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.
Kort antwoord
Deze gratis cursus heeft ongeveer 30 minuten lessen en een toets van 25 vragen. Haal 80% of meer om een bewijs van deelname te downloaden (privé, niet geaccrediteerd). Gecontroleerd aan de hand van officiële bronnen op 13 oktober 2026.
Wat je leert
- 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
Haal 80% of meer om je certificaat te downloaden.
-
Vraag 1 van 25
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: D. Victoria
Safe Work Australia says the model WHS laws have been put in place in every jurisdiction except Victoria.
-
Vraag 2 van 25
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: 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.
-
Vraag 3 van 25
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: C. 31 March 2022
WA passed its WHS Act in November 2020, and the laws began operating on 31 March 2022.
-
Vraag 4 van 25
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: 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.
-
Vraag 5 van 25
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: B. SafeWork NSW
Each state and territory has its own WHS regulator that enforces the law. In NSW it is SafeWork NSW.
-
Vraag 6 van 25
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: 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.
-
Vraag 7 van 25
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: 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.
-
Vraag 8 van 25
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: 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.
-
Vraag 9 van 25
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: 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.
-
Vraag 10 van 25
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: 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.
-
Vraag 11 van 25
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: C. Eliminating the hazard
The hierarchy of controls starts with elimination, then substitution, isolation, engineering controls, administrative controls and finally PPE.
-
Vraag 12 van 25
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: 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.
-
Vraag 13 van 25
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: 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.
-
Vraag 14 van 25
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: 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.
-
Vraag 15 van 25
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: 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.
-
Vraag 16 van 25
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: 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.
-
Vraag 17 van 25
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: 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.
-
Vraag 18 van 25
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: 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.
-
Vraag 19 van 25
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: 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.
-
Vraag 20 van 25
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: 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.
-
Vraag 21 van 25
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: 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.
-
Vraag 22 van 25
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: 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.
-
Vraag 23 van 25
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: A. 48 hours
Section 38 says written notice must be given within 48 hours of the regulator asking for it.
-
Vraag 24 van 25
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: 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.
-
Vraag 25 van 25
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: 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.
Toetsenbord: 1–4 om te antwoorden, Enter voor de volgende vraag.
Wat je moet weten voor het examen
- 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.
Veelgestelde vragen
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 het certificaat geaccrediteerd of officieel erkend?
Nee. Het is een privé bewijs van deelname, alleen voor je kennis. Het is niet erkend, geaccrediteerd of goedgekeurd door een overheid, vergunningsinstantie, toezichthouder of onderwijsinstelling, en het vervangt geen wettelijk verplichte vergunning, certificering of opleiding.
Bronnen
- Safe Work Australia: Model WHS laws
- Safe Work Australia: Model WHS Bill (5 December 2025)
- WorkSafe Victoria: OHS Act and Regulations
- SafeWork NSW: Remote and isolated work
- SafeWork NSW: Hierarchy of controls
- NT WorkSafe: Workers' right to cease or refuse unsafe work
- Premier of Victoria: New regulations start today to protect workers
- Safe Work Australia: Contact us (not a regulator)
- SafeWork NSW: About us
- Safe Work Australia: Workplace violence and aggression
- Safe Work Australia: Incident reporting