From Friday 14 October 2022, it is no longer mandatory to isolate if you test positive to COVID-19.
The removal of mandatory isolation does not impact on the duties of an employer to do all that is reasonably practicable to minimise the risks of COVID-19 at the workplace, including asking workers to stay at home when unwell.
Information on these pages is currently being reviewed and will be updated shortly.
This page includes resources for the Private security industry on work health and safety, workers’ compensation and COVID-19.
The Private security industry is mainly engaged in activities related to protecting the security of businesses, public places, private residences or individuals, either in person or through the installation or use of security technology.
It includes:
- personal protection and bodyguard services
- security guard services
- crowd control services
- night patrol services
- armoured car services
- burglary protection
- private detective or investigation services
- alarm monitoring services
- fire alarm and security system installation and repair
- enquiry agencies
- locksmith services
Workplaces can include public or private property, and may involve extensive contact with the public (e.g. security guard at a nightclub) or relatively solitary duties (e.g. night patrol).
To ensure this information is as accessible and easy to understand as possible, we refer to ‘employers’ and their responsibilities.
However, under the model WHS laws, duties apply to any person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) which includes employers, but also others who engage workers. For more information about who is a PCBU see our Interpretive Guideline – model Work Health and Safety Act – the meaning of ‘person conducting a business or undertaking'.
Regardless of how they are engaged, security workers are owed a duty of care when it comes to their health and safety. You may be the only WHS duty holder, or in cases of labour hire arrangements or subcontracting, there may be multiple entities that owe workers a primary duty of care.
If you supply security workers to another business you must work together with clients/host organisations to ensure the work health and safety of workers at the workplace, so far as reasonably practicable. This includes sharing relevant information with other duty holders, consulting and training workers and implementing all measures that can reasonably be taken to ensure worker health and safety. See also our information on Labour hire: duties of persons conducting a business or undertaking.
The model WHS laws have been implemented in all jurisdictions except Victoria and Western Australia.
Safe Work Australia does not regulate or enforce WHS laws or the recently introduced COVID-19 restrictions on business operations. If you want to know how WHS laws apply to you or need help with what to do at your workplace, contact the WHS regulator in your jurisdiction. If you want to know what restrictions on business operations apply to you or your workplace, go to your relevant state and territory government website for information.