8 December 2010
WorkSafe Victoria is encouraging Victorian industry, businesses and workers to comment
on proposed work health and safety Regulations and priority model Codes of Practice.
The public comment period opens today 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.
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.
“Harmonising work health and safety laws will affect workplaces across the country,”
Mr Forsyth said.
“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,” he said.
Mr Forsyth said that the proposed laws were 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,” he said.
Mr Tom Phillips AM, Safe Work Australia Chair, said 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 Victorian workers is our main priority. The model laws will help to improve workplace safety standards across all industries,” said Mr Phillips.
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 what national health and safety laws mean for Victoria, visit WorkSafe Victoria’s website: worksafe.vic.gov.au
For more information on the work health and safety laws, the public comment process, and frequently asked questions, visit Safe Work Australia’s website: safeworkaustralia.gov.au
Public submissions can be sent to submissions@safeworkaustralia.gov.au.
WorkSafe Victoria media enquiries: Charlotte Bull on 0466 206 377
Safe Work Australia media enquiries: 0434 664 294