News

Comment invited on codes of practice

Quarry industry members will have the ability to evaluate and raise concerns about codes governing first aid, workplace bullying and excavation.

The model Codes of Practice include drafts in the following areas:

? First Aid in the workplace.
? Managing risks in construction work.
? Preventing falls in housing construction.
? Managing electrical risks at the workplace.
? Managing risks of hazardous chemicals.
? Managing risks of plant in the workplace.
? Safe design of building and structures.
? Excavation work.
? Demolition work.
? Spray painting and powder coating.
? Abrasive blasting.
? Welding and allied processes.
? Safe Access in tree trimming and arboriculture.
? Preventing and managing fatigue in the workplace.
? Preventing and responding to workplace bullying.

The public comment period opened for the Codes of Practice last week, with submissions on the first six codes of practice closing on Friday 18 November and the remainder closing on Friday 16 December, 2011.

?The public comment period is a good opportunity for businesses, industry, workers and the wider community to have their say about work health and safety in Australia,? said Safe Work Australia chairman Tom Phillips AM.

Safe Work Australia has also extended the deadline on submissions on the proposed changes to health and safety legislation, giving the public until Friday 7 October, 2011.

Phillips praised the proposed new laws, which will see nationally consistent rules for health and safety rolled out across the entire nation.

?The new model work health and safety laws ensure organisations can comply with one set of laws, regardless of the number of states or territories in which they operate,? said Phillips. ?This will ease the burden on business owners operating across the country.?

The draft legislation and Codes of Practice can be viewed at safeworkaustralia.gov.au

SOURCE: Safe Work Australia

Leave a Reply

Send this to a friend