Wednesday 8 December 2010
The draft model WH&S regulations and priority codes of practice are now available on the Safe Work Australia website. Click here to access them.
The public comment period for the draft model WHS Regulations and model Codes of Practice closes on Monday 4 April 2011, 5PM Eastern Daylight Savings Time. All submissions must be accompanied by the Public Comment Submission Cover Sheet.
In a letter released to stakeholders yesterday, Safe Work Australia Chair Tom Phillips AM said "Model work health and safety laws will allow organisations to effectively manage workplace safety and work to one set of laws regardless of how many states or territories they are operating in. This will increase productivity and profitability and most importantly support the safety of all workers and provide greater certainty for employers.
To support the Model Work Health and Safety Act, Safe Work Australia has released for public comment an exposure draft of the model Work Health and Safety Regulations, priority model Codes of Practice and an Issues Paper. The public comment period will close on 4 April 2011.
The public comment period provides an opportunity for individuals and organisations to participate in the development of the model Work Health and Safety Regulations and priority model Codes of Practice and ensures their voice is heard.
A Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) has also been developed and will be released shortly. On behalf of Safe Work Australia, Access Economics is surveying businesses across a range of sizes, industries and regions in an effort to obtain data on anticipated compliance costs and safety benefits of the model Work Health and Safety Regulations. The results of this survey will be used to inform the preparation of the Decision RIS.
We need your support to ensure model work health and safety legislation remains relevant and applicable to all Australian businesses and workers".
SISA is commencing the process of reviewing the drafts with a view to developing a feedback submission.