WorkSafe Victoria has identified five key industry sectors for intensified regulatory attention over the coming year, targeting areas that collectively represent nearly 60 percent of workplace fatalities and accepted injury claims from the previous five-year period.
The designated priority sectors include healthcare and social assistance, construction, government, agriculture, and manufacturing operations. This strategic focus forms part of WorkSafe Victoria’s ambitious five-year plan to reduce workplace fatalities by 30 percent and injuries by 20 percent, as outlined in the WorkSafe Victoria Strategy.
Risk-Based Selection Process
Chief Health and Safety Officer Sam Jenkin explained the rationale behind the sector selection, stating that worker safety represents the organization’s “highest priority,” making it logical to concentrate resources where the greatest harm occurs and address the hazards responsible.
The targeted industries were identified through careful analysis of injury and fatality rates relative to industry size, with WorkSafe developing structured approaches to enable, motivate, influence, and enforce improved safety performance and regulatory compliance across these sectors.
Comprehensive Intervention Strategy
WorkSafe Victoria plans to deploy multiple regulatory tools including targeted workplace visits, assessment programs, educational initiatives, awareness campaigns, and collaborative change-influence projects to enhance safety outcomes in priority areas. Jenkin emphasized that non-priority industries will continue receiving regulatory oversight, support, and guidance.
The enforcement approach includes strong accountability measures, with WorkSafe prepared to utilize all available regulatory mechanisms against employers who fail to protect workers, including potential criminal prosecutions. However, the strategy balances enforcement with support, ensuring duty holders understand their obligations and possess necessary information, education, and systems to implement meaningful safety improvements.
Hazard-Specific Focus Areas
Beyond sector-specific targeting, WorkSafe Victoria will address key hazards causing significant physical and psychological harm across all industries. The priority hazard categories encompass falls from height, occupational violence and aggression, hazardous manual handling practices, bullying and harassment, occupational illness and disease, loading and unloading operations, and mobile plant safety.
Collaborative Approach and Transparency
The regulatory priorities are detailed in WorkSafe Victoria’s Statement of Regulatory Intent 2025–26, developed through extensive stakeholder consultation to provide transparent and accessible insight into the organization’s key priorities for the financial year.
Jenkin acknowledged that achieving the ambitious five-year prevention targets requires collaborative effort beyond WorkSafe’s independent capacity. The organization will continue stakeholder consultation and industry collaboration to ensure employers not only understand their legal duties but comprehend the importance of safety prioritization and implementation methods.
The comprehensive approach reflects WorkSafe Victoria’s recognition that sustainable safety improvements require both regulatory enforcement and industry partnership, combining targeted intervention in high-risk sectors with universal hazard management across all workplace environments.
