Comcare - Australian Goverment
Comcare - Australian Goverment
Putting you first at the centre of what we do. Keeping you healthy and safe at work. Supporting you when you are harmed at work. Ensuring your scheme works and is sustainable.
Listen to this page using ReadSpeaker

Entry permit holders

The Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act) details the functions, obligations and powers of WHS entry permit holders (WHS-EPHs). WHS-EPHs are required to satisfactorily complete prescribed training before entering a workplace to inquire into a suspected contravention of the WHS Act.

The requirements for the prescribed WHS-EPH training can be found in Part 2.4 of the Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (WHS Regulations).

Who are entry permit holders?

Part 7 of the WHS Act provides authorised union officials with a right of entry, for specific reasons, to workplaces where there are ‘relevant workers’. ‘Relevant workers’:

  • are members—or eligible to be members—of the union which the permit holder represents
  • have industrial interests the relevant union is entitled to represent
  • work at that workplace.

Becoming a Comcare approved provider of WHS-EPH training

Comcare has developed two documents for training providers that will assist them to develop a WHS-EPH training course for submission to Comcare for approval:

The first document—How to become an approved provider of WHS Entry Permit Holder (WHS-EPH) training for the Commonwealth jurisdiction - WHS-EPH training guidance 1—is intended to assist training providers to apply for approval to conduct WHS-EPH training under the WHS Act. It includes information about:

  • the approval process
  • trainer qualifications
  • requirements for approval of an original course of training
  • conditions of approval
  • renewal of approved status
  • compliance monitoring and enforcement.

The second document—WHS-EPH training course requirements - WHS-EPH training course guidance 2—consists of:

  • the underpinning principles for the development of an original WHS-EPH training course
  • learning outcomes for WHS-EPH training courses
  • learning objectives.

Who can apply for approval to deliver WHS-EPH training?

A training organisation, company or sole trader may apply for approval to deliver initial and/or refresher WHS-EPH training

When do these requirements commence?

These requirements apply to all applications for approval of WHS-EPH training under the WHS Act made to Comcare from 1 January 2012.

More information

For further information please contact Colleen Kelly on 1300 366 979 or email OHS.help@comcare.gov.au