Safe Work Australia Council agree to release harmonised OHS law

The Safe Work Australia Council considered a suite of draft documents on model occupational health and safety legislation. It agreed to recommend to the Workplace Relations Ministers’ Council (WRMC) for it to approve the release of the documents for a public comment period of six weeks.

According to the Safe Work Australia Council, this is a key milestone, and shows it is on track to deliver the national OHS laws by December 2011.

The documents to be made available for public comment will include an exposure draft of the model OHS act, discussion paper, key administrative Regulations and the consultation Regulation Impact Statement.

The Council also agreed to the Licensing Decision Making framework and the process for classes of work to be assessed against the framework.

The framework will be used to decide the contents of the Schedule of High Risk Work Licenses referenced by the model regulations on licensing.

Additionally, the Council endorsed the Research and Evaluation Plan and Data Plan for 2009-2012.

The Council announced that 41 organisations have sought to become Safety Partners of national Safe Work Australia Week, to be held from 25 to 31 October 2009.

The next Council meeting will be held in early December 2009.

Monday 21 September 2009

Safe to Work