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Model Work Health and Safety Legislation >>>

Safe Work Australia Members agreed by majority to endorse the current version of the amended Model Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act and to recommend it to the Workplace Relations Ministers’ Council (WRMC) to note.

Members were provided with the revised model WHS Act which contained small technical and drafting amendments.

WRMC has agreed that Safe Work Australia and Parliamentary Counsel’s Committee may continue to make further amendments until the implementation of the legislation on 1 January 2012.

These amendments will address any issues that may arise as jurisdictions go through the process of enacting the legislation. Members noted there is no capacity for Safe Work Australia to endorse any amendments that involve policy changes without further endorsement by WRMC.

National Code of Practice for the Prevention of Falls in Housing Construction >>>

Members agreed by majority to declare the National Code of Practice for the Prevention of Falls in Housing Construction (Housing Falls Code).

The Housing Falls Code will be available on the Safe Work Australia website and will be accompanied by an explanatory statement on its adoption in each jurisdiction.

The Housing Falls Code provides practical guidance on how to comply with the National Standard for Construction Work as it relates to the prevention of fatalities and injuries to persons working at height in the residential housing sector.

The Housing Falls Code was developed by the Australian Safety and Compensation Council before work commenced on the model work health and safety legislation. It will provide guidance to those working in the residential sector of the construction industry until the work health and safety legislative framework is implemented.

Members noted that the Housing Falls Code will be used as the basis for the model Code of Practice as part of the model work health and safety legislation.

Safe Work Australia Strategic and Operational Plans >>>

The Safe Work Australia Act 2008 requires Safe Work Australia to prepare a strategic plan at least every three years and an operational plan before each financial year. These plans are to be submitted to WRMC for endorsement.

Draft strategic and operational plans were provided to Members for consideration at the meeting. The contents of these plans were informed by the strategic planning workshop held on 18 February where key themes, priorities and challenges for Safe Work Australia were discussed.

Following further consultation, Members will consider the plans out of session. The final plans require the endorsement of WRMC.

<<<Source: Safe Work Australia>>>

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