Safe Work Australia Members met in Melbourne today.
Progress on implementing the Model Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act
Members from each jurisdiction reported progress on implementing the Model WHS Act. The Commonwealth, New South Wales, Queensland, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory have enacted the provisions of the Model WHS Act ready for commencement from 1 January 2012. Other jurisdictions provided reports on progress to harmonisation.
Model Codes of Practice
Members endorsed by majority three further Codes of Practice as part of the harmonised work health and safety laws subject to final technical and editorial changes:
- First Aid in the Workplace
- Managing Risks in Construction Work
- Preventing Falls in Housing Construction
These codes will become model codes when approved by the Ministerial Council.
The Codes of Practice for Managing Electrical Risks at the Workplace and Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace were also considered by Members with agreement to finalise these codes out of session in 2011 or early 2012. Members reached the same decision in relation to the Code of Practice for Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals.
Members also endorsed by majority the Worker Representation and Participation Guide.
National Work Health and Safety Strategy 2012–2022
Members noted the progress in developing the National Work Health and Safety Strategy 2012-2022. The strategy will provide a clear direction for work health and safety over the next 10 years with a mid-term review planned in 2017. Members discussed the strategy vision, proposed outcomes and key action areas. The draft strategy will be further developed in early 2012 for Members’ endorsement.
Reporting of Work-Related Notifiable Fatalities
Members agreed on a revised scope for national reporting of work-related notifiable fatalities as part of the National Notified Fatalities Collection. The collection provides the most up to date source of data on work-related injury fatalities. Members noted the revised scope will improve the collection process and provide timely and more accurate data.
Safe Work Australia Operational Plan
A progress report on implementing the Safe Work Australia Operational Plan 2011-12 was noted by Members. The operational plan is available on the Safe Work Australia website.
Safe Work Australia Week
National Safe Work Australia Week was held from 23 to 29 October 2011. Members noted participation by all states and territories in either the national week or their own Safe Work weeks or month during October. Members noted Safe Work Australia’s efforts to recruit over 520 Safety Ambassadors to promote health and safety in their workplace and congratulated the first Safety Ambassador of the Year, Ms Janine Coleman of Macarthur Disability Services in Campbelltown NSW.
Next meeting
The next meeting of Safe Work Australia will be held on 16 March 2012 in Sydney.