PCBUs need to comply with their obligations and to invest in improving WHS. PCBUs should be encouraged to take greater ownership of health and safety to manage the challenges arising from evolving employment and operational arrangements, global supply chains and increased use of technology and digital platforms. This will require a targeted approach from regulators to ensure compliance while producing information in accessible ways.

There should be a continued focus on improving the evidence base that informs regulation and policy development, particularly to address established evidence gaps such as data on occupational diseases and experiences of injuries among different groups of workers. WHS focused data collection must be collaborative and seek inputs beyond the WHS system with an eye to wider labor market, economic and social trends.

Greater consultation and collaboration between PCBUs and workers at the local level and governments, industry and unions at a national level is necessary to make further gains in reducing WHS fatalities, injuries and illnesses.

Jurisdictions need to increase cooperation to drive consistent improvements to WHS on a national scale and ensure workers across Australia have access to safe and healthy workplaces. This can be achieved through the exchange of information on best practice and successful initiatives, enabling them to roll out across Australia and lead to better outcomes for more workers. Jurisdictions that are the first to experience and respond to WHS risks should share valuable knowledge and insights at the national level to inform wider policy and regulatory responses.

Unions and employer organisations have a valuable role in channelling local insights to inform regulatory, operational and policy approaches and in building worker and PCBU capability through WHS promotion and education.