Browsing: WHS legislation, regulations, standards and codes (National)

• Industrial manslaughter Bill introduced to NSW Lower House;
  
• New solar safety Standard commences with transitional provisions; and
  
• Offshore laws with "modified" WHS provisions pass Parliament.

Safe Work Australia has published a new WHS Code of Practice, revealed, in its latest statistics report, that the nation's work-related fatality rate increased two years in a row, and informed gig employers of their workers' comp obligations.

Federal parliamentarians and parliamentary workplace staff will be better protected from s-xual assault, harassment, bullying and other WHS risks through a new complaints mechanism, being established under a legislative instrument.

• More duty holders charged with industrial manslaughter; and
  
• Respect@Work Bill passes without "positive" duties.

PCBUs will be required by both anti-discrimination and employment laws to proactively eliminate work-related s-xual harassment and victimisation, under proposed amendments moved in the Federal Senate. Meanwhile, Western Australians have been asked to comment on whether to add a "positive duty" to the State's equal opportunity legislation.

A new practical framework has been launched to help resources employers address the mental health challenges posed by varying rosters, remote work locations and FIFO arrangements. Meanwhile, the sector's peak body has declared its support for a "positive duty" in anti-discrimination laws, citing problems with the WHS regime.

The Federal Government today introduced a Bill empowering the Fair Work Commission to issue stop-workplace-s-xual-harassment orders, and better aligning anti-discrimination legislation with the model WHS laws.

Australia's Attorneys-General have agreed to work towards the harmonisation of human rights and anti-discrimination legislation, and progress other recommendations aimed at tackling workplace s-xual harassment and improving safety.

• False "white cards" breached workplace safety laws; and
  
• Workplace drug testing rules clarified in nationally agreed Bill.

Australia's WHS ministers have agreed to amend the model WHS Regulations to prescribe control measures for psychological risks, and significantly increase safety penalties, but proposed industrial manslaughter laws were voted down at their meeting yesterday.