Updated WHS Regulations now in effect for South Australia

A number of changes to the Work Health and Safety Regulations 2012 (SA) came into effect as of 1 January 2021, including changes to air monitoring during asbestos removal work, chemical labelling, references to Australian Standards for lasers and pressure equipment and minor updates for diving work. The WHS Regulations for air monitoring during asbestos removal in South Australia now require independent unlicensed asbestos assessors to conduct air monitoring for asbestos removal under both Class A and Class B licences. This permanent amendment to the regulations ensures the requirement for continuous air monitoring during Class A and Class B asbestos removals.

Australia has also officially commended the two-year transition from GHS 3 to GHS 7, to end on 31 December 2022. The Work Health and Safety Regulations 2012 (SA) have been amended to give effect to this transition and update references to the GHS. From 1 January 2021, the WHS Regulations also include amendments to reference the current Australian Standards for lasers and pressure equipment. Regulation 223 references AS 2397:2015 Safe use of lasers in the building and construction industry, in place of AS 2397:2003 Safe use of lasers in the building and construction industry.

Schedule 5 Part 1 and Part 2 references AS 4343:2014 Pressure equipment — Hazard levels instead of AS4343:2005 Pressure equipment — Hazard levels. It also references AS1200:2015 Pressure equipment instead of AS1200:2000 Pressure Equipment. The WHS Regulations in South Australia for diving work have also been amended to include updated references to relevant Australian Standards, with a reference to a withdrawn Standard omitted.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Daria Nipot