27 March 2026
New guidance to help workplaces manage biological hazards
Royal Life Saving Society – Australia welcomes the release of new national guidance from Safe Work Australia aimed at improving how workplaces identify and manage biological hazards.
The Model Code of Practice: Managing the risks of biological hazards at work provides practical guidance for organisations on how to identify, assess and control exposure to biological hazards such as viruses, bacteria, parasites and fungi. These hazards can occur in many work environments and may cause illness or disease if risks are not effectively managed.
For the aquatic industry, where staff regularly interact with the public and provide first aid and emergency care, understanding and managing biological hazards is an important part of maintaining safe workplaces.
Relevance for the aquatic industry
Aquatic facilities present unique environments where biological hazards may arise due to high public use, shared spaces and close interaction between staff and patrons.
Examples of biological hazards that may be encountered in aquatic facilities include:
- Exposure to blood or bodily fluids during first aid or rescue incidents
- Infectious illnesses transmitted between patrons or staff
- Microbial contamination in aquatic environments
- Mould or fungal growth in damp facility areas such as change rooms and plant rooms
Lifeguards, swim teachers, aquatic program staff and facility operators may all be exposed to biological hazards in the course of their work. Ensuring workers are equipped with the right knowledge, procedures and protective measures helps minimise these risks.
Managing risks in aquatic environments
The Code promotes a risk management approach to identifying and controlling biological hazards in the workplace. For aquatic facilities, this may include:
- Ensuring staff are trained in safe first aid and infection control practices
- Providing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves and resuscitation masks
- Maintaining effective cleaning and sanitation procedures in public areas
- Implementing policies to manage illness among staff and patrons
- Ensuring plant and water quality management practices are maintained
Duties imposed by the code
It formalises biological hazards as a core WHS risk category
Operators must now explicitly treat biological hazards (e.g. viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi) as a primary WHS risk, not just a public health or water quality issue.
A structured risk management process is expected
The Code requires operators to apply the standard WHS risk process:
- Identify biological hazards
- Assess risks (where appropriate)
- Implement controls
- Review and monitor effectiveness
Hazard identification must consider:
- air quality
- contamination events
- worker exposure pathways (lifeguards, plant operators, cleaners)
Stronger expectations around control measures (hierarchy of control)
The Code reinforces the hierarchy of controls, not just reliance on procedures:
Examples relevant to aquatic facilities:
Engineering controls:
- ventilation systems for indoor pools
- filtration and disinfection systems
Isolation controls:
- managing contaminated pools or closing facilities after incidents
Administrative controls:
- cleaning regimes
- incident response procedures
PPE:
- for staff handling contamination events
Increased emphasis on hygiene, cleaning, and disinfection systems
The Code explicitly calls for:
- routine and incident-based cleaning and disinfection
- facilities that enable hygiene (e.g. handwashing)
Monitoring, verification, and auditing expectations
The Code references:
- using testing (e.g. environmental sampling)
- reviewing procedures
- implementing audit processes to check controls
Training and competency requirements for staff
Operators must provide adequate information, training, instruction and supervision related to biological risks
Consultation and shared duty obligations
The Code reinforces:
- consultation with workers
- coordination between duty holders (e.g. operators, councils, contractors)
Expectation to stay informed and respond to emerging risks
Operators are expected to:
- monitor reliable sources of information
- update controls as risks evolve
Legal and regulatory significance
While not legislation, Codes are admissible in court and used to determine what is “reasonably practicable”
By proactively managing biological hazards, aquatic facilities can help protect staff, volunteers and the communities they serve while maintaining safe and welcoming environments for aquatic participation.
Actions for aquatic facilities
Royal Life Saving encourages aquatic facilities to take the following practical steps in response to this Code of Practice from Safe Work Australia:
- Raise staff awareness of biological hazards and reinforce existing hygiene, PPE and first aid practices
- Review or update risk assessments to ensure biological hazards are clearly identified across operations
- Confirm current controls are effective, including cleaning, water quality management and incident response procedures
- Update procedures where required, particularly for body fluid exposure, contamination incidents and staff illness
- Provide targeted refresher training where gaps are identified
- Strengthen reporting and monitoring of exposure incidents and near misses
These actions will help aquatic facilities maintain safe environments for staff, volunteers and the communities they serve.
Royal Life Saving will continue to monitor developments from Safe Work Australia and share relevant updates with the aquatic industry.
