Browsing: WHS Harmonisation (WA)

• COVID lockdowns creating WHS gaps, PCBUs warned; and
  
• WA releases resources and start date for WHS transition.

Australia's WHS ministers have agreed to amend the model WHS Regulations to prescribe control measures for psychological risks, and significantly increase safety penalties, but proposed industrial manslaughter laws were voted down at their meeting yesterday.

Western Australia has taken a critical step closer to implementing industrial manslaughter laws and joining the harmonised WHS regime, with its Work Health and Safety Bill 2019 passing the Upper House with amendments last night.

After being flagged in the State budget more than seven years ago, Western Australia has finally introduced a mirror WHS Bill, which includes a two-level industrial manslaughter offence and a new duty of care for "WHS service providers". Meanwhile, the Northern Territory's industrial manslaughter laws have passed Parliament.

Western Australia has announced a two-level industrial manslaughter offence, revealed plans to beef up its safety inspectorate and released a draft WHS framework. Meanwhile, Victoria has introduced a new reckless conduct offence with $6.4 million fines for employers.

Two amendment Bills increasing Western Australia's maximum work health and safety fines, to well above those for reckless conduct in the harmonised jurisdictions, have passed Parliament, and could take effect within days.

The model WHS laws could be amended to increase the focus on psychological health, with the public consultation process for the ongoing review of the laws identifying widespread concerns over this issue and the absence of a "notification trigger" for psychological injuries.

WHS consultants, lawyers and occupational hygienists will have an explicit duty to ensure their services don't create health and safety risks at client sites, if recommendations on the development of a harmonised WHS Bill are adopted in Western Australia.

• Harassment probe will improve WHS, says SIA; and
  
• WHS harmonisation one step closer in WA.

• Hazardous industries warned of maintenance "blind spot";
  
• Fatigue findings apply to multiple industries; and
  
• NSW regulators issue fatality alerts and prohibition notice.