what's new

March 2007

SafetyLaw

Coal Mining, NSW: The SafetyLaw directory for NSW Coal Mining will be started in April, following the release of the NSW Coal Mine Health & Safety Regulation 2006. If you have a coal mine in NSW and are awaiting this SafetyLaw, please contact us.

EnviroLaw

New version: The new version of EnviroLaw has now been released for all Australian states and territories.  The main improvements are that:

• "Special" obligations (specific obligations added for individual clients as required) are now distributed into the main obligations categories (Air, Water, Land etc).
• Index terms have been included for "special" obligations.
• All legislation references and guidance documents in the reference (green text under each obligation) are hyperlinked, so that full copies of each document can be downloaded directly.
• The "licences, permits and agreements" page is now accessed from the "Legal Obligations" menu (top menu) under “Site Obligations”.
• The left hand side menu has been streamlined.

New LawGuides released

• The Construction LawGuides are now available. These LawGuides summarise legal obligations in the areas of construction, demolition and excavation work.
• Driver Fatigue LawGuides are also available, summarising legal obligations related to driving, work and rest periods for commercial bus and heavy truck drivers.
• All LawGuides are structured as checklists, and are designed to help you implement a compliance management system, including compliance audits.  When legislation changes, LawGuides help you quickly determine which of your procedures or work instructions, if any, need to be changed. The next version, due later in 2007, will be fully customisable to suit individual sites.
• LawGuides for Agriculture and Mining/Quarrying are also planned.

Please call us on 1300 363 229 for more information.

New Product - On-line Safety Management System

A web-based OHS Management System (OHSMS) is now available. The OHSMS is unique, being the only commercially available system that fully integrates AS4801 requirements and OHS legal obligations for each State/Territory.

The OHSMS features:

• Descriptions of AS4801 requirements and corresponding OHS legal obligations for each State/Territory
• Legal obligations in plain English, fully referenced to actual legislation
• Detailed policies and procedures templates, which can be customised to suit client's requirements
• Detailed lists of relevant Codes of Practice and Australian Standards
• An online Hazard/Incident reporting database which produces customised follow-up reports
• A fully integrated search function
• Automatic incorporation of changes in legislation and advising of clients
• A "What's New" section that gives relevant information on changes in legal obligations.

If you would like a demo of the OHSMS, please call Chris Ie on 1300 363 229

Systems Development

• Environment Essentials is designing legal obligations systems (environment and OHS) that fully integrate into clients' existing OHSMS and EMS . We are currently nearing completion of three such systems.
• Systems are tailored to clients' existing system and achieve compliance with ISO 14001 and AS 4801.
• We specialise in web-based systems, as they make ongoing management far simpler. However, we also provide paper-based systems where required.
• During 2006, we also helped a number of clients develop systems for ISO 14001 certification All clients achieved ISO accreditation on their first attempt.
• PC-based electronic versions of the documentation packages are also available.

If you would like to discuss your systems needs, please call Tim Hamilton on 1300 363 229.

Auditing

• Environment Essentials provides environmental and OH&S auditing services. This includes both legal compliance audits and systems audits.
• If you would like to arrange an audit or discuss how we can help you, please call us on 1300 363 229.

If you would like to discuss your systems needs, please call Tim Hamilton on 1300 363 229.

(The next update will be published at the end of June 2007.)