Health and hygiene: inspection and testing

Item	How often	Basis	Reference	Applies to
First aid kits: check and restockBy: First aid officer State notes VIC: every 3 months. Model WHS jurisdictions: after each use or at least annually.	Every 3 months (VIC); at least every 12 months (model code)And after every use; record on inventory	Code of practice	WorkSafe Vic Compliance code First aid in the workplace (2021) para 142; Model Code of Practice First aid in the workplace s.3.1; model WHS Reg 42WorkSafe Victoria, Safe Work Australia (as adopted by WorkSafe Tasmania)	All workplaces
First aid qualification (HLTAID011 Provide First Aid)By: RTO State notes Same in VIC and model codes.	Every 3 years	Code of practice	WorkSafe Vic First aid compliance code para 55; Model First aid code s.3.5WorkSafe Victoria, Safe Work Australia (as adopted by WorkSafe Tasmania)	All workplaces
CPR refresher (HLTAID009)By: RTO State notes Same in VIC and model codes.	Every 12 months	Code of practice	WorkSafe Vic First aid compliance code para 55; Model First aid code s.3.5WorkSafe Victoria, Safe Work Australia (as adopted by WorkSafe Tasmania)	All workplaces
First aid arrangements reviewBy: Employer / PCBU State notes No fixed interval in either code.	Regularly, and after incidents or changes	Code of practice	WorkSafe Vic First aid compliance code paras 75, 120; Model First aid code s.3.8WorkSafe Victoria, Safe Work Australia (as adopted by WorkSafe Tasmania)	All workplaces
Plumbed eyewash stations and safety showers: activationBy: Nominated person State notes Codes (VIC compliance code paras 153-156; model code s.3.3) require provision and refer to AS 4775 but set no test frequency.	Every weekSelf-contained units: check fluid regularly; refill after use	Standard	AS 4775-2007From a published summary of the standard; check the current edition.Storemasta (secondary)	Warehouse/factory
Eyewash stations and safety showers: inspection and testBy: Qualified technician State notes As above.	Every 12 months	Standard	AS 4775-2007From a published summary of the standard; check the current edition.Storemasta (secondary)	Warehouse/factory
Asbestos register reviewBy: Person with management or control of the workplace State notes VIC: express 5-yearly review of the register. Model WHS: register reviewed when the asbestos management plan is reviewed (r.426), and the plan must be reviewed at least every 5 years (r.430(e)) - so 5-yearly in effect.	At least every 5 yearsKeep current (changes of condition, removal, enclosure, sealing); review before demolition or refurbishment	Mandatory	VIC OHS Regs r.228(2), r.236(3), r.241, r.242; model WHS Reg 426 (with r.430)Victorian Legislation, Federal Register of Legislation	All workplaces
Asbestos management plan reviewBy: Person with management or control of the workplace State notes VIC: OHS Regs 2017 contain no asbestos management plan requirement.	At least every 5 yearsAnd when register/controls reviewed, asbestos disturbed/removed, plan inadequate, or HSR requests	WHS statesMandatoryVICNot applicable	Model WHS Reg 430Federal Register of Legislation, SafeWork NSW	All workplaces
Safety data sheet currencyBy: Manufacturer/importer; workplace checks State notes Duty to review sits with manufacturer/importer; workplace duty is to hold a current SDS. Same 5-year period in VIC and model WHS.	Every 5 years (SDS must be reviewed by manufacturer/importer)Obtain current SDS on supply; check SDS issue dates in your register	Mandatory	Model WHS Reg 330; VIC OHS Regs r.146Victorian Legislation, WorkSafe Queensland, WorkSafe Victoria	All workplaces
Hazardous chemicals / hazardous substances registerBy: PCBU / employer State notes VIC: 'register of hazardous substances' with product identifiers and SDS copies.	Keep up to date (no fixed interval)When products are added, removed or SDS revised	Mandatory	Model WHS Reg 346; VIC OHS Regs r.162Victorian Legislation, Federal Register of Legislation	All workplaces
Audiometric (hearing) testingBy: Competent audiometric tester State notes Applies where hearing protectors are provided/required to control noise above the exposure standard.	Within 3 months of starting, then at least every 2 yearsVIC: also when reasonably requested by HSR	Mandatory	Model WHS Reg 58; VIC OHS Regs r.37Victorian Legislation, Federal Register of Legislation	All workplaces
Noise control measures reviewBy: Employer / PCBU State notes Same trigger model in both regimes.	Trigger-basedBefore changes likely to raise exposure; hearing loss found; notifiable incident; controls inadequate; HSR request	Mandatory	VIC OHS Regs r.36; model WHS Reg 38Victorian Legislation, Federal Register of Legislation	All workplaces
Lead: biological (blood lead) monitoringBy: Registered medical practitioner State notes VIC r.198(1A) thresholds (from 2020) align with model WHS.	Before starting, 1 month after starting, then 6 months / 3 months / 6 weeks depending on last resultMales and non-reproductive-capacity females: <10 ug/dL 6-monthly, 10-<20 3-monthly, >=20 6-weekly; females of reproductive capacity shorter intervals	Mandatory	Model WHS Regs r.405, r.407; VIC OHS Regs r.196, r.198(1A)Victorian Legislation, Federal Register of Legislation	Warehouse/factory
Air (atmospheric) monitoring for airborne contaminantsBy: Occupational hygienist State notes Exposure standards become Workplace Exposure Limits (WEL) nationally on 1 December 2026. VIC only: 15 substances have a transition period to 1 December 2029 (OHS Amendment (Workplace Exposure Limits) Regulations 2026).	When it is uncertain whether the exposure standard is exceeded, or to determine risk to health	Mandatory	Model WHS Reg 50; VIC OHS Regs r.166Victorian Legislation, Federal Register of Legislation, WorkSafe Victoria	All workplaces
Respirable crystalline silica: high-risk processingBy: Occupational hygienist; registered medical practitioner State notes No fixed monitoring interval is prescribed in either regime; health monitoring frequency set by the medical practitioner. VIC uses a 'crystalline silica hazard control statement'; model WHS uses a 'silica risk control plan' (or SWMS for HRCW).	Air monitoring per r.50 triggers; health monitoring for all workers doing high-risk processingNotify regulator within 14 days if exposure standard exceeded; review silica risk control plan when controls revised	Mandatory	Model WHS Regs r.529CB, r.529CE, r.529D (engineered stone prohibition); VIC OHS Regs Part 4.5 (r.319M review of hazard control statement), r.169Federal Register of Legislation, WorkSafe Victoria	Construction
Health monitoring for scheduled hazardous substancesBy: Registered medical practitioner State notes Applies where exposure is reasonably likely to harm health.	Before exposure (baseline) and at intervals set by the medical practitioner	Mandatory	Model WHS Part 7.1 Div 6 & Schedule 14; VIC OHS Regs r.169 & Schedule 9Victorian Legislation	All workplaces
Cooling towers (VIC): inspection/servicing and heterotrophic colony countBy: Cooling tower service technician; NATA lab State notes VIC: Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 / Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2019 (regulation numbers not verified). Other states have separate public health legionella rules - not researched.	Every monthKeep records 12 months	Mandatory	Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2019 (Vic)Department of Health Victoria	All workplaces
Cooling towers (VIC): Legionella samplingBy: NATA-accredited laboratory State notes VIC: Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 / Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2019 (regulation numbers not verified). Other states have separate public health legionella rules - not researched.	Every 3 monthsNotify department within 24 h on specified positive results	Mandatory	Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2019 (Vic)Department of Health Victoria	All workplaces
Cooling towers (VIC): clean and disinfectBy: Cooling tower service technician State notes VIC: Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 / Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2019 (regulation numbers not verified). Other states have separate public health legionella rules - not researched.	At intervals not exceeding 6 monthsBefore first operation and after shutdown > 1 month	Mandatory	Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2019 (Vic)Department of Health Victoria	All workplaces
Cooling towers (VIC): risk management plan review and independent auditBy: Owner; department-approved RMP auditor State notes VIC: Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 / Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2019 (regulation numbers not verified). Other states have separate public health legionella rules - not researched.	Every 12 monthsReview also on major change; within 24 h after Legionella detection	Mandatory	Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2019 (Vic)Department of Health Victoria, Department of Health Victoria	All workplaces

What the basis labels mean

A planning guide, not legal advice. Intervals are minimums under normal conditions: shorten them where use, environment, damage or a risk assessment calls for it, and follow the current edition of the standard, your regulator's guidance and the manufacturer's instructions. Victoria operates under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and the OHS Regulations 2017; the other states and territories under the model WHS laws as adopted locally. Items checked 28 October 2026.

Sources

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