It can be difficult to ascertain how many WHS staff should be engaged in each organisation, as different businesses can vary greatly in terms of workplace, industry, structure, location, and other factors. Yet it is often a question that arises during a WHS audit. You may also need to consider the WHS responsibilities of employees when planning for risk management and workplace health and safety processes. 

 

Why there is no fixed WHS staffing ratio

WHS legislation does not prescribe numbers of WHS personnel required, as organisations differ and structures, geographic locations and facility functions vary as well.

First-aid provisions under WHS laws do not specify numbers of first-aiders in a workplace. A person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) at a workplace must ensure that:

  • an adequate number of workers are trained to administer first aid at the workplace, or

  • workers have access to an adequate number of other persons who have been trained to administer first aid.

A WHS risk assessment may identify specific threats, hazards, processes or risks for any given workplace and the appropriate first-aid treatment required, including the number of trained first-aid personnel at each site covering every shift. This risk assessment should always be documented.

WHS consultation requirements specify that the PCBU must, so far as is reasonably practicable, consult with workers who may be affected by a matter relating to WHS. This may include numbers of WHS staff.

 

WHS responsibilities are shared

Tasks relating to WHS may be carried out by all staff, not only those with duties primarily relating to WHS.

For example, notifiable incidents need to be reported to the WHS regulator, but incident reporting does not need to be done by staff whose duties focus exclusively on WHS.

In addition to reporting of incidents, dealing with injuries and the associated rehabilitation/return-to-work responsibilities may need to be undertaken, but not necessarily by staff whose responsibilities mainly concern WHS matters.  

If you are looking at setting up a WHS department for a large business (more than 1000 workers) with a national presence, you may consider a national WHS professional, supported by state-based WHS professional staff. 

Emergency management will also need to be considered when considering WHS staffing numbers. For example, would trained fire wardens be appropriate, and, if so, how many?

 

Key takeaway

Your consideration of staffing numbers for WHS should consider the number of locations, geographic diversity, number of people at each location, types of activities performed, types of hazards and processes existing, legislated requirements, consultation requirements as well as management structures in place across the business.