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WHS Basics for Security Officers (Australia) 2026

This course is for security officers who want to understand work health and safety (WHS) law in Australia. It covers the model WHS laws and Victoria's OHS Act, who has duties, hazards such as lone night work and aggression, your right to stop unsafe work and notifiable incidents. It is background knowledge only and does not replace your state security licence training or your employer's induction.

  • Course
  • Australia
  • 25 questions
  • Checked October 13, 2026

Quick answer

This free course has about 30 minutes of lessons and a 25-question test. Score 80% or more to download a certificate of completion (private, not accredited). Checked against official sources on October 13, 2026.

Start with the lessonsWHS Basics for Security Officers (Australia): Lessons: about 30 minutes of reading. Every test question is covered in the lessons.

What you will learn

  • Name the WHS law that applies in each state, including Victoria's OHS Act
  • Explain the duties of PCBUs, officers, workers and visitors
  • Use the hierarchy of controls to think about hazards on a post
  • Recognise remote work, fatigue and aggression as hazards to manage
  • Explain when and how a worker may stop unsafe work
  • Describe notifiable incidents and how the scene is preserved

Score 80% or more to download your certificate.

  1. Question 1 of 25

    Which Australian state or territory has NOT adopted the model WHS laws?
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Victoria

    Safe Work Australia says the model WHS laws have been put in place in every jurisdiction except Victoria.

  2. Question 2 of 25

    What is the main workplace health and safety law in Victoria?
    Show answer

    Answer: C. The Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004

    WorkSafe Victoria describes the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 as the main workplace health and safety law in Victoria, which has not adopted the model WHS laws.

  3. Question 3 of 25

    From what date have Western Australia's WHS laws been in operation?
    Show answer

    Answer: C. 31 March 2022

    WA passed its WHS Act in November 2020, and the laws began operating on 31 March 2022.

  4. Question 4 of 25

    What is Safe Work Australia's role?
    Show answer

    Answer: A. It develops model laws; it is not a regulator

    Safe Work Australia develops the model WHS laws and guidance. It says it is not a regulator; state, territory and Commonwealth regulators enforce the laws.

  5. Question 5 of 25

    You want to report a serious safety problem at a site in New South Wales. Which body enforces WHS law there?
    Show answer

    Answer: B. SafeWork NSW

    Each state and territory has its own WHS regulator that enforces the law. In NSW it is SafeWork NSW.

  6. Question 6 of 25

    Under section 19 of the model WHS Act, how far must a PCBU go to keep workers healthy and safe?
    Show answer

    Answer: A. So far as is reasonably practicable

    The primary duty of care in section 19 requires the PCBU to ensure health and safety so far as is reasonably practicable.

  7. Question 7 of 25

    Your security company posts you at a client's shopping centre. The centre manager directs your daily work. Who owes you WHS duties?
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Both your company and the centre

    Section 19 covers workers the PCBU engages and workers whose work it influences or directs, so both businesses can owe you duties.

  8. Question 8 of 25

    Under WHS law, who is an 'officer' of a business?
    Show answer

    Answer: C. A person who makes major business decisions

    An officer is generally someone who makes significant business decisions or can greatly affect its finances. Officers must exercise due diligence.

  9. Question 9 of 25

    Section 28 of the model WHS Act says a worker must take reasonable care for their own safety. What else must they take reasonable care about?
    Show answer

    Answer: A. That their acts or omissions do not harm others

    Section 28 also requires workers to take care that what they do, or fail to do, does not harm others, and to follow reasonable instructions and policies.

  10. Question 10 of 25

    Do shoppers and visitors at a workplace have any duties under the model WHS laws?
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Yes, they must take reasonable care

    Section 29 says other people at a workplace must take reasonable care and follow the PCBU's reasonable instructions so far as they can.

  11. Question 11 of 25

    When choosing how to control a hazard, which type of control should be considered first?
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Eliminating the hazard

    The hierarchy of controls starts with elimination, then substitution, isolation, engineering controls, administrative controls and finally PPE.

  12. Question 12 of 25

    Where does personal protective equipment, such as gloves, sit in the hierarchy of controls?
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Last, used if risk remains after other controls

    PPE is the last and least effective level. It is used if a risk remains after higher controls.

  13. Question 13 of 25

    SafeWork NSW describes remote or isolated work as work where you cannot get immediate help from whom?
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Rescue, medical or emergency services

    Remote or isolated work is work where, because of the location, time or nature of the work, you cannot get immediate help from rescue, medical or emergency services.

  14. Question 14 of 25

    You patrol a large site alone at night. Which control does SafeWork NSW suggest for this kind of work?
    Show answer

    Answer: A. A check-in at the start and sign-off at the end

    SafeWork NSW lists check-ins and sign-offs, regular contact with supervisors, duress alarms and similar controls for remote or isolated work.

  15. Question 15 of 25

    SafeWork NSW compares being awake for 17 hours to which blood alcohol content?
    Show answer

    Answer: A. 0.05

    SafeWork NSW says 17 hours awake affects you about as much as a blood alcohol content of 0.05, and 20 hours about as much as 0.1.

  16. Question 16 of 25

    Customers often abuse and threaten staff at your post. How do the model WHS laws treat this?
    Show answer

    Answer: A. As a risk the PCBU must manage

    Safe Work Australia says PCBUs must manage the health and safety risks of workplace violence and aggression, including from customers and clients.

  17. Question 17 of 25

    On what date did Victoria's Occupational Health and Safety (Psychological Health) Regulations 2025 start?
    Show answer

    Answer: C. 1 December 2025

    The Victorian regulations started on 1 December 2025. They require employers to identify and control risks from psychosocial hazards such as aggression or violence.

  18. Question 18 of 25

    Under section 84 of the model WHS Act, when may a worker stop work?
    Show answer

    Answer: B. When they reasonably fear a serious, immediate risk

    Section 84 lets a worker cease or refuse work if they reasonably believe it would expose them to a serious risk from an immediate or imminent hazard.

  19. Question 19 of 25

    You stop work because of a serious and immediate risk. What must you do next?
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Tell the PCBU and stay available for other work

    The worker must tell the PCBU as soon as practicable and remain available for suitable alternative work.

  20. Question 20 of 25

    A supervisor cuts your shifts because you raised a safety concern. What does the model WHS Act say about this?
    Show answer

    Answer: C. It is banned as discriminatory conduct

    Sections 104 and 105 protect workers from discriminatory conduct for raising safety issues or using their WHS rights.

  21. Question 21 of 25

    Which of these injuries to a worker is a notifiable incident under the model WHS Act?
    Show answer

    Answer: D. A serious burn

    Section 36 lists serious injuries such as amputation, a serious burn, a serious eye injury and a spinal injury. These are notifiable.

  22. Question 22 of 25

    How soon must a PCBU tell the regulator about a notifiable incident?
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Immediately after becoming aware of it

    The PCBU must notify the regulator immediately after becoming aware of the incident, by the fastest possible means.

  23. Question 23 of 25

    If the regulator asks for written notice of a notifiable incident, how long does the PCBU have?
    Show answer

    Answer: A. 48 hours

    Section 38 says written notice must be given within 48 hours of the regulator asking for it.

  24. Question 24 of 25

    For how long must a PCBU keep a record of each notifiable incident?
    Show answer

    Answer: C. At least 5 years

    Section 38 requires a record of each notifiable incident to be kept for at least 5 years from the day notice is given.

  25. Question 25 of 25

    After a notifiable incident, for which reason may the scene be disturbed before an inspector releases it?
    Show answer

    Answer: C. To help an injured person

    Section 39 says the site must be preserved until an inspector releases it, except to help an injured person, remove a deceased person, make the site safe, or for police or with permission.

What to know before the test

  • The model WHS laws apply in every state and territory except Victoria, which uses the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004.
  • A PCBU must ensure workers' health and safety so far as is reasonably practicable, including workers whose work it directs or influences.
  • A worker may stop work if they reasonably fear a serious risk from an immediate or imminent hazard, and must tell the PCBU as soon as practicable.
  • Notifiable incidents must be reported to the regulator immediately, and the scene kept as it is until an inspector releases it.
  • Victoria's Occupational Health and Safety (Psychological Health) Regulations 2025 started on 1 December 2025.

Frequently asked questions

Does WHS law apply to security officers?

Yes. Security officers are workers, and their employer and often the client site owe them duties. Security officers also have their own duty to take reasonable care and follow reasonable instructions.

Do I still need a security licence and site induction?

Yes. Each state requires a security licence with set training, and your employer must give you information and training for your post. This course is background knowledge only and does not replace either.

Can I refuse to work alone at night?

Working alone is not banned, but your employer must manage the risk, for example with check-ins and duress alarms. You may stop work if you reasonably fear a serious, immediate risk.

Who do I report a serious injury to?

Report it to your supervisor at once. The PCBU must notify the WHS regulator in your state, such as SafeWork NSW or WorkSafe Victoria, immediately.

Is the certificate accredited or officially recognised?

No. It is a private certificate of completion for knowledge only. It is not recognised, accredited or approved by any government, licensing body, regulator or educational institution, and it does not replace any licence, certification or training required by law.

Sources

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