Australian Standards

Last updated: 21 November 2024

Australian Standards and Australian/New Zealand Standards (Australian Standards) are developed by an independent organisation called Standards Australia. It prepares and publishes voluntary technical and commercial standards which are sometimes adopted by work health and safety regulations.

Australian Standards set out specifications and design procedures to ensure products and services consistently perform safely, reliably, and the way they're intended to. Conforming to Australian Standards is mandatory where laws require this.

Australian Standards are developed specifically for Australian workplaces and are likely to contain more relevant information for Australian operating conditions, such as load factors, climatic conditions, licencing requirements etc. than an international standard. However an international standard could be considered in conjunction with the equivalent Australian Standard. An international standard may be a useful, additional source of information for duty holders, particularly where its use achieves the same or better overall level of safety to its Australian Standard equivalent.

Officers of a PCBU have a duty to take reasonable steps to acquire and keep up-to-date knowledge of work health and safety matters. Up-to-date knowledge may include acquiring knowledge of standards that are relevant to the work of their PCBU.

What if an approved code of practice refers to a standard?

A relevant approved code of practice can be used by anyone who has a duty of care in the circumstances described to determine what they should do to meet that duty. Under the WHS laws, approved codes of practice are admissible in court proceedings to demonstrate what is known about a hazard, risk or risk control and a court may rely on an approved code of practice in determining what is reasonably practicable in relation to a matter.

If an approved code of practice recommends following a specific Standard, then it would be reasonable to consider the specified standard forms part of that approved code of practice. However, following codes of practice is not mandatory. Compliance with the WHS Act and Regulations may be achieved by following another method if it provides an equivalent or higher standard of work health and safety than the code of practice.

Australian Standards referenced in WHS Regulations

Australian / Joint New Zealand Standard	Title	WHS Regulation
AS 1200:2015	Pressure equipment	Schedule 5 Part 2 and 4
AS/NZS 1269.1:2005	Occupational noise management—Measurement and assessment of noise emission and exposure	Regulation 56
AS/NZS 1576.1:2019	Scaffolding — General Requirements	Regulation 142 Regulation 225
AS/NZS 1715:2009	Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment	Regulation 529B
AS/NZS 1716:2012	Respiratory protective devices	Regulation 529B
AS/NZS 1891.1:2007	Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices—Harnesses and ancillary equipment	Regulation 221
AS 2030.1:2009	Gas cylinders – General requirements	Regulation 5 Schedule 5 Part 1
AS/NZS 2299.1:2015	Occupational diving operations — Standard operational practice	Regulation 5 Regulation 183 Regulation 184
AS 2397:2015	Safe use of lasers in the building and construction industry	Regulation 223
AS 2593:2004	Boilers—Safety management and supervision systems	Regulation 5 Regulation 15
AS 2601-2001	The demolition of structures	Regulation 5 Regulation 142
AS/NZS 2815	Training and certification of occupational divers	Schedule 5 Part 1 Schedule 5 Part 2 Regulation 171
AS/NZS 3012:2010	Electrical installations—Construction and demolition sites	Regulation 146 Regulation 163 Regulation 166
AS 3533.1:2009	Amusement rides and devices—Design and construction	Schedule 5 Part 1 Schedule 5 Part 2
AS 3850:2003	Tilt‑up concrete construction	Regulation 306
AS 4343:2014	Pressure equipment — Hazard levels	Schedule 5 Part 2
AS 4964:2004	Method for the qualitative identification of asbestos in bulk samples	Regulation 419
AS/NZS ISO 45001	Occupational health and safety management systems — Requirements with guidance for use	Regulation 5

Australian / Joint New Zealand Standard	Title	WHS Regulation
AS/NZS 1200:2015	Pressure equipment	Schedule 5 parts 2 and 4
AS/NZS 1299:2009	Electrical equipment for mines and quarries - Explosion-protected three-phase restrained plugs and receptacles for working voltages up to and including 3.3 kV	Regulation 641
AS/NZS 1269.1:2005	Occupational noise management — Measurement and assessment of noise immission and exposure	Regulation 56
AS/NZS 1576.Parts 1 to 6	Scaffolding — General Requirements	Regulation 142 Regulation 225
AS/NZS 1716:2012	Respiratory protective devices	Regulation 184A
AS/NZS 1747:2003	Reeling, trailing and feeder cables used for mining - Repair, testing and fitting of accessories	Regulation 641
AS/NZS 1802:2018	Electric cables - Reeling and trailing - For underground coal mining	Regulation 641
AS/NZS 1891.1:2007	Industrial fall‑arrest systems and devices — Harnesses and ancillary equipment	Regulation 221
AS 2030.1:2009	Gas cylinders — General requirements	Schedule 5 Part 1 Regulation 5
AS/NZS 2299.1:2015	Occupational diving operations — Standard operational practice	Regulation 5 Regulation183 Regulation 184
AS 2397:2015	Safe use of lasers in the building and construction industry	Regulation 223
AS 2593.2004	Boilers — Safety management and supervision systems	Regulation 5
AS 2601:2001	The demolition of structures	Regulation 5 Regulation 142 Regulation 676
AS/NZS 2802:2000	Electric cables—Reeling and trailing— For mining and general use (other than underground coal mining	Regulation 641
AS/NZS 2815	Training and certification of occupational divers	Regulation 171
AS/NZS 3007:2013	Electrical equipment in mines and quarries - Surface installations and associated processing plant	Regulation 641
AS/NZS 3012:2010	Electrical installations — Construction and demolition sites	Regulation 146 Regulation 163 Regulation 166
AS 3850:2003	Tilt-up concrete construction	Regulation 5 Regulation 306
AS 4343:2014	Pressure equipment — Hazard levels	Regulation 718 Schedule 5 Parts 1 2 and 4
AS 4964:2004	Method for the qualitative identification of asbestos in bulk samples	Regulation 419

Australian / Joint New Zealand Standard	Title	WHS Regulation
AS 2700S:1996	Colour standards for general purposes - Swatches	Regulation 2
AS 1940:2017	The storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids	Regulation 126
AS/NZS 2299	Occupational diving	Regulation 96
AS/NZS 2106	Methods for the determination of the flash point of flammable liquids (closed cup) - Abel closed cup method	Regulation 126
AS/NZS 1269.1:2005	Occupational noise management — Measurement and assessment of noise immission and exposure	Regulation 116

Further information

Interpretive guidelines

Code of practice

How to manage work health and safety risks

Australian Standards

Copies of the Australian Standards for WHS Regulations are available to purchase from Standards Australia or can be viewed at the WorkSafe library.