Keep the regulations and codes of practice you work to
Your own library of regulations, codes of practice and standards, with a reminder to check for newer versions.
What this is for
Your safety work is measured against regulations, codes of practice and Australian Standards. This library keeps your copy of each one, where it's published, and when to check for a newer version, and links it to the risks, chemicals and machines it applies to so the rule sits next to the thing. Sign OS doesn't supply regulations, summarise them or tell you which apply to you.
What is on this screen
Each part of the screen above, top to bottom, and what changing it affects.
Regulations & references list
- Add a document
- Safety contacts and HR only.
- Documents · Check due in N days · Check overdue
- How many documents are in the library, how many are coming up to their check date, and how many are past it. N is the safety data sheet reminder days from the safety settings.
- Needs attention
- Documents past their check date, and (for safety contacts and HR) documents with no file uploaded.
- The library
- Each document with Check for a newer version or Check coming up when it's due, who issued it, its version or date, and its check date.
- Guide: What to keep here
- For safety contacts and HR: what's worth keeping, what to record for each one, and common mistakes. It opens by itself while the library is empty. It's a guide only, not a list of regulations.
Adding a document
- Title · What it covers
- The title as printed, and a line or two on when to open it.
- Issued by · Version or date
- The regulator, Safe Work Australia, Standards Australia or whoever published it, and the version or date on it.
- Link to the source
- Where it's published, so a newer version is easy to spot. A missing https:// is added for you.
- Check for a newer version by
- The safety contacts get a reminder on the same days as safety data sheets, and weekly once it's overdue if your shop repeats reminders.
- What it applies to: Risks · Chemicals · Machines and equipment
- Link the risks (Scale), chemicals and machines the document applies to. It then shows on each of their pages.
One document
- The document · Upload the document
- Your copy as a PDF or photo, up to 20 MB. Everyone on staff can open it. Open where it's published goes to the source link.
- Details
- Who issued it, the version or date, when to check for a newer version, when it was last checked, and what it covers.
- Checked, it's still current
- For safety contacts and HR: marks it checked today and sets the next check a year out.
- What it applies to
- The risks, chemicals and machines it's linked to. Staff only see risks they're allowed to see.
- Change · Replaced or no longer applies
- Change edits it and its links. Replaced or no longer applies takes it out of the library and stops reminders; its files are kept and Put back in the library returns it.
Before you start
- Your shop is on Workshop or Scale. Everyone on staff can read the library; safety contacts and HR add and change documents.
Step by step
- 1
Open HR & Safety → Regulations & references and press Add a document.
- 2
Type the title as printed, who issued it, the version or date, and paste the link to where it's published.
- 3
Set a date to check for a newer version. Once a year suits most.
- 4
Link the risks, chemicals and machines it applies to, and save.
- 5
On the document, press Upload the document and add your copy.
- 6
When the reminder comes, check the source. If it's still current, press Checked, it's still current. If there's a newer one, upload it and change the version.
Tips & gotchas
- Keep the rules for the state or territory you work in. Safety law differs between them.
- Australian Standards are sold under licence, so keep the copy your shop bought and share it only as the licence allows.
- Sign OS doesn't give legal advice. Check what applies to you with your state's safety regulator or your own adviser.