Browsing: WHS legislation, regulations, standards and codes (National) | Page 5

The Federal Safety Commissioner's WHS accreditation scheme could be expanded to cover multiple industries, ranging from business management to healthcare services, under plans to improve safety through procurement practices.

• "Swearing" constituted unsafe workplace harassment; and
  
• Workplace safety fraudsters face big fines under rail amendments.

Workplace exposure limits for diesel emissions are likely to be set under the national model WHS laws, with a major Safe Work Australia-commissioned report finding the prevention of diesel-related cancers and other diseases hinges on keeping exposure levels low.

• Fatality charge coincides with industrial gate warning;
  
• Long-term WHS exemption expiring in NSW; and
  
• Comcare releases Q&A on new psychosocial regulations.

A range of WHS Codes and amendments, covering psychosocial hazards and other issues, have taken effect in two jurisdictions, while certain WHS exemptions have been reapplied in one of them, and duty holders in a third jurisdiction have been warned that driver-distraction cameras have been "switched on".

• Right-to-disconnect Bill tackles "availability creep", poor health; and
  
• Anti-harassment protections extended to Defence workplaces.

• WHS reviews urged ahead of impending psychosocial changes;
  
• COVID-era return-to-work outcomes revealed; and
  
• Crane, hydration and zoonoses developments from WA.

A Bill banning insurance against WHS penalties in the Commonwealth jurisdiction, and "lowering the bar" for safety convictions, has passed both houses of Parliament without amendment, despite one colourful senator describing it as "sneaky" and "dangerous" legislation, and others calling for provisions blocking vaccine mandates.

The national model WHS laws will be amended to include the offence of industrial manslaughter with a maximum fine on par with that in the country's only non-harmonised jurisdiction. Australia's WHS ministers agreed to the move yesterday, as well as to crack down on silica risks and explore an import ban on engineered stone.

Measuring, monitoring and reporting on psychosocial risk management is a major challenge and now a critical feature of any organisation's statutory safety obligations, senior safety experts say in offering tips on the process.