Four Important Key Safety Themes Identified in Australia

Safe Work Australia members met recently following a full-day strategic planning workshop led by Dr. Keith Suter. The workshop members discussed and identified key themes, priorities and challenges for Safe Work Australia for the next three years.

The members agreed, in the spirit of national coordination, on broad themes to underpin the Safe Work Australia strategic 2010-2013 plan. These themes are the basis of the strategic plan being sent to the Workplace Relations Ministers’ Council (WRMC) for endorsement.

Model Work Health and Safety Act

Although WRMC endorsed the Model Work Health and Safety Act in December 2009, Safe Work Australia was permitted to make technical and drafting amendments. The members noted the progress in finalizing the act and said they made a number of amendments to improve and clarify the operation of the provisions.

1. Removing overlap, unnecessary prescription and unintended consequences;

2. Achieving consistency with WRMC determinations, and

3. Ensuring the provisions are effective and in practice operate as intended.

Prior to the April 2010 meeting, members will receive the amended draft of the model Act for final approval during the meeting.

Model Work Health and Safety Regulations

Members noted progress in the development of the model work health and safety (WHS) regulations and the draft structure.

The Strategic Issues Group on Occupational Health and Safety (SIG-OHS) is progressively considering various parts of the draft WHS regulations as received from the Parliamentary Counsel’s Committee. By June 2010, the SIG-OHS expect to receive, for consideration, a first draft of all matters subject to regulation.

Members discussed particular issues with the building and construction industry and agreed to ask the SIG-OHS to consider the creation of a Temporary Advisory Group or another mechanism to address these matters.

Safe Work Australia members will receive an exposure draft of the WHS regulations for approval in September 2010. If approved, the draft goes to WRMC for endorsement and release for public comment for a period of four months.

National Code of Practice for the Prevention of Falls in Housing Construction

Members agreed, by a majority, to begin the process to publish the National Code of Practice for the Prevention of Falls in Housing Construction.(workersxzcompxzkit)

Strategic Issues and Advisory Group Report

Members noted the progress of the SIG-OHS, SIG-Workers’ Compensation, Communications Advisory Group and Research, Evaluation and Data Advisory Group.

Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risks Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers' Compensation costs, including airlines, health care, manufacturing, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. He can be contacted at: Robert_Elliott@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com or 860-553-6604.

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