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Harmonisation of Work Health and Safety Laws in Australia

Procorre
Procorre

With an estimated 630,000 Australians suffering a work-related injury each year, the Australian government has introduced harmonisation of work health and safety (WHS) laws.

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Harmonisation of work health & safety laws in Australia Harmonisation of work health & safety laws in Australia Work health and safety (WHS) is a major issue in Australia, with the Australian Government estimating that: Over 630,000 Australians suffer a work-related injury every year Between 2003 and 2015 over 3,200 Australian workers were killed in work-related incidents Harmonisation of WHS laws In 2008, ministers agreed that the use of model legislation was the most effective way to achieve harmonisation of WHS laws to create a seamless national economy. (In all, there have been more than 150 statutes to regulate health and safety at work across Australia in the mid-1990s.) The model WHS laws were implemented in: Australian Capital Territory New South Wales Northern Territory Queensland South Australia Tasmania They have yet to be implemented in: Victoria Western Australia Australian Capital Territory New South Wales Northern Territory South Australia Western Australia Victoria Queensland Tasmania An independent body, Safe Work Australia, develop the latest model work health and safety laws in partnership with state and territory governments, employers and workers. Categories and penalties for breach of health and safety duty offences Breaching the new WHS laws can lead to fines of up to $3 million and prosecutions of up to five years in prison for businesses, senior executives and individual workers. CATEGORY 1 CATEGORY 2 CATEGORY 3 $3 million $15 million $500,000 $600,000, 5 years in prison or both $300,000 $100,000 $300,000, 5 years in prison or both Individual as worker or otherIndividual as PCBU* or officer *PCBU - person conducting a business or an undertaking Corporation $150,000 $50,000 Western Australia and the mining industry 92% of WAs income in 2015-16 In Western Australia (WA), mining is hugely important to economic success. According to Australias Department of Mines and Petroleum, the mining and petroleum industry accounted for: 41% of Australias overall income Employment of over 100,000 people in WA Without specific guidance on mining as part of harmonisation, the state continues to be covered by its own Act and regulations. Opportunities The changing and evolving nature of Australias WHS laws presents a significant challenge to national and international businesses operating in the country. For more information, please visit www.procorre.com.au and to download our White Paper click here By working with Procorre, we can help national and international organisations deliver projects successfully and safely. We develop skills, strategies and best practice principles in the workplace which are fully compliant with WHS laws. working to new horizons

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Harmonisation of Work Health and Safety Laws in Australia

  • 1. Harmonisation of work health & safety laws in Australia Harmonisation of work health & safety laws in Australia Work health and safety (WHS) is a major issue in Australia, with the Australian Government estimating that: Over 630,000 Australians suffer a work-related injury every year Between 2003 and 2015 over 3,200 Australian workers were killed in work-related incidents Harmonisation of WHS laws In 2008, ministers agreed that the use of model legislation was the most effective way to achieve harmonisation of WHS laws to create a seamless national economy. (In all, there have been more than 150 statutes to regulate health and safety at work across Australia in the mid-1990s.) The model WHS laws were implemented in: Australian Capital Territory New South Wales Northern Territory Queensland South Australia Tasmania They have yet to be implemented in: Victoria Western Australia Australian Capital Territory New South Wales Northern Territory South Australia Western Australia Victoria Queensland Tasmania An independent body, Safe Work Australia, develop the latest model work health and safety laws in partnership with state and territory governments, employers and workers. Categories and penalties for breach of health and safety duty offences Breaching the new WHS laws can lead to fines of up to $3 million and prosecutions of up to five years in prison for businesses, senior executives and individual workers. CATEGORY 1 CATEGORY 2 CATEGORY 3 $3 million $15 million $500,000 $600,000, 5 years in prison or both $300,000 $100,000 $300,000, 5 years in prison or both Individual as worker or otherIndividual as PCBU* or officer *PCBU - person conducting a business or an undertaking Corporation $150,000 $50,000 Western Australia and the mining industry 92% of WAs income in 2015-16 In Western Australia (WA), mining is hugely important to economic success. According to Australias Department of Mines and Petroleum, the mining and petroleum industry accounted for: 41% of Australias overall income Employment of over 100,000 people in WA Without specific guidance on mining as part of harmonisation, the state continues to be covered by its own Act and regulations. Opportunities The changing and evolving nature of Australias WHS laws presents a significant challenge to national and international businesses operating in the country. For more information, please visit www.procorre.com.au and to download our White Paper click here By working with Procorre, we can help national and international organisations deliver projects successfully and safely. We develop skills, strategies and best practice principles in the workplace which are fully compliant with WHS laws. working to new horizons