Public comment sought on model work health and safety regulations

Public comment from all business and community sectors is being sought by Safe Work Australia on the proposed work health and safety Regulations and priority model Codes of Practice.

The public comment period opened 8 December and runs until 4 April 2011. The public comment process is being run by Safe Work Australia, the agency responsible for working with Commonwealth, state and territory governments to deliver harmonised work health and safety laws across Australia.

Safe Work Australia Chair Tom Phillips AM stated: “The harmonisation of work health and safety laws would allow businesses to effectively manage workplace safety, providing greater certainty for employers and enhancing safety protections for workers.

“The safety of workers is our main priority. The model laws will help to improve workplace safety standards across all industries.”

WorkSafe Victoria is encouraging Victorian industry, businesses and workers to comment on proposed work health and safety Regulations and priority model Codes of Practice.

WorkSafe’s Executive Director for Health and Safety, Ian Forsyth, said the public comment period was an opportunity for Victorians to express their opinions on the model work health and safety Regulations package, adding: “Harmonising work health and safety laws will affect workplaces across the country. To ensure these new laws are relevant to Victorian workplaces, it’s important that industry, businesses and workers take this opportunity and have their say.

“The proposed laws support the aims of WorkSafe Victoria, which are to influence and achieve the best possible outcomes in workplace health and safety. The proposed laws are heavily based on work health and safety laws and regulations currently in place in Victoria. On this basis, we expect there to be relatively little change for the vast majority of Victorian businesses.”

The suite of documents available for public comment includes an exposure draft of the model Work Health and Safety Regulations, priority model Codes of Practice and an Issues Paper. A Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement will be released shortly after the commencement of the public comment period.

For information on the work health and safety laws, the public comment process and frequently asked questions, visit safeworkaustralia.gov.au. Public submissions can be sent to submissions@safeworkaustralia.gov.au.