OHS Regulations released for Public Comment

The Victorian WorkCover Authority is conducting a review of OHS Regulations in line with the requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004.

The draft Regulations were made available on Saturday, 20 January 2007, with the deadline for public comment being 5.00 pm on 28 February 2007.

The draft Regulations, Regulatory Impact Statement and Information Sheets can be downloaded from the WorkCover website.

According to an Information Sheet published by the VWA, the proposed regulation will have the following effects:
Lead - Translation of existing laws and continued alignment with the National Standard.
Prevention of falls - Translation of existing laws. Redefinition of ‘emergency services employees’ to clarify the position of employees and volunteers.
Manual handling - Translation of existing laws. No new obligations.
Confined spaces - Translation of existing laws. No new obligations.
Plant - Minor changes relating to maintenance of lifts and duties of auctioneers.
Noise - Translation of existing laws. Reducing red tape regarding noise exposure in excess of the standard.
Issue resolution - Translation of existing laws. Clarification of the procedure for temporary measures to be put in place while an OHS issue is being discussed.
Major hazard facilities - Continued alignment with National Standards and clarification of point of review of Safety Management System.
Mines - Translation of existing laws. Maintaining licensing requirements for winder operators.
Hazardous substances - Further alignment with the National Model Regulations and standardisation of licensing requirements for use of carcinogenic substances.
Construction - Combining disparate regulations to develop a streamlined single regulation which is consistent with the Commonwealth led National Standard. Incorporates nationally recognised model for safety induction training, coordination plans and safe work method statements.
Asbestos - Maintaining current regime which provides the best protection for workers and community of all the states. There will be no change to what licensed and unlicensed removalists can do. Reducing the administrative burden in relation to notification of asbestos removal, and making requirements for unlicensed removalists clearer. Removing overlapping laws, clarifying definitions.
High Risk Work Licences - Adoption of national standard licensing system including photo identification and introducing 5-year renewal periods to strengthen protection against fraud.