Public comment period for plant regulation closing soon

The three-month public comment period announced by the Australian Safety and Compensation Council (ASCC) in February 2009 ends at close of business, Friday 15 May 2009.

Safe Work Australia was created on 3 April 2009 and has replaced the ASCC as the national body for OHS and workers compensation. This change does not affect the due date for public comment submissions. The plant public comment process will be continued by Safe Work Australia. Comment received from this process will inform the model OHS legislation for plant.

The discussion paper seeks comment to inform decision-making on the future direction of plant regulation in Australia. The proposals outlined in the paper address a range of concerns identified with the existing National Standard for Plant.

Safe Work Australia spokesperson Rex Hoy said: “The public comment period provides interested parties with an opportunity to have their say on this important OHS issue.

“The effective management of plant design is critical to improving occupational health and safety in Australia. In 2005–06, plant was identified as a contributing factor in more than 40% of all serious injury claims and in 60% of workplace fatalities.”

The National Standard for Plant was declared in 1994 by the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission and established hazard identification, risk assessment and risk control processes for all types of plant. Safe Work Australia is reviewing the standard and seeking comment on whether the proposed approaches to improve the regulation of plant design are appropriate in an Australian context.

This public comment process is targeted at designers, manufacturers, suppliers and importers of plant, with the discussion paper supported by two documents: Attachment A — Essential Safety Outcomes for Plant and Attachment B — Draft Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS).

Visit safeworkaustralia.gov.au to download the discussion paper and to upload submissions.