Browsing: WHS legislation, regulations, standards and codes (VIC) | Page 7

• Work injury and safety changes made by Vic COVID-19 Bill; and
  
• SIRA updates COVID-19 work injury toll and certificate rules.

Laws establishing a new safety regulator and transferring "serious" resources cases to the Work Health and Safety Prosecutor have passed in Queensland, with amendments. Meanwhile, a timely Bill mandating vaccinations for healthcare workers has passed in Victoria.

• Major WHS Bill passes NSW LA with amendment; and
  
• Australia's first licensing scheme for silica announced in Vic.

• Worker vaccinations compulsory under new Vic laws;
  
• Electrical safety licensing system passes Parliament; and
  
• Mandatory disease tests to protect more workers in WA.

As with asbestos, manufacturing and installing engineered stone products is likely to prove too hazardous under any system of controls, and should be banned, a NSW MLC says. Meanwhile, Victoria has introduced mandatory safety training for solar workers.

• Another state introduces $1,000 phone distraction fines;
  
• Compliance Code for silica made in Vic, WA makes Chinese translations; and
  
• Wiring Rules amended.

The Queensland Government has introduced laws extending the offence of industrial manslaughter and $13 million-plus fines to the resources sector, and providing employment security to those in safety critical management roles. Victoria has announced plans to lengthen jail terms for workplace manslaughter - five months ahead of the new offence's start date.

Employers should consider including, in their first-aid kits, asthma-relieving inhalers and spacers and epinephrine auto-injectors (EpiPens) for the treatment of anaphylaxis, according to a draft Compliance Code mirroring national WHS amendments.

• WHS amendments including diesel threshold coming to NSW; and
  
• Employers urged to impose their own low silica threshold.

• Presumptive PTSD compensation introduced in second state;
  
• National transport safety amendments made, and proposed; and
  
• Four sets of electricity and rail safety regulations commence in Vic.