Victorians are encouraged to have their say on changes being proposed to Victoria’s Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) regulations.
Proposed changes include broadening the scope of vehicle loading crane High-Risk Work (HRW) licences, reducing material safety data sheet review requirements and introducing a specific reach-stacker licence.
The changes aim to modernise and streamline existing OHS Regulations (2007) and Equipment (Public Safety) Regulations (2007), which expire in June 2017.
Proposed changes affect regulations in important categories such as plant, mines, asbestos and major hazard facilities.
Some of the changes relate to high-risk work licence classes and requirements, and laws relating to mining hazards, entry into a mine, safe air levels in mines, chemical labelling and asbestos removal work.
WorkSafe chief executive Clare Amies says the new proposals reflect changes to many work practices over the past decade and will help reduce red tape.
“By law, the Victoria’s OHS regulations have to be reassessed and updated every 10 years, so this is an important opportunity to modernise the current regulations,” Amies says.
“The proposed changes will result in an estimated $9 million reduction in annual compliance costs for Victorian businesses, but none of the changes reduce safety standards.”
WorkSafe will be hosting information sessions across Victoria to help the community understand the proposed changes. They will take place at:
- Dandenong: 10am on August 3 at Dandenong Club Conference Centre
- Warrnambool: 10am on August 4 at the Sebel Deep Blue
- Bendigo: 2pm on August 10 at the Bendigo Four Seasons
- Ballarat: 10am on August 11 at the Mercure Ballarat Lodge and Convention Centre
- Geelong: 2pm on August 16 at the Geelong Convention Centre
- Melbourne: 1pm on August 31 at WorkSafe Victoria, CBD.
Public comments will be accepted until Friday, September 9, and can be provided online via WorkSafeVictoria.com.au
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