Browsing: Workplace safety legislation, regulations, standards and codes | Page 12

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".

• New WHS laws, codes and bans to follow NSW election; and
  
• Positive harassment-elimination duties pass in ACT.

The start dates for a range of new WHS clauses have been postponed in Western Australia, while a Bill providing presumptive compensation to certain workers with PTSD has been reintroduced in South Australia.

Six of Australia's eight harmonised jurisdictions have now implemented regulations explicitly requiring PCBUs to tackle psychosocial risks through a risk management process, with the latest, the Northern Territory, choosing to mirror the national model clauses instead of opting for variations adopted by two jurisdictions.

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

Canberra businesses that contravene their WHS duties will be more likely to end up in court under a "hybrid" prosecutorial model championed by a WHS regulator. They also face hefty on-the-spot WHS fines under changes commencing today.

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

• Dog-attack death triggers call for high-level WHS controls; and
  
• Transitional arrangements for HSRs expiring under WA's WHS Act.

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.

• Workplace justice warning issued for WHS Code commencement;
  
• New permanent impairment guide made under Comcare scheme; and
  
• SWMS guidance note issued in ACT.