WHS record keeping checker
Pick a WHS record and your state to see the minimum time you must keep it, with the section or regulation that sets it.
Figures checked 5 November 2026. Free to use, no sign-in.
How long to keep it
Health monitoring reports: hazardous chemicals, NSW
At least 30 years after the record is made
All records, NSW
- Notifiable incident records
- 5 years
- Health monitoring reports: hazardous chemicals
- 30 years
- Health monitoring reports: lead
- 30 years
- Health monitoring reports: asbestos
- 40 years
- Air (atmospheric) monitoring results
- 30 years
- Safe work method statement (SWMS)
- Until done (2 yrs if incident)
- Underground essential services information (excavation)
- Until done (2 yrs if incident)
- Hazardous chemicals register and safety data sheets
- Keep current
- Asbestos register
- Keep current
- Asbestos training records
- 5 years
- Prohibited or restricted carcinogen authorisation records
- 30 years
- Registered plant records (tests, inspections, maintenance, alterations)
- Keep current
- General WHS training and induction records
- Keep current
- These are minimums. Many businesses keep WHS records longer because claims and prosecutions can arise years later.
- Keep them confidential and do not disclose them without the worker’s written consent, except as the regulations allow.
General information, not legal advice. Check any award, contract or industry rule before you destroy a record.
How this works
Periods come from the model WHS Act and Regulations, which the harmonised states and territories and the Comcare scheme use with the same section numbers, and from Western Australia’s WHS (General) Regulations 2022, which add a 7-year rule for hazardous chemical training records. Victoria’s periods come from the OHS Act 2004 and OHS Regulations 2017; where the tool has no verified Victorian equivalent it says so rather than guessing.
Not covered: workers compensation, payroll and employment records (which have their own rules under the Fair Work Act and tax laws), and industry-specific rules such as mining and major hazard facilities.
Legal basis
- Model WHS Act s 38 and model WHS Regulations
- Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022 (WA) r 39
- Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 (Vic)
Checked against these sources on 5 November 2026. Spotted a figure that looks wrong? Tell us.
Questions
Which WHS records have the longest retention period?
Health monitoring and exposure records. Under the model WHS Regulations, air monitoring results and health monitoring reports for hazardous chemicals and lead are kept for 30 years, and asbestos health monitoring reports for 40 years. Victoria’s regulations set 30 years for each, including asbestos.
How long do I keep incident records?
A record of each notifiable incident must be kept for at least 5 years from the day you notified the regulator. That applies under every WHS Act and Victoria’s OHS Act.
Is there a retention period for safety data sheets?
Not a fixed one. The hazardous chemicals register, with the current safety data sheet for each chemical, must be kept up to date while the chemicals are at the workplace. The 5-year figure often quoted is the manufacturer’s or importer’s duty to review an SDS.
Do I have to keep training records?
There is no general period for WHS training records, but specific rules apply: asbestos training records are kept for 5 years after the worker leaves, and Western Australia requires 7 years for hazardous chemical information, training and instruction records.
Related tools
All toolsQuestions the calculator can’t answer?
Workfloor answers pay, award, leave and termination questions for your team, with the Fair Work Act section or award clause behind each answer.