The WHS Checklist: What Every Workshop Needs to Display

Whether you run a small mechanical workshop or a large automotive service centre, displaying the right safety signage isn't optional — it's a legal requirement under Australia's Work Health and Safety (WHS) framework. Here's a practical, no-fluff checklist of what needs to be on your walls.

Who Is This For?

This checklist applies to any Queensland workshop including automotive mechanics, panel beaters, tyre shops, fleet service centres, and trade workshops. If you have employees or contractors on site, WHS signage obligations apply to you.

Mandatory Displays: The Non-Negotiables

1. Emergency Information

• Emergency evacuation diagram — posted at entry points and throughout the workshop
• Emergency contact numbers (fire, ambulance, poison control)
• First aid kit location sign
• Nearest hospital or medical centre details

2. Fire Safety

• Fire extinguisher location and type labels
• Fire blanket location sign
• Fire exit signs (illuminated where required)
• "No Smoking" signs near fuel and flammable storage

3. Hazardous Chemicals

• GHS hazard labels on all chemical containers
• "Flammable" and "Corrosive" area warning signs
• SDS register location sign
• Spill kit location label

4. PPE Requirements

• Mandatory PPE sign at workshop entry (safety boots, eye protection, hearing protection as applicable)
• PPE signs at specific machinery (e.g. "Eye Protection Must Be Worn")

5. Equipment & Machinery

• Warning/danger labels on all powered tools and equipment
• Hoist and lift Safe Working Load (SWL) ratings displayed
• Compressed air pressure ratings on tanks and lines

6. Vehicle Service Areas

• Fuel tank identification labels on all storage tanks — available from our Fuel & Tank Identification range
• "Authorised Personnel Only" signs on restricted bays
• Pedestrian/vehicle separation floor markings or signs

7. Waste & Environmental

• Used oil storage label
• Coolant/waste fluid disposal area label
• General, recycling, and chemical waste bin labels

What Happens If You Don't Comply?

SafeWork Queensland can issue improvement notices, prohibition notices, or fines for non-compliant workplaces. More importantly, inadequate signage contributes to workplace accidents — which carry far greater costs than a roll of safety stickers.

Keep Your Signage Current

Stickers fade, peel, and become illegible over time — especially in workshop environments with heat, oil, and UV exposure. Replacing worn signage is part of your WHS duty of care. Our compliant safety stickers are printed on 7-year outdoor vinyl, made in Brisbane, and built to handle tough workshop conditions.

Need something specific to your site? We also offer custom workshop labels with your business name and specific hazard information.

Summary

A compliant workshop isn't just about avoiding fines — it's about creating a safe environment where your team can work confidently. Run through this checklist, replace anything faded or missing, and document your audit. SafeWork Queensland will thank you for it.

Made in Brisbane. Built for Australian workshops.