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Work health and safety regulation: aligning compliance monitoring and enforcement with modern systematic work health and safety management
This study examines how the concept of systematic WHS management is integrated into Australia’s harmonised WHS legislative framework and how one of Australia’s larger States enforces these requirements. The research specifically looks at WHS inspectors and their approach to conducting inspections of regulated businesses. It assesses how their focus aligns with key legislative provisions, and how their operational practice aligns with effective regulatory practices, identifying factors that facilitate or hinder improved regulatory performance. Conducted as insider research from a position of significant influence within the regulator, this study offers a unique perspective on a regulator striving to improve its impact and willing to incorporate research insights into its policies and operations.