Victoria Sets March 2027 Start for New Worksite Fines

VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA — Victoria has confirmed that new infringement notices for fall risks and high-risk construction offences will start on 31 March 2027. The government announced the commencement date on 21 October 2026, giving employers a defined preparation period before inspectors can use the additional enforcement powers.

Which failures will attract a notice?

The changes cover failing to use a control measure to manage a fall risk, beginning high-risk construction work without a safe work method statement, and failing to keep specified safety records accessible to workers and inspectors. WorkSafe Victoria’s guidance sets out the relevant offences under the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017.

The government says the measures enforce existing employer safety responsibilities. They should not be read as permission to defer fall protection or safe work planning until March.

Infringement amounts and court action

WorkSafe says these notice amounts are current until 30 June 2027 and may change afterwards. Prosecution remains available, with substantially higher maximum penalties determined by the courts. An infringement notice and a court-imposed fine are different enforcement processes.

The government reported that 46 duty holders were prosecuted over fall risks during 2025–26, with combined penalties of A$6.2 million. The new announcement follows earlier proposals; the dated commencement and detailed offence guidance are the current development.

HSE Blog analysis: check the work and its records together

Employers can use the lead-in period to verify that controls described in a method statement are actually installed and used, and that the current document is available where the task takes place. A document alone cannot stop a fall. For context, read our hierarchy of fall protection and guidance on keeping risk assessments useful in daily work.

Sources checked include the 21 October government announcement, WorkSafe’s offence and penalty guidance and TradeEarthmovers’ specialist coverage. These represent two official sources and one reporting outlet, rather than five independent reports. No licensed photograph of this announcement was verified; the featured image is an illustration.