Safety Bulletin - June 2024
Australia – Model WHS amendments for engineered stone ban endorsed
WHS Ministers have endorsed amendments to the model WHS Regulations to implement the ban on engineered stone use from 1 July 2024 and to more strongly regulate materials containing crystalline silica from 1 September 2024. The existing Code of Practice for engineered stone will be revoked and replaced. Safe Work Australia has developed a website for the ban and is creating guidance on the amendments. New South Wales, Northern Territory, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia have agreed to implement a 6-month transition period for the ban, whilst the Australian Capital Territory, Queensland and Victoria will not adopt a transition period.
Read more from SafeWork Australia here.
Queensland – Range of safety amendments introduced to Parliament
The Queensland Government has introduced the Electrical Safety and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024 to Parliament following reviews of the electrical safety, WHS and industrial manslaughter laws, as well as the safety regulator. The proposed electrical safety changes include widening definitions of ‘electrical equipment’ and ‘electrical installation’, clarifying who can replace similar appliances, updating how QLD implements the Electrical Equipment Safety System framework, and improving the operational efficiency of the regulator, inspectorate, Electrical Licensing Committee and WHS Prosecutor. Changes to the WHS and recreational water activities laws will include negligence as a fault element in Category 1 offences, expand WHS industrial manslaughter offences to capture the death of bystanders and other persons, and clarify that multiple parties can be charged with WHS industrial manslaughter, among other things.
Read more from The Queensland Cabinet and Ministerial Directory here.
New South Wales – Changes for drug and alcohol testing measures proposed
The National Transport Commission has consulted on proposed changes to drug and alcohol testing measures that will allow operators in NSW to use measures other than urine testing. The changes will align NSW with other jurisdictions and provide operators with more options to manage their risks.