Safety Bulletin - June 2023
Australia – Offshore petroleum data and reporting amendments proposed
The Department of Industry, Science and Resources is seeking feedback on proposed changes to the data management and reporting provisions in the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Resource Management and Administration) Regulations 2011. A consultation paper has been published, outlining changes that include simplifying and clarifying requirements, as well as improving consistency. Comments close 11 June 2023.
More Have your say with the Department of Industry, Science and Resources here.
Queensland – Electrical Safety Act review continues
The Office of Industrial Relations has published the final report for the Electrical Safety Act 2002 review and the QLD Government’s preliminary response to the report. Public submissions are now sought on the report and a discussion paper, following initial consultation. The report contains 83 recommendations, many of which relate to technological change such as solar power, batteries, electric vehicles, hydrogen power, off-grid generation and storage. A summary of the discussion paper is also available. Comments on the discussion paper close 27 June 2023 and on the final report close on 15 August 2023.
Read the Queensland government’s statement here.
Queensland – Report and recommendations for WHS Act review published
The Queensland Government has released the final report for the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 review and the government’s response, following consultation. The report made 31 recommendations, including requiring near misses to be reported, shortening the timeframe for health and safety representative training, giving inspectors the power to issue prohibition notices for plant with a risk of catastrophic failure, and moving the hierarchy of controls provisions to the WHS Act and the requirements for amenities to the WHS Regulation. It also recommended that a separate review be made into the scope of industrial manslaughter provisions, following submissions that suggested incorporating bystanders and worker suicide due to psychosocial hazards. An amendment Bill to implement majority of the changes, as well as to adopt changes to the model WHS laws, is expected to be introduced to Parliament later in 2023.