-facilities::3.3b | 3.3 Design toilets for privacy, emergency access, lighting, ventilation and supplies |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-work-environment-and-facilities::3.3c | 3.3 Consider period products where access to personal supplies may be limited |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-work-environment-and-facilities::3.3d | 3.3 Make toilets accessible, including for mobile, temporary and remote work |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-work-environment-and-facilities::3.4 | 3.4 Provide hand washing facilities in sufficient number and of suitable design |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-work-environment-and-facilities::3.5 | 3.5 Provide hygienic eating, food preparation and storage facilities |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-work-environment-and-facilities::3.6 | 3.6 Provide secure personal storage |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-work-environment-and-facilities::3.7 | 3.7 Provide private change rooms with storage where workers must change |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-work-environment-and-facilities::3.8 | 3.8 Provide showers and drying facilities for dirty, hot or hazardous work |
Section 4: Guidance for specific types of work – Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing the Work Environment and Facilities
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-work-environment-and-facilities::4.1 | 4.1 Give outdoor workers shelter and sun protection |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-work-environment-and-facilities::4.2a | 4.2 Manage remote or isolated work risks and ensure effective communication |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-work-environment-and-facilities::4.2b | 4.2 Assess remote or isolated work risks against the listed factors |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-work-environment-and-facilities::4.2c | 4.2 Control remote or isolated work with buddy systems, design, communication, tracking, training and first aid |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-work-environment-and-facilities::4.3 | 4.3 Keep worker accommodation safe where the PCBU provides it |
Section 5: Emergency plans – Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing the Work Environment and Facilities
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-work-environment-and-facilities::5.1 | 5.1 Write clear emergency procedures and practise evacuation at least every 12 months |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-work-environment-and-facilities::5a | 5 Prepare, maintain, test and implement an emergency plan |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-the-work-environment-and-facilities::5b | 5 Coordinate and review emergency plans for shared workplaces and consult on changes |
What is Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing the Work Environment and Facilities and who does it apply to?
Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing the Work Environment and Facilities is a compliance framework from Australia (model for the harmonised WHS jurisdictions: Commonwealth, NSW, Qld, SA, WA, Tas, ACT, NT; not Victoria) with 5 domains and 41 controls. The Safe Work Australia model code of practice on managing the work environment and facilities: entry and exit, work areas, workstations, floors, lighting, ventilation, heat and cold, toilets, drinking water, washing, eating, storage, change rooms, showers, remote and isolated work, accommodation and emergency plans. Guidance, not law: once a jurisdiction approves it under WHS Act s 274 it is admissible evidence of what is reasonably practicable (s 275). 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 Work Environment and Facilities actually require?
Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing the Work Environment and Facilities has 41 controls organised across 5 domains. The largest domains are Section 2: The work environment – Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing the Work Environment and Facilities (14 controls), Section 3: Facilities – Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing the Work Environment and Facilities (12 controls), Section 1: Introduction, duty holders and monitoring – Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing the Work Environment and Facilities (7 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 Work Environment and Facilities do I already cover?
Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing the Work Environment and Facilities 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 Work Environment and Facilities?
Start your Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing the Work Environment and Facilities compliance journey by running a self-assessment on our platform to identify your current compliance posture. Our AI advisory can answer specific questions about Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing the Work Environment and Facilities requirements, and cross-framework mapping helps you leverage existing controls from other frameworks you may already comply with. Create a free account to access all 41 controls and track your progress.
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