Safe Work Australia recently released it’s ‘Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy 2012–2022: Healthy, Safe and Productive Working Lives’ in draft form for public comment. The first of seven action areas targeted by the draft strategy is Health and Safety by Design. In this section is an outline of how structures, plant, equipment and substances [...]
The items below in relation to asbestos management have changed as a result of the new harmonised laws. A person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) with management or control of a workplace must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that all asbestos or asbestos containing material (ACM) is identified by a competent person. [...]
Background Workers have died or sustained serious injuries after their work vehicles exploded. These explosions occurred when gas from leaking portable gas cylinders ignited inside the vehicles. In many cases, the ignition source was the vehicle’s electrical system. Flammable gas cylinders include those containing oxygen, acetylene, liquefied petroleum gas and propane or butane throwaway-style cylinders. [...]
Under the new work health and safety laws that commenced on 1 January 2012, high risk work licences are no longer required for earthmoving equipment or remotely operated bridge and gantry cranes. However, a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) that includes the use of plant must ensure the safe use and operation of [...]
Marissa Deeble from WorkSafe’s Prevention Strategy Division focuses on the safety of workers who perform cleaning tasks. Have you ever thought about the safety of the workers who clean your workshop or office and why are they referred to as the invisible army? Often we focus on the workers who perform ‘high risk’ tasks such [...]
South Australian Parliament voted to adjourn debate on the Work Health and Safety (WHS) Bill until 14 February 2012. Accordingly the new WHS legislation will not begin in SA on 1 January 2012 as previously planned. SA Government has every confidence that the nationally harmonised legislation will be approved by Parliament when it resumes in [...]
National harmonisation The Victorian Government has confirmed its support to the principle of harmonisation subject to a satisfactory assessment of the impact and benefits to Victoria. The Government has initiated a supplementary Victorian specific assessment looking at the impact of the proposed laws on Victoria. It has stated that this will take several months, and [...]
Transitional arrangements have been put in place in NSW to support businesses, industry and workers move to a new system of work health and safety (WHS) laws. These arrangements start on 1 January 2012. The transitional arrangements have been based on national transitional principles agreed to by all jurisdictions. In summary, these transitional arrangements provide [...]
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland is investigating a fatal incident that occurred on Monday 31 October 2011 at a construction site within the University of Queensland, St Lucia Campus, Brisbane. A worker was killed while a formwork shutter was being raised to about one metre above the ground by crane. Lengths of timber were being [...]
Safe Work Australia has reviewed over 1300 submissions made as part of the public comment period for the draft model Work Health and Safety Regulations and 12 draft model codes of practice. Issues raised in these submissions were considered by jurisdictions and employer and union representatives. Plans for the final package of model Work Health [...]
