Kitchen Safety for Cooks and Dishwashers (Australia) 2026

This course is for cooks, kitchen hands and dishwashers in Australian restaurants, cafés and takeaways. It covers WHS law and your rights, knives and equipment, burns and kitchen fires, slips, lifting and cool rooms, and chemicals and dishwashing. Each of the five topics has a lesson and an untimed quiz, then a timed 30-question final assessment; score 80% or more to earn a Certificate of Completion. It is background knowledge only: your employer must still give you a safety induction and training for your tasks, and food handlers in many food businesses need food safety training under Standard 3.2.2A.

Course
Australia
86 questions
Checked October 14, 2026
Edited by A. Singh
Fact-checked October 15, 2026

Quick answer

This free course has about 150 minutes of lessons, 5 untimed topic quizzes (86 questions in all) and a timed final assessment of 30 questions drawn at random. Score 80% or more on the final assessment to download a certificate of completion (private, not accredited). Checked against official sources on October 14, 2026.

Start with the lessonsKitchen Safety for Cooks and Dishwashers (Australia): Lessons: about 150 minutes of reading. Every test question is covered in the lessons.

What you will learn

Explain which WHS or OHS law applies in your state and your rights and duties under it
Stop unsafe work correctly and report hazards, injuries and notifiable incidents
Use knives safely and keep machine guards and isolation procedures in place
Prevent burns and respond to oil and fat fires with the right equipment
Reduce slips, manual handling strain and cool room risks
Read GHS labels and safety data sheets, and clean and sanitise dishes correctly

Score 80% or more to download your certificate.

Your study plan

Read each lesson, take its topic quiz (untimed, with explanations), then the timed final assessment. A new mix of questions is drawn every time. Your progress is saved in this browser.

Plan for my exam date Mistake notebook

Topic quiz 1: WHS law, your rights and reporting

What to know before the test

The model WHS laws apply in every Australian state and territory except Victoria, which has its own Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004.
Under the model WHS laws (every state and territory except Victoria), a worker may stop work if they reasonably believe it exposes them to a serious risk from an immediate or imminent hazard, and must tell the PCBU as soon as practicable.
PCBUs must notify their WHS regulator immediately after becoming aware of a notifiable incident.
Fire and Rescue NSW says unattended cooking and overheating of cooking oil or fat are the most common causes of restaurant fires.
Since 1 January 2023, chemical classifications, labels and safety data sheets must follow GHS 7.
SafeWork NSW says giving 'how to lift' training on its own is not an effective way to protect workers from manual handling injuries.
FSANZ lists soaking items in very hot water at 77°C for 30 seconds as one way to sanitise them.

Frequently asked questions

Is this an official kitchen safety qualification?

No. Passing the final assessment gives you a PassEveryTest Certificate of Completion, which shows you finished this general skills course. It is not a nationally recognised unit of competency, a licence or an employer or government certification.

Does the law require training for kitchen workers?

Yes. Employers must give every worker a safety induction and train them for their tasks. Under Standard 3.2.2A, food handlers in category one and two food businesses who handle unpackaged, ready-to-eat, potentially hazardous food also need food safety training or adequate skills and knowledge. This course does not replace either.

Which safety regulator covers my workplace?

Your state or territory regulator, for example SafeWork NSW, WorkSafe Victoria or WorkSafe Queensland. Safe Work Australia writes the model laws but does not enforce them.

Can I refuse to do a task I think is dangerous?

Under the model WHS laws you may stop work if you reasonably believe it exposes you to a serious risk from an immediate or imminent hazard. Tell your employer as soon as practicable and stay available for other suitable work. Victoria's OHS Act has different rules, so in Victoria talk to your employer or health and safety representative (HSR).

How does the final assessment work?

It has 30 questions drawn at random from the course question bank, with a 40-minute time limit. You need 80% to pass, and each attempt gives you a new mix of questions.

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.