Safe Work Australia progresses model work health and safety legislation

The Safe Work Australia Members met in Melbourne on 2 December for their sixth meeting to discuss a number of safety legislative and regulatory matters, including the Model Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act.

The Members include an independent Chair, nine members representing the Commonwealth and each state and territory, two representing the interests of workers, two representing the interests of employers and the Chief Executive Officer of Safe Work Australia.

The list below outlines the matters that were discussed at the meeting, together with decisions that were made and actions that are to be undertaken following the meeting.

Model WHS legislation

• Members noted the technical amendments made to the Model WHS Act since its meeting in April 2010. They agreed to the Explanatory Memorandum to the Act and the principles that will guide Transitional arrangements for the introduction of the new model WHS Act in the Jurisdictions by the end of 2011.
• Members agreed to endorse the model WHS Regulations package for release for public comment. The package includes the model WHS Regulations, priority model Codes of Practice and Issues Paper for public comment. Members also agreed to endorse the Consultation Regulation Impact Statement, for public comment subject to Members’ final approval.
• Members agreed that the model WHS Regulations package will be available for public comment for a period of four months commencing 7 December 2010 and closing 4 April 2011.
• Members endorsed the model WHS Regulations communications plan and noted the timeline for the communications activities to occur throughout the public comment period.
• The communications plan will raise awareness of the development of the model WHS Regulations and supporting material among key stakeholders and maximise participation in the consultation process.

Review of National OHS Strategy

• Members agreed to the review of the effectiveness of the National OHS Strategy 2002-2012 and to the proposed approach for the development of the new National Strategy 2012-2022. The review of the current National Strategy will inform the development of the new National Strategy and will be undertaken concurrently.

National Workers’ Compensation Action Plan

• Members endorsed the National Workers’ Compensation Action Plan 2010-2013, which will be published on the Safe Work Australia website.
• Members noted that the newly created SIG-Workers’ Compensation will consider the areas they will undertake work on in 2011.

National harmonisation of explosives legislation

• Members agreed to ask WRMC to seek agreement from the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) to progress the harmonisation of explosives legislation through cross-jurisdictional cooperation.

Work Related Traumatic Injury Fatalities Report 2007-2008

• Members agreed to publish this report on the Safe Work Australia website. Members also noted the improvements made in the dataset for this report over the past year.

Motivation, Attitudes, Perceptions and Skills (MAPS) project

• Members noted a presentation on the MAPS project which aims to improve understanding of what influences Australian workplace cultures.