Welcome to the March Newsletter.

We cannot believe how this year is flying by, March already.

With this in mind we thought we should give you a snap shot of where the WHS roll out per state are at and you can note any changes that are relevant for your business:

WORK HEALTH SAFETY ACTS, REGS, COPs and TRANSITION – STATUS UPDATE AS AT 14 MARCH 2013

The following is a snap shot of where the jurisdictions are with the Act, Regulations and COP’s including transitional provisions:

QUEENSLAND

Provisions of Queensland’s mirror WHS Act and Regulation relating to HSR training, fall-arrest systems and related emergency procedures, and pipelines used to transfer hazardous chemicals began January 2013.
Regulations relating to abandoned flammable gas and liquid tanks, prohibited carcinogens, major hazard facilities and diving work also commenced on 1 January 2013.
Transitional Issues: http://bit.ly/ZJT5ch

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

The South Australian Work Health and Safety Act 2012 and Work Health and Safety Regulations 2012 began on 1 January 2013. They are currently supported by 23 Codes of Practice.
According to Safe Work, transitional periods apply to any “significantly new regulation requirements”.
It says new obligations exist for work involving asbestos, construction, diving, electricity, hazardous chemicals, lead risk and noise.
General Overview and links to the legislation, Codes, transitional periods and fact sheets:  http://bit.ly/13Xo8XZ  Transition Periods: http://bit.ly/Xxff5P

TASMANIA

The Tasmanian Work Health and Safety Act 2012 and Work Health and Safety Regulations 2012 also commenced on 1 January. As in South Australia, 23 Codes of Practice have been approved to date.
GENERAL OVERVIEW: for links to the legislation, transitional and consequential provisions, supplementary requirements for mines, fact sheets, guides and a resource kit for volunteers. http://bit.ly/14ZJqjv
Transition Periods (not user friendly): The Act: http://bit.ly/WdSpOC
The Regulations: http://bit.ly/15NVLcL

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

Provisions of the ACT’s mirror WHS Regulation relating to the storage of flammable or combustible substances, residual current devices, diving work, plant design and the inspection of mobile and tower cranes began on 1 January 2013.
Regulations relating to the registration of plant and plant designs, construction management plans, high-risk work and earthmoving machinery also commenced January 2013.
General Overview and Transition:
and links to the legislation, Codes, transitional periods and fact sheets:http://bit.ly/X97tcp

NEW SOUTH WALES

Regulations relating to licensed asbestos inspectors, the storage of dangerous goods, plant registration and reach stacker licenses begin on 1 July 2013.
Transitional Issues: http://bit.ly/16tIzuR

NORTHERN TERRITORY

A number of transitional arrangements for the Northern Territory Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Regulations, which were due to expire on 1 January 2013, have been extended “to allow NT Work Safe additional time to work with businesses to understand the new regulatory requirements and put measures in place to ensure compliance”.
Transitional arrangements for workplace asbestos management, construction work, diving work, electrical safety, hazardous work, plant and workplace management will now expire on 1 January 2014.
Transitional Issues: http://bit.ly/X97CMT

COMCARE

Codes of Practice, which underpin the Commonwealth’s mirror WHS Act, which took effect on 19 December 2012: http://bit.ly/V9GhvZ
Regulations: Meanwhile, the changes to the Commonwealth WHS Regulations took effect on 1 January 2013 in relation to the following matters:

• Construction induction training cards
• Lead risk work
• Carcinogens
• Amendment to Reach Stacker Licenses
For details on these changes to Regulations see: http://bit.ly/V9GhvZ

VICTORIA and  WA.

Still working under the “old” regime.

However remember that if the business has a head office in another state that has the WHS Harmonisation laws, or if under Federal control, they are bound by them.

We hope that you find this update useful and remember if there is anything you need assistance with, you know who to contact!!!

Stay safe (and well).