OH Consultant
WHS Management Software

WHS Software Built for the Australian Regulatory Reality

Most WHS platforms are repackaged US products that don't know a PCBU from a Principal Contractor. EHS Atlas is engineered around the Model WHS Act 2011, the 19 HRCW categories, Section 26A Codes of Practice, and state-specific WEL transitions — from day one.

19
HRCW categories mapped
8
Australian jurisdictions
100%
Built for WHS Act 2011

Why Most WHS Software Fails Australian PCBUs

The Model WHS Act 2011 creates specific obligations that generic international platforms don't address. PCBUs must manage SWMS for High Risk Construction Work, maintain due diligence records for officers, coordinate with principal contractors, and apply state-specific Codes of Practice as default risk controls.

Most enterprise WHS platforms were designed for US OSHA or UK HSE compliance and bolt on Australian content as an afterthought. The result: your team spends more time adapting the software than managing actual risks.

HRCW tracking is manual
Your teams create SWMS in Word, email them around, and have no system record of who reviewed or signed.
No state-specific Code references
Generic platforms list hazards without linking to the binding Safe Work Australia or state Codes that define acceptable controls.
Contractor inductions fall through the cracks
Principal contractors struggle to verify subcontractor WHS compliance before work starts.
Incident data is siloed
Near-misses, incidents, and corrective actions live in spreadsheets disconnected from risk registers.

WHS Software Designed Around the Act, Not Around It

EHS Atlas maps every module to a specific WHS Act obligation. SWMS management references the 19 HRCW categories and links each SWMS to the relevant Code of Practice. Risk assessments use the hierarchy of control language from Section 17. Incident reports feed directly into your corrective action register.

When a SafeWork inspector asks for your SWMS records, you pull a report. When an officer needs to demonstrate due diligence, the audit trail is there.

Features

📋
SWMS Management
Create, review, sign, and archive SWMS for all 19 HRCW categories. Linked to WHS Regulation 2025 and the relevant Code of Practice.
⚠️
Risk Assessment Register
5×5 risk matrix aligned to the Model WHS framework. Hierarchy of control fields map to Section 17 obligations.
🚨
Incident Reporting
Notifiable incident workflow with automatic regulator notification prompts. Integrates with corrective action tracking.
🏗️
Contractor Inductions
Digital induction with SWMS sign-off, licence verification, and site access controls. Principal contractor compliance view.
🔍
Workplace Inspections
Scheduled and ad-hoc inspection checklists with photo evidence, corrective actions, and sign-off workflows.
📊
Officer Due Diligence Reports
One-click reports showing what WHS steps were taken, when, and by whom — structured for officer due diligence under Section 27.

WHS Software and the Model WHS Act 2011

The Model Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (adopted in NSW, QLD, SA, TAS, ACT, NT, and the Commonwealth) creates a PCBU duty to eliminate or minimise risks so far as is reasonably practicable. Section 27 requires officers to exercise due diligence — including taking reasonable steps to ensure the PCBU has and uses appropriate resources.

For High Risk Construction Work, Regulation 299 requires a written SWMS before the work commences. The SWMS must identify HRCW, specify hazards, and set out how those hazards will be controlled. It must be reviewed when circumstances change. Non-compliant SWMS are a common focus of SafeWork inspector visits.

Victoria (OHS Act 2004) and Western Australia (WHS Act 2020) have separate but equivalent obligations. EHS Atlas maps all obligations to the relevant instrument in each jurisdiction.

References
  • Model Work Health and Safety Act 2011, Section 27 — Officer due diligence — Officers must exercise due diligence — WHS software supports the evidential record.
  • Model Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011, Regulation 299 — SWMS for HRCW — Written SWMS required before High Risk Construction Work commences.
  • Safe Work Australia — Guide to the Model WHS Regulations 2025 — Explains the 19 HRCW categories and SWMS content requirements.

Frequently asked questions

What does WHS software do?
WHS software helps PCBUs manage their Work Health and Safety obligations digitally — creating and storing SWMS, recording incidents, managing contractor inductions, conducting inspections, and generating officer due diligence reports. It replaces paper registers and spreadsheets with an auditable digital system.
Is WHS software a legal requirement in Australia?
WHS software itself is not mandated by the Act, but the records it manages are. PCBUs must maintain SWMS for HRCW, incident records for notifiable incidents, and corrective action records. Software is the practical way to meet these obligations at scale.
What is the difference between WHS and OHS software?
WHS (Work Health and Safety) is the harmonised framework adopted by most states. OHS (Occupational Health and Safety) is the term used in Victoria and historically in some other states. The obligations are broadly equivalent. WHS software covers both — it's the same platform, the terminology depends on your jurisdiction.
Does WHS software work for small businesses?
Yes. Many Australian PCBUs are small businesses with 5–50 employees. WHS software for small business focuses on the essentials: SWMS for HRCW, incident reporting, and contractor sign-off. It should be quick to set up and not require a dedicated WHS manager to operate.
Can WHS software help with contractor management?
Contractor management is one of the highest-value use cases. Principal contractors must verify that subcontractors have appropriate SWMS before HRCW commences. WHS software automates this — subcontractors submit SWMS digitally, the principal contractor reviews and approves, and a signed record is stored.
How does EHS Atlas differ from international WHS platforms?
EHS Atlas was built for Australian PCBUs from the ground up. It references the Model WHS Act 2011, the 19 HRCW categories, the relevant Codes of Practice, and state-specific instruments. International platforms typically use US OSHA or UK HSE frameworks and require extensive customisation for Australian use.
What is the cost of WHS software in Australia?
WHS software pricing in Australia typically ranges from $50/month for basic document management tools to $500+/month for enterprise platforms with full incident management, contractor portals, and API integrations. EHS Atlas pricing is based on your workforce size and the modules you need.