How to Track Worker Absences

What is this?

The Absence Tracker allows you to monitor open and closed worker absences, particularly to identify absences that reach the 15-day notifiable threshold under WHS Act s.38.

When to use this?

Use this to track ongoing worker sick leave or injuries, toggle whether an absence is work-related, close an absence when a worker returns, and generate incident reports for extended absences.

Why this works this way

The 15-day extended-absence notification trigger reflects a recent (2025) amendment to the model WHS laws, and exactly how it’s been adopted varies by jurisdiction — this is one to double-check for your state rather than take as settled. The tracker flags it early precisely because “notifiable” absences have a strict notification timeframe once the threshold is reached.

This is general information, not legal advice — confirm specific requirements with your WHS advisor or the current legislation for your jurisdiction.

Prerequisites

• Role: You must have the Admin or Safety Manager role.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Navigate to the Absence Tracker.
2. Review Open Absences under the Open tab to see workers currently away from work.
3. Toggle Work-Related status by clicking the switch in the Work-Related column if the absence is related to a workplace incident.
4. Close an Absence by clicking Close once the worker has returned to duties.
5. Generate Report by clicking the red Generate Report button for any open absence that reaches or exceeds 15 consecutive calendar days. This will prefill an incident report for regulatory notification.

Troubleshooting & FAQs

• Q: When does an absence become notifiable? A: Under WHS Act s.38, an absence becomes notifiable to the regulator if a worker is absent for 15 or more consecutive calendar days due to a work-related injury. The tracker will highlight these in red.
• Q: How do I view past absences? A: Click the Closed or All Records tab to view absences that have already been resolved.