Deadline nears on national OHS public comment

SafeWork SA has reported strong interest and a good reception to its information sessions on draft work health and safety Regulations and priority Codes of Practice, which will accompany nationally harmonised work health and safety laws from 2012.

Two weeks remain in a public consultation period, and SafeWork SA has held 16 information sessions across South Australia to explain the new laws, Regulations and Codes of Practice.

“What we’ve asked of participants in these sessions is for them to express an opinion by lodging a submission with Safe Work Australia, the national OHS body, which is overseeing the public comment process,” said SafeWork SA Acting Executive Director Juanita Lovatt.

The SA information sessions have been arranged in partnership with peak business and union groups, and have attracted over 800 people, many of whom are representatives of small, medium and large businesses, industry and worker groups.

The information sessions were designed to:

• Clarify issues and answer specific questions;
• Expand on the key features in the Model Act to raise greater knowledge of the legislative framework and how the draft Model Regulations fit into that structure; and
• Review the road to harmonisation and why the South Australian Government has participated in the process of developing nationally consistent model work health and safety laws.

“There’s been keen interest shown in the process and content of the Model Work Health and Safety laws and their supporting provisions,” Lovatt added. “The questions we’ve received have varied considerably and ranged from the implications for volunteers to defining the new concept of a PCBU or Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking.

“Harmonised work health and safety laws will affect all workplaces to varying degrees, so it’s important that we all provide input during this consultation process and ensure the new laws are relevant and helpful to all SA workplaces.”

Public submissions must be sent to submissions@safeworkaustralia.gov.au by Monday 4 April 2011.