Parliament has given the green light to the development of a new Work Health and Safety bill in WA. This new bill will bring WA into alignment with the rest of the country (minus Victoria). It will be based on the National Work Health and Safety Act, allowing for consistency across Australia.
The new bill will replace the following legislation currently being used in WA:
- Occupational Health and Safety Act 1984
- Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994
- Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Safety Levies Act 2011
It will also be supported by industry specific regulations, to cater for WA’s unique workplace conditions.
The bill is expected to go through a two-year consultation period with key stakeholders before being introduced in mid-2019. It is also being reviewed in conjunction to a WorkSafe parliamentary enquiry. This enquiry will:
- Review existing OHS laws
- Review WorkSafe’s processes and resourcing
- Make recommendations aiming to improve safety in the workplace
These upcoming changes will impact small businesses in many ways. The current OHS legislation will be completely overhauled, leading to a more streamlined system.
For more information on the upcoming work health and safety changes contact us on (08) 9316 9896 or enquiries@processworx.com.au.
