SNG Report May 2014

Another Safety Networking Group session was held on the 30^th May, hosted by Cardno (Qld) Pty Ltd.

The session was supported by WHSQ with the Acting Director Workplace and Electrical Safety Policy, Kirsten Way, providing a timely update on the amendments that have been passed in relation to the WHS and Electrical Safety Legislation, which commenced on 16 May 2014.

Kirsten explored the following amendments in detail providing the context to the changes:

• The right of entry provisions were amended to require that the WHS entry permit holders give at least 24 hours-notice to the PCBU. This was following concerns over the potential misuse of union right of entry for suspected contraventions of the WHS Act, and the identified inconsistency with the Commonwealth Fair Work Act (2009);
• The WHS Act has been amended to remove the power of HSRs to direct that unsafe work cease. HSRs can still issue PINs, and workers still have the right to cease unsafe work;
• Removal of the ‘un-commenced’ requirement from the WHS Regulation 2011 for mandatory audiometric testing, and maintains what was in place for audiometric testing prior to harmonisation. This requirement was considered particularly onerous for minimal benefit;
• Removal of the requirement to fit rollover protective structures to earthmoving machinery, which had not yet commenced;
• Allowing WHSQ to publish an online register of high risk work licence holders and assessors; and
• The removal of the requirement for some things to be notified to WHSQ ‘in writing’.

Changes to the Electrical Safety Legislation were also enacted bringing it into line with the 2011 Work Health and Safety Legislation, and in particular ensuring consistency across the penalties.

In relation to the WHS Codes of Practice, Kirsten detailed that the Select Council on Workplace Relations met in April 2014 where the Ministers asked Safe Work Australia to rewrite the twelve 3rd and 4th stage Codes to make them clear, concise and practical, taking all sectors of business into account including small business, without compromising safety standards. The resulting re-formatted Codes are leaner and more user-friendly, and it is planned that fact sheets and guides will accompany the codes. As the essential elements of the codes, including control measures, are proposed to be retained, Safe Work Australia will not be undertaking a formal public consultation process.

The revised model Codes are proposed to be considered by Ministers on 30 June 2014.

QRMC thanks WHSQ for their ongoing support of the Safety Networking Group.

The session also included a presentation from Cardno of their prototype sliding weight hammer designed to mitigate a range of manual handling and pinch-point hazards, and some healthy discussion regarding the development and use of positive performance indicators within a number of organisations.

The next SNG meeting is earmarked for August 2014.

____________________________________