What is Workplace Standards Tasmania and what do we do?

Workplace Standards Tasmania is a division of the Department of Justice.

In order to improve the standard of workplaces and safety in the community, Workplace Standards Tasmania administers many of the laws that regulate business in Tasmania, including:

• Building Act 2000
• Dangerous Goods Act 1998
• Industrial relations Act 1984
• Long Service Leave Act 1976
• Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988
• Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995

Workplace Standards Tasmania consists of three branches:

• the Inspectorate
• Building Standards and Regulation
• Policy, Planning and Services

It has regional offices in Rosny, Launceston and Burnie.

Strategic plan and poster

What are our strategic priorities?

Business charter

Information on consultation and meetings and complaints procedure.

 What is Workplace Standards Tasmania and what does it do?

What does the Inspectorate do?

The work of this branch focuses on:

• workplace health and safety, including accident investigation, plant inspection, assessor and operator accreditation, plant design, registration and employee’s safety representatives
• wages, conditions, awards and industrial agreements affecting most sole traders, partnerships and non-profit organisations
• electrical, plumbing and gas safety, including electricians, plumbers and gas fitters accreditation
• security-sensitive substances and dangerous goods, including shotfirer, pyrotechnic and bulk driver accreditation
• long service leave for business and government
• shop trading hours and statutory holidays

This branch:

• inspects, advises and enforces laws about workplace standards
• investigates workplace accidents, incidents and complaints
• issues licenses for storing and using dangerous goods, selling fireworks, certain construction work and removal work, such as that involving asbestos
• provides Tasmanian workplaces with information about workplace health and safety by visiting workplaces providing publications and resources, presenting seminars, information campaigns and promotional activities.

The Inspectorate is based in each of Workplace Standards’ regional offices.

What does Building Standards and Regulation do?

The work of this branch focuses on building standards and regulation, including plumbing issues and the accreditation of building practitioners.

This branch provides general advice about the interpretation of building laws, regulations, codes and standards, and administers the Building Appeals Board.

This branch is based in Rosny.

What does Policy, Planning and Services do?

This branch examines, recommends and develops policies and laws for consideration by the Tasmanian Government.

This branch is based in Rosny.

Memorandum of Understanding between Workplace Standards and WorkCover

Workplace Standards Tasmania is a regulator within the Department of Justice. It administers many of the laws that regulate business in Tasmania. WorkCover is an independent body which oversees the Workers’ Rehabilitation and Compensation Scheme. Both organisations often provide services to the same clients and their work is co-operatively linked where appropriate. The Memorandum of Understanding sets out the nature of the relationship in further detail.