Feedback sought on WHS law recommendations
Safe Work Australia (SWA) is calling on stakeholders to provide feedback on recommendations for improving the model work health and safety (WHS) laws.
It comes after SWA’s 2018 review of the laws found that while most WHS laws were operating as intended, stakeholders considered some to be confusing or “overly complex”.
To improve the laws’ clarity, Marie Boland, who conducted the review, submitted 34 recommendations, including:
- introducing regulations dealing with psychological health,
- new arrangements for health and safety representatives (HSRs) and work groups in small businesses,
- clarifying workplace entry of HSR assistants and WHS entry permit holders,
- providing a process for resolving disputes about WHS issues, including gross negligence as an element of the Category 1 offence, and
- introducing an industrial manslaughter offence.
Before implementing the recommendations, SWA is calling for anyone who may be affected by them to provide feedback via their Engage page.
Consultation will be open for six weeks and written submissions are due by 5 August 2019.
See SWA’s consultation page for more information on how to participate.
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