Safety Bulletin - October 2023
Australia – Changes to Industrial Chemicals Rules proposed
The Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme is proposing amendments to the Industrial Chemicals (General) Rules 2019 to improve various categorisation, reporting and record keeping requirements. The proposed changes include the replacement of written undertakings with records that will make compliance easier, greater acceptance of International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients names, changes to the categorisation criteria to benefit certain introducers, and strengthening criteria and reporting requirements for health and environmental protection.
Read more from the Department of Health and Aged Care here.
Australia – Industrial manslaughter, silica and fair work Bill introduced
The Australian Government has introduced the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes) Bill 2023 to Parliament, which has various purposes for workplace health and safety and fair work laws. If passed, the Bill would introduce the industrial manslaughter offence to the WHS Act, replace current WHS penalties with a new penalty structure and increase penalties, rename and extend the functions of the Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency to include silica safety and silica-related diseases, and expand the anti-discrimination framework under the Fair Work Act 2009 to protect employees subjected to family and domestic violence from adverse action, among other changes. The industrial manslaughter offence is proposed to commence on 1 July 2024. A range of fact sheets on the key amendments have been published.
More from the Minister’s of Employment and Workplace Relations here.
New South Wales – Work health and safety amendment Bill introduced
The NSW Government has introduced the Work Health and Safety Amendment Bill 2023 to parliament. The Bill proposes amendments to the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 that reflect changes to the national Model Work Health and Safety Act regarding offences and penalty amounts, prohibited asbestos notices, and liability of body corporate for the conduct of officers, employees, and agents. Further amendments provide for the establishment of a register to monitor exposure of workers to silica dust, among other things.