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OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY LAWS
The NSW Government has brought in new OHS laws, including the
OHS Regulation 2001 and the new OHS Act 2000. It sets out requirements for
workplaces for putting into place systems to identify, assess, control and/or
eliminate health or safety risks. It also details how the duty to consult with employees about health and safety matters can be met.
Areas covered by the new OHS Regulation
The Regulation provides broad coverage for all workplaces along
with specified control measures for particular hazards and industry activities.
These include:
- Identification of all workplace hazards
- Assessment of risks arising from those hazards
- Implementation of measures to control those risks
- Provision of training, instruction and supervision
- Workplace consultation between employers and employees. (WorkCover is producing a Code of Practice for this purpose)
- The control of specific high risk hazards such as plant, hazardous substances and hazardous processes
- Construction work
- Requirements for:
- Certification of operators of equipment;
- Licensing of certain businesses; and
- Notifications to WorkCover.
Transitional Period
While the new Act and Regulation took effect from 1 September 2001, there
will be a transitional period of 12 months to implement the new provisions of
the Regulation for all businesses. Small employers (with no more than 20
employees) have a two-year period to implement the risk management
requirements of the Regulation.
The Association’s Role
The Association is part of the WorkCover Assist program of WorkCover.
The
Association has a telephone hotline for OHS queries – 1300 650 646. |
