Workplace Health & Safety Audits and Assessments

Businesses can uncover the strengths and gaps in their health and safety practices through comprehensive WHS Audits and Assessments. WHS experts conduct extensive evaluations of workplaces, identifying risks, improving processes, and ensuring compliance with Australian regulatory standards.

Using a holistic approach, the assessments analyse safety systems, health impacts, and job tasks to deliver actionable insights that drive safer work environment. Tailored to each organisation’s needs, they help prioritise improvements, reduce risks, and cultivate a culture of safety so you can build safer and compliant workplaces with confidence.

WHS Audits & Gap Analysis

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A workplace health and safety management system is a set of policies, procedures, and plans put in place to minimise the risk of employee injury and illness from workplace operations. Your people, the nature of the work they carry out, and WHS legislation change rapidly, so it's important to regularly check for any gaps in your management system.

Our safety consultants conduct audits and gap analysis to ensure your business is complying with current WHS/OHS legislation and providing a safe work environment. Our WHS audits can be tailored to suit your workplace – whether you’re looking for a simple fine tune of your safety compliance via an online appointment, or a fully comprehensive on-site review to check for any gaps in the management of your workplace health and safety.

Through on-site reviews, our workplace safety consultants can assess the specific WHS needs of a business and provide a report on the support required.

Our Safety Audits and Gap Analysis benefit Australian workplaces by:

Ensuring gaps in WHS compliance are not overlooked, reducing risks to employees and the likelihood of prosecution and fines.
Making sure your safety management system is evolving and continually improving using feedback.
Integrating reports with other management systems.
Providing more informed decision-making, strengthening corporate culture and demonstrating due diligence.
Providing peace of mind that your workplace complies with WHS legislation and regulations.

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Health Assessments

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Our health checks identify individual and workplace-related health issues or barriers, to help you provide the right employee wellbeing solutions for your team. Health checks also enable us to measure the impacts of wellbeing programs.

Carried out by qualified medical and allied health professionals, our tailored screening options include General health screening; Blood pressure; BMI; Cardiovascular fitness; Cholesterol; Blood glucose; Waist circumference and exercise and sleep habits.

Health checks can also be customised to include:

Other health metrics: Audiometry screening; Spirometry and vision screening.
Lifestyle screening: Stress; Alcohol consumption; Physical activity; Smoking and nutrition.
Musculoskeletal screening: Flexibility; Strength; Physiotherapy-based musculoskeletal screening.
Psychological screening: Stress; Anxiety and depression.

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Job Task Analysis

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A Job Task Analysis provides critical information for recruitment, performance management, rehabilitation, and vocational redirection. We examine the genuine occupational demands of a role, including the physical, psychological, cognitive and functional demands required of any occupation and cover specific training opportunities and pre-employment screening.

A Job Task Analysis reveals the minimal abilities required of an individual to safely, consistently and efficiently perform either specific job tasks, or a complete occupation.

Job Task Analyses benefit organisations by:

Providing a solid foundation for human resources, work health and safety and return to work functions.
Building employee confidence through transparent and clear role expectations and performance measures.
Improving recruitment practice through clinically benchmarked Pre-Employment Functional Assessments (PEFAs).
Benchmarking relevant skills and competencies.
Supporting the management of workplace injuries, assisting planning, and communication with all stakeholders.
Enabling a collaborative, empowering approach to the return to work process by providing consistent and objective performance requirements.
Identifying risk exposure allowing for task, personnel, or equipment modification.
Providing a basis for training, induction and development of new team members and for the development of a suitable duties dictionary to communicate and provide a safe return to work.

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Risk Assessments

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A Work Health and Safety (WHS)/Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Risk Assessment is a structured approach designed to identify, analyse, and control potential risks in your workplace. This ensures that every hazard—physical, chemical, biological, and psychosocial—is meticulously assessed, leading to informed decisions that protect your workforce and enhance productivity.

Service Process:

Identify Hazards. Discover all potential sources of harm in your workplace.

Analyse Risks. Evaluate the likelihood and severity of identified hazards.

Prioritise Actions. Systematically address the most critical risks first.

Implement Control Measures. Establish practical solutions that comply with legal standards.

Monitor and Review. Create an ongoing process to adapt and improve safety measures as your business evolves.

In addition to meeting legal obligations, your organisation will promote a culture of safety and lower incident-related expenses by carrying out a proactive WHS Risk Assessment.

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An audit may be carried out as a one-off appointment to update compliance or as part of a regular WHS program. The audit might focus on a particular safety concern, such as traffic management or manual handling, it may focus on a particular part of an organisation, for example, office workers or drivers, or it may look into the entire WHS policies and procedures of a small business – or of a large organisation.

Safety audits can be carried out via a desktop screening appointment with a WHS consultant or via an on-site review. A WHS consultant brings their knowledge of the latest WHS legislation and industry-specific requirements to the audit to check all aspects of the workplace and the way that work is carried out against a safety framework. We conduct safety audits in line with relevant state legislation and standards.

Some workplaces may have a paper-based Safety Management System, while others may use WHS Compliance Management Software to run regular compliance checks. Whatever system your workplace uses, our WHS consultants can work with you during a safety audit and deliver solutions to improve on, or validate, your WHS compliance.

In summary, a good safety audit for Australian businesses will:

Identify the risks and the levels of those risks within the workplace.
Uncover strengths and weaknesses in your safety procedures.
Check that your WHS system complies with legislation.
Check your WHS policies and procedures meet best practices and legal obligations.
Provide guidance to improve your safety procedures.
Make sure you have adequate resources to manage your WHS obligations.

Again, the checklist for the audit will vary between organisations. In general, a WHS Safety Audit in Australia typically covers:

Adherence to the primary duty of care.
Due Diligence of officers.
WHS planning and responsibilities.
Implementation of all WHS procedures and activities.
Hazard identification, assessment and control.
Safety training and competence of internal WHS officers/managers.
Continual checks and balances in place for WHS policies and procedures / due diligence.
An audit of the WHS system and its overall performance, including a review of any accidents or illnesses that have occurred and how to prevent them from happening again.

We’re experienced in identifying key WHS concerns, gaps and compliance requirements and providing best practice strategies to deliver beneficial outcomes. We’re able to advise on, and deliver, tailored solutions to meet the specific WHS needs of a range of sectors from construction, hospitality and the motor trade industry to aged care, agriculture, education and small to medium businesses.

Contact our WHS consultants in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, or Perth for sector-specific information.

A Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) audit is a structured process that reviews an organisation’s health and safety systems, policies, and practices to ensure compliance with Australian WHS legislation or against a particular framework such as ISO45001:2018. The audit helps identify strengths, gaps, and opportunities for improvement in how safety is managed across all levels of the business. By systematically reviewing procedures, documentation, and workplace behaviours, a WHS audit ensures that the organisation meets its duty of care and maintains a safe environment for all employees.

A WHS audit involves assessing how effectively your workplace identifies, manages, and controls safety risks. It reviews systems such as incident reporting, training, emergency management, and risk assessments against legislative and industry standards. Typically, an audit will:

Evaluate your WHS policies and procedures
Identify existing and potential hazards
Review compliance with relevant state or territory legislation
Provide recommendations to improve safety performance and reduce risk

WHS assessments are essential for ensuring compliance with workplace health and safety laws and for preventing incidents before they occur. Regular assessments help identify and control hazards, improve employee wellbeing, and demonstrate due diligence. They also support business continuity by reducing the likelihood of injury-related disruptions, compensation claims, and reputational damage.

A WHS audit may be carried out as a one-off appointment to update compliance or as part of an ongoing safety program. Depending on the organisation’s needs, the audit might focus on specific areas, such as manual handling, plant safety, or contractor management, or review the entire WHS management system.

Altius WHS consultants conduct audits through:

Desktop assessments of safety documentation and compliance records
On-site reviews that assess physical conditions and worker practices against legislative and best practice frameworks
All audits are conducted in line with relevant Australian state and territory WHS legislation and Safe Work Australia standards.

WHS audits should be conducted regularly to ensure ongoing compliance and safety improvements. Many organisations choose to conduct audits annually, or more frequently if their operations change or new risks are identified. Regular audits support ongoing compliance, reduce the likelihood of incidents, and ensure best practice standards are maintained across all levels of the business.

While audit approaches may differ by industry, safety audits generally fall into three main categories:

Compliance Audits: Review alignment with WHS legislation and regulatory requirements.
System Audits: Evaluate the effectiveness of your overall WHS management system.
Risk-Based Audits: Focus on specific hazards or high-risk areas to assess and control safety risks.

A safety inspection is a routine check for visible hazards in the workplace, such as unsafe equipment or poor housekeeping. A safety audit, however, is a more comprehensive evaluation of an organisation’s entire WHS management system, covering policies, responsibilities, and procedures, to determine how effectively risks are managed and compliance is maintained.

A WHS audit should be carried out by qualified safety professionals with up-to-date knowledge of Australian WHS legislation and relevant industry standards. Altius WHS consultants bring practical experience across sectors and ensure that audits are objective, thorough, and compliant with regulatory expectations.

Before a WHS audit, it’s important to have your safety documentation ready. This may include:

WHS policies and procedures
Risk assessments and hazard registers
Incident and injury records
Safety training records
Contractor management documentation
Previous audit reports or corrective action logs

Having these materials available helps ensure a smooth and efficient audit process.

Yes. WHS audits are always tailored to the specific needs and risks of each industry. Altius has experience across sectors such as construction, healthcare, manufacturing, education, aged care, and small to medium businesses. This ensures each audit focuses on relevant hazards, legislation, and industry best practices.
For office-based risk assessments, our workplace ergonomics services can help reduce posture-related strain and injuries.

Every business can benefit from a WHS audit, regardless of size or industry. While some sectors are legally required to meet strict safety standards, all workplaces have a duty to provide a safe environment. Regular audits help ensure compliance, prevent incidents, and demonstrate a proactive commitment to safety.

A WHS audit delivers measurable benefits by improving both compliance and workplace culture. Key outcomes include:

Reduced risk of injury and illness
Assurance that WHS systems meet legal obligations
Identification of improvement opportunities
Greater employee confidence and engagement in safety initiatives

Ultimately, a WHS audit supports safer, more efficient workplaces.

The cost of a WHS audit varies depending on the size, location, and complexity of the organisation. Altius provides tailored quotes based on the scope of the audit, whether it’s a one-off review, a full system audit, or an ongoing safety partnership.

The duration of a WHS audit depends on the size of the business and the complexity of its operations. A desktop audit may take a few hours, while an on-site systems audit may take several days. Altius works with each client to minimise disruption and deliver results efficiently.

If an audit identifies non-compliance or areas of concern, Altius provides a detailed report and practical action plan to help your business address issues promptly. Our consultants work collaboratively to implement corrective actions, improve safety performance, and ensure ongoing compliance with WHS legislation.

By identifying hazards and assessing control measures, WHS audits help prevent incidents before they occur. Audits promote proactive risk management, ensuring safety procedures are not only documented but effectively implemented across the organisation. Pairing regular audits with WHS training programs helps build safer habits across the organisation.

Yes. Altius WHS audits are conducted in accordance with current Australian WHS legislation and Safe Work Australia frameworks. This ensures that all recommendations and findings align with national standards and regulatory expectations. We also support compliant workforce health checks through pre-employment screening.

Yes. Altius provides support for businesses preparing for external audits, regulator inspections, or accreditation processes. We help review documentation, identify compliance gaps, and implement corrective actions to ensure your organisation meets all requirements with confidence. For ongoing support, we provide WHS consultancy and secondments services.

Yes. Altius provides Psychosocial Risk Management to assess psychosocial hazards such as workplace stress, bullying, fatigue, and poor organisational culture as part of a WHS audit. This aligns with Safe Work Australia’s guidance on managing psychosocial risks and supports compliance with new WHS regulations introduced across several states.

Yes. Every WHS audit conducted by Altius includes a detailed report outlining findings, compliance gaps, and practical recommendations. Our consultants also provide an action plan that prioritises improvements, helping your business strengthen safety outcomes and maintain compliance over time.

WHS Audits & Gap Analysis

Health Assessments

Job Task Analysis

Risk Assessments

Frequently Asked Questions

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