Officials in South Australia are using the New Year to refocus in on health and safety in the workplace.
Regulations 2012 (SA), a limited number of areas involving new requirements were provided with a 12-month period of grace to better understand the new laws. This period ended Dec. 31, 2013. The new regulations took effect Jan. 1 of this year.
The regulators subject to transitional arrangements cover the following hazard areas:
• construction
• diving
• electrical
• hazardous chemicals
• health and safety representatives
• lead risk work
• manufacturers, suppliers and importers
• naturally-occurring asbestos
• noise
• registration, accreditation and competence.
Transition Year Provided Familiarity Time
According to Bryan Russell, executive director, SafeWork SA, “The transition year has provided people time to familiarize themselves with the changes and to meet their new legislative requirements.”
Some of the key regulations that applied from Jan. 1, 2014 are:
• Safe work method statement required for high risk construction work and additional duties for the principal contractor.
• Employers required to provide audiometric testing for workers who frequently use noise-protection equipment;
• Requirement to notify SafeWork SA of lead risk work within seven days, and undertake specific health monitoring;
• Workplaces that have identified naturally occurring asbestos must have a management plan in place, including training;
• New competencies required for diving work, including qualifications and dive plan;
• Updates to supply, usage and handling of prohibited and restricted carcinogens.
“We are working with business, industry and workers to keep South Australians safe and healthy at work,” Russell added.
Author Kori Shafer-Stack, Editor, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. is an expert in post-injury response procedures and part of the Amaxx team helping companies reduce their workers compensation costs by 20% to 50%. www.reduceyourworkerscomp.com. Contact: kstack@reduceyourworkerscomp.com.
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