Edition 81, August 2010

National OHS laws on track

National OHS laws on trackOn 29 April 2010 Safe Work Australia members endorsed the amendments and a revised version of the Model Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act, which has been posted on the Safe Work Australia website, www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au. By December 2011, each jurisdiction will be required to enact their own jurisdictional laws that mirror the national model laws.

The national OHS laws consist of a model OHS Act and model regulations, which will be supported by model Codes of Practice. This package of documents is referred to as model legislation.

Safe Work Australia is developing national model OHS laws and is on track to release the exposure draft of the model WHS Regulations and priority model Codes of Practices for public comment towards the end of 2010. By December 2011, each jurisdiction will be required to enact their own jurisdictional laws that mirror the national model Work Health and Safety Act.

Safe Work Australia is continuing the development of the model work health and safety (WHS) Regulations and model priority Codes of Practice.
Safe Work Australia will also be developing a national compliance and enforcement policy to ensure a consistent approach in how regulators administer and enforce the harmonised work health and safety laws in each jurisdiction. This work involves the benchmarking and analysis of existing regulations and practical guidance material in each jurisdiction, as well as relevant National Standards.

Model WHS Regulations will be drafted for specific areas including:
• authorisations-registration and licences, for example, asbestos removal and high risk work
• workplaces-facilities, first aid, personal protective equipment, emergency plans
• major hazards-chemicals, asbestos, inorganic lead, labelling and safety data sheets
• other hazards-plant, manual tasks, noise, work at heights, remote and isolated work, confined spaces, electricity
• construction work, and
• occupational diving.

For those jurisdictions where health and safety in the mining industry are covered by industry specific laws, a separate harmonisation process is being undertaken through the Ministerial Council on Mineral and Petroleum Resources under the National Mine Safety Framework. Safe Work Australia is being consulted in this process.

Model priority Codes of Practices will be drafted for specific areas including:
• managing work health and safety risks
• consultation
• work environment and facilities
• asbestos
• hazardous chemicals - labelling and safety data sheets
• other hazards-plant, manual tasks, noise, work at heights and confined spaces, and
• construction hazards.

Additional Codes of Practice will be drafted for specific areas including:
• traffic management, fatigue and first aid, and
• hazardous work-diving, abrasive blasting, logging, welding and spray painting.

Safe Work Australia is on track to release the exposure draft of the model WHS Regulations and priority model Codes of Practices for public comment in November 2010. This will be an opportunity for businesses and individuals to provide their comments before the implementation of the model work health and safety laws in jurisdictions by December 2011.

For more information visit http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/swa/Model+Legislation

This page was generated on 20 August, 2010

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