model work health and safety act november 10

8/8/2019 Model Work Health and Safety Act November 10

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Revised Draft 26/11/2010

Model Work Health and Safety Bill

Contents

Page

Part 1 Preliminary 1

Division 1 Introduction 1

1 Citation 12 Commencement 1

Division 2 Object 1

3 Object 1

Division 3 Interpretation 3

Subdivision 1 Definitions 3

4 Definitions 3

Subdivision 2 Other important terms 8

5 Meaning of person conducting a business or undertaking 86 Meaning of supply 9

7 Meaning of worker 108 Meaning of workplace 119 Examples and notes 11

Division 4 Application of Act 12

10 Act binds the Crown 1211 Extraterritorial application 1212 Scope 12


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Part 2 Health and safety duties 13

Division 1 Introductory 13

Subdivision 1 Principles that apply to duties 13

13 Principles that apply to duties 1314 Duties not transferrable 1315 Person may have more than one duty 1316 More than one person can have a duty 1317 Management of risks 14

Subdivision 2 What is reasonably practicable 14

18 What is reasonably practicable in ensuring health and safety 14

Division 2 Primary duty of care 15

19 Primary duty of care 15

Division 3 Further duties of persons conducting businesses

or undertakings 17

20 Duty of persons conducting businesses or undertakingsinvolving management or control of workplaces 17

21 Duty of persons conducting businesses or undertakingsinvolving management or control of fixtures, fittings or plantat workplaces 17

22 Duties of persons conducting businesses or undertakings that

design plant, substances or structures 1823 Duties of persons conducting businesses or undertakings that

manufacture plant, substances or structures 2024 Duties of persons conducting businesses or undertakings that

import plant, substances or structures 2325 Duties of persons conducting businesses or undertakings that

supply plant, substances or structures 2526 Duty of persons conducting businesses or undertakings that

install, construct or commission plant or structures 28

Division 4 Duty of officers, workers and other persons 28

27 Duty of officers 2828 Duties of workers 3129 Duties of other persons at the workplace 31

Division 5 Offences and penalties 32

30 Health and safety duty 3231 Reckless conductCategory 1 3232 Failure to comply with health and safety dutyCategory 2 3333 Failure to comply with health and safety dutyCategory 3 3334 Exceptions 34


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Part 3 Incident notification 35

35 What is a notifiable incident 3536 What is a serious injury or illness 3537 What is a dangerous incident 3638 Duty to notify of notifiable incidents 3739 Duty to preserve incident sites 38

Part 4 Authorisations 40

40 Meaning ofauthorised 4041 Requirements for authorisation of workplaces 4042 Requirements for authorisation of plant or substance 4043 Requirements for authorisation of work 4144 Requirements for prescribed qualifications or experience 4245 Requirement to comply with conditions of authorisation 43

Part 5 Consultation, representation and participation 44

Division 1 Consultation, co-operation and co-ordination

between duty holders 44

46 Duty to consult with other duty holders 44

Division 2 Consultation with workers 44

47 Duty to consult workers 44

48 Nature of consultation 4549 When consultation is required 45

Division 3 Health and safety representatives 46

Subdivision 1 Request for election of health and safety

representatives 46

50 Request for election of health and safety representative 46

Subdivision 2 Determination of work groups 47

51 Determination of work groups 4752 Negotiations for agreement for work group 4753 Notice to workers 4854 Failure of negotiations 49

Subdivision 3 Multiple-business work groups 50

55 Determination of work groups of multiple businesses 5056 Negotiation of agreement for work groups of multiple

businesses 5157 Notice to workers 5258 Withdrawal from negotiations or agreement involving multiple

businesses 5259 Effect of Subdivision on other arrangements 53


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Subdivision 4 Election of health and safety representatives 53

60 Eligibility to be elected 5361 Procedure for election of health and safety representatives 5362 Eligibility to vote 5463 When election not required 5464 Term of office of health and safety representative 5465 Disqualification of health and safety representatives 5566 Immunity of health and safety representatives 5667 Deputy health and safety representatives 56

Subdivision 5 Powers and functions of health and safety

representatives 57

68 Powers and functions of health and safety representatives 5769 Powers and functions generally limited to the particular work

group 59

Subdivision 6 Obligations of person conducting business or

undertaking to health and safety representatives 60

70 General obligations of person conducting business orundertaking 60

71 Exceptions from obligations under section 70(1) 6272 Obligation to train health and safety representatives 6373 Obligation to share costs if multiple businesses or undertakings 6574 List of health and safety representatives 66

Division 4 Health and safety committees 67

75 Health and safety committees 6776 Constitution of committee 6777 Functions of committee 6878 Meetings of committee 6979 Duties of person conducting business or undertaking 69

Division 5 Issue resolution 70

80 Parties to an issue 7081 Resolution of health and safety issues 7182 Referral of issue to regulator for resolution by inspector 71

Division 6 Right to cease or direct cessation of unsafe work 72

83 Definition ofcease work under this Division 7284 Right of worker to cease unsafe work 7285 Health and safety representative may direct that unsafe work

cease 7386 Worker to notify if ceases work 7487 Alternative work 7488 Continuity of engagement of worker 7489 Request to regulator to appoint inspector to assist 75


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Division 7 Provisional improvement notices 75

90 Provisional improvement notices 7591 Provisional improvement notice to be in writing 7692 Contents of provisional improvement notice 7693 Provisional improvement notice may give directions to remedy

contravention 7794 Minor changes to provisional improvement notice 7795 Manner of issue of provisional improvement notice 7796 Health and safety representative may cancel notice 7797 Display of provisional improvement notice 7898 Formal irregularities or defects in notice 78

99 Offence to contravene a provisional improvement notice 78100 Request for review of provisional improvement notice 79101 Regulator to appoint inspector to review notice 79102 Decision of inspector on review of provisional improvement

notice 80

Division 8 Part not to apply to prisoners 80

103 Part does not apply to prisoners 80

Part 6 Discriminatory, coercive and misleading conduct 81

Division 1 Prohibition of discriminatory, coercive or

misleading conduct 81

104 Prohibition of discriminatory conduct 81105 What is discriminatory conduct 81106 What is a prohibited reason 82107 Prohibition of requesting, instructing, inducing, encouraging,

authorising or assisting discriminatory conduct 84108 Prohibition of coercion or inducement 84109 Misrepresentation 85

Division 2 Criminal proceedings in relation to discriminatory

conduct 86

110 Defendant to prove reason for conduct not dominant 86111 Order for compensation or reinstatement 86

Division 3 Civil proceedings in relation to discriminatory orcoercive conduct 87

112 Civil proceeding in respect of engaging in or inducingdiscriminatory or coercive conduct 87

113 Procedure for civil actions for discriminatory conduct 89

Division 4 General 89

114 General provisions relating to orders 89115 Prohibition of multiple actions 90


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Part 7 Workplace entry by WHS entry permit holders 91

Division 1 Introductory 91

116 Definitions 91

Division 2 Entry to inquire into suspected contraventions 92

117 Entry to inquire into suspected contraventions 92118 Rights that may be exercised while at workplace 92119 Notice of entry 93120 Entry to inspect employee records or information held by

another person 94

Division 3 Entry to consult and advise workers 95

121 Entry to consult and advise workers 95122 Notice of entry 95

Division 4 Requirements for WHS entry permit holders 96

123 Contravening WHS entry permit conditions 96124 WHS entry permit holder must also hold permit under other

law 96125 WHS entry permit to be available for inspection 96126 When right may be exercised 96127 Where the right may be exercised 97128 Work health and safety requirements 97

129 Residential premises 97130 WHS entry permit holder not required to disclose names ofworkers 97

Division 5 WHS entry permits 98

131 Application for WHS entry permit 98132 Consideration of application 98133 Eligibility criteria 99134 Issue of WHS entry permit 99135 Conditions on WHS entry permit 99136 Term of WHS entry permit 99137 Expiry of WHS entry permit 100138 Application to revoke WHS entry permit 101

139 Authorising authority must permit WHS entry permit holderto show cause 102

140 Determination of application 103

Division 6 Dealing with disputes 103

141 Application for assistance of inspector to resolve dispute 103142 Authorising authority may deal with a dispute about a right

of entry under this Act 104143 Contravening order made to deal with dispute 105


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Division 7 Prohibitions 105

144 Person must not refuse or delay entry of WHS entry permitholder 105

145 Person must not hinder or obstruct WHS entry permit holder 106146 WHS entry permit holder must not delay, hinder or obstruct

any person or disrupt work at workplace 106147 Misrepresentations about things authorised by this Part 106148 Unauthorised use or disclosure of information or documents 107

Division 8 General 109

149 Return of WHS entry permits 109

150 Union to provide information to authorising authority 109151 Register of WHS entry permit holders 110

Part 8 The regulator 111

Division 1 Functions of regulator 111

152 Functions of regulator 111153 Powers of regulator 112154 Delegation by regulator 112

Division 2 Powers of regulator to obtain information 112

155 Powers of regulator to obtain information 112

Part 9 Securing compliance 115

Division 1 Appointment of inspectors 115

156 Appointment of inspectors 115157 Identity cards 115158 Accountability of inspectors 116159 Suspension and ending of appointment of inspectors 116

Division 2 Functions and powers of inspectors 116

160 Functions and powers of inspectors 116161 Conditions on inspectors' compliance powers 117162 Inspectors subject to regulator's directions 117

Division 3 Powers relating to entry 117

Subdivision 1 General powers of entry 117

163 Powers of entry 117164 Notification of entry 118165 General powers on entry 119166 Persons assisting inspectors 120


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Subdivision 2 Search warrants 120

167 Search warrants 120168 Announcement before entry on warrant 121169 Copy of warrant to be given to person with management or

control of place 122

Subdivision 3 Limitation on entry powers 122

170 Places used for residential purposes 122

Subdivision 4 Specific powers on entry 123

171 Power to require production of documents and answers to

questions 123172 Abrogation of privilege against self-incrimination 124173 Warning to be given 125174 Powers to copy and retain documents 126175 Power to seize evidence etc. 126176 Inspector's power to seize dangerous workplaces and things 127177 Powers supporting seizure 127178 Receipt for seized things 129179 Forfeiture of seized things 129180 Return of seized things 131181 Access to seized things 131

Division 4 Damage and compensation 132

182 Damage etc. to be minimised 132183 Inspector to give notice of damage 132184 Compensation 132

Division 5 Other matters 133

185 Power to require name and address 133186 Inspector may take affidavits 134187 Attendance of inspector at coronial inquests 134

Division 6 Offences in relation to inspectors 135

188 Offence to hinder or obstruct inspector 135189 Offence to impersonate inspector 135190 Offence to assault, threaten or intimidate inspector 135

Part 10 Enforcement measures 136

Division 1 Improvement notices 136

191 Issue of improvement notices 136192 Contents of improvement notices 136193 Compliance with improvement notice 137194 Extension of time for compliance with improvement notices 137


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Division 2 Prohibition notices 138

195 Power to issue prohibition notice 138196 Contents of prohibition notice 138197 Compliance with prohibition notice 139

Division 3 Non-disturbance notices 140

198 Issue of non-disturbance notice 140199 Contents of non-disturbance notice 140200 Compliance with non-disturbance notice 141201 Issue of subsequent notices 141

Division 4 General requirements applying to notices 141202 Application of Division 141203 Notice to be in writing 141204 Directions in notices 141205 Recommendations in notice 142206 Changes to notice by inspector 142207 Regulator may vary or cancel notice 142208 Formal irregularities or defects in notice 142209 Issue and giving of notice 143210 Display of notice 143

Division 5 Remedial action 144

211 When regulator may carry out action 144

212 Power of the regulator to take other remedial action 144213 Costs of remedial or other action 145

Division 6 Injunctions 145

214 Application of Division 145215 Injunctions for noncompliance with notices 145

Part 11 Enforceable undertakings 146

216 Regulator may accept WHS undertakings 146217 Notice of decision and reasons for decision 146218 When a WHS undertaking is enforceable 146219 Compliance with WHS undertaking 147

220 Contravention of WHS undertaking 147221 Withdrawal or variation of WHS undertaking 148222 Proceeding for alleged contravention 148

Part 12 Review of decisions 150

Division 1 Reviewable decisions 150

223 Which decisions are reviewable 150


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Division 2 Internal review 155

224 Application for internal review 155225 Internal reviewer 156226 Decision of internal reviewer 156227 Decision on internal review 157

Division 3 External review 157

228 Application for external review 157

Division 4 Stays of reviewable decisions 158

229 Stays of reviewable decisions 158

Part 13 Legal proceedings 160

Division 1 General matters 160

230 Prosecutions 160231 Procedure if prosecution is not brought 161232 Limitation period for prosecutions 162233 Multiple contra ventions of health and safety duty provision 163

Division 2 Sentencing for offences 164

234 Application of this Division 164235 Orders generally 164236 Adverse publicity orders 164

237 Orders for restoration 165238 Work health and safety project orders 166239 Release on the giving of a court-ordered WHS undertaking 166240 Injunctions 167241 Training orders 167242 Offence to fail to comply with order 167

Division 3 Infringement notices 168

243 Infringement notices 168

Division 4 Offences by bodies corporate 168

244 Imputing conduct to bodies corporate 168

Division 5 The Crown 169

245 Offences and the Crown 169246 WHS civil penalty provisions and the Crown 169247 Officers 170248 Responsible agency for the Crown 170


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Division 6 Public authorities 172

249 Application to public authorities that are bodies corporate 172250 Proceedings against public authorities 172251 Imputing conduct to public authorities 172252 Officer of public authority 173253 Proceedings against successors to public authorities 173

Division 7 WHS civil penalty provisions 173

254 When is a provision a WHS civil penalty provision 173255 Proceedings for contravention of WHS civil penalty

provision 174

256 Involvement in contravention treated in same way as actualcontravention 174

257 Contravening a civil penalty provision is not an offence 175258 Civil proceeding rules and procedure to apply 175259 Proceeding for a contravention of a WHS civil penalty

provision 175260 Proceeding may be brought by the regulator or an inspector 176261 Limitation period for WHS civil penalty proceedings 176262 Recovery of a monetary penalty 176263 Civil double jeopardy 176264 C riminal proceedings during civil proceedings 177265 Criminal proceedings after civil proceedings 177266 Evidence given in proceedings for contravention of WHS

civil penalty provision not admissible in criminal proceedings 177

Division 8 Civil liability not affected by this Act 178

267 Civil liability not affected by this Act 178

Part 14 General 179

Division 1 General provisions 179

268 Offence to give false or misleading information 179269 Act does not affect legal professional privilege 180270 Immunity from liability 180271 Confidentiality of information 181272 No contracting out 183

273 Person not to levy workers 183

Division 2 Codes of practice 183

274 Approved codes of practice 183275 Use of codes of practice in proceedings 184

Division 3 Regulation-making powers 185

276 Regulation-making powers 185__________________


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Schedule 1Application of Act to dangerous goods and high risk

plant 188

Schedule 2The regulator and local tripartite consultation

arrangements 190

Schedule 3Regulation-making powers 191

1 Duties 1912 Incidents 1913 Plant, substances or structures 1914 Protection and welfare of workers 192

5 Hazards and risks 1926 Records and notices 1927 Authorisations 1938 Work groups 1949 Health and safety committees and

health and safety representatives 19410 Issue resolution 19411 WHS entry permits 19412 Identity cards 19513 Forfeiture 19514 Review of decisions 195

APPENDIXJurisdictional Notes 196


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Part 1 Preliminary

Division 1 Introduction

1 Citation

This Act may be cited as the Work Health andSafety Act 2010.

Note

See the jurisdictional note in the Appendix.

2 Commencement

This Act commences on 1 January 2012.

Note


Division 2 Object

3 Object

(1) The main object of this Act is to provide for abalanced and nationally consistent framework tosecure the health and safety of workers andworkplaces by:

(a) protecting workers and other persons againstharm to their health, safety and welfarethrough the elimination or minimisation ofrisks arising from work [or from specifiedtypes of substances or plant]; and

Note


(b) providing for fair and effective workplacerepresentation, consultation, co-operationand issue resolution in relation to workhealth and safety; and


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(c) encouraging unions and employerorganisations to take a constructive role inpromoting improvements in work health andsafety practices, and assisting personsconducting businesses or undertakings andworkers to achieve a healthier and saferworking environment; and

(d) promoting the provision of advice,information, education and training in

relation to work health and safety; and(e) securing compliance with this Act through

effective and appropriate compliance andenforcement measures; and

(f) ensuring appropriate scrutiny and review ofactions taken by persons exercising powersand performing functions under this Act; and

(g) providing a framework for continuousimprovement and progressively higherstandards of work health and safety; and

(h) maintaining and strengthening the nationalharmonisation of laws relating to workhealth and safety and to facilitate a consistentnational approach to work health and safetyin this jurisdiction.

(2) In furthering subsection (1)(a), regard must be hadto the principle that workers and other personsshould be given the highest level of protectionagainst harm to their health, safety and welfare

from hazards and risks arising from work [or fromspecified types of substances or plant] as isreasonably practicable.

Note



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Division 3 Interpretation

Subdivision 1 Definitions

4 Definitions

In this Act:

approved code of practice means a code ofpractice approved under Part 14.

authorised, in Part 4see section 40.authorising authority means:

Note


Category 1 offencesee section 31.



compliance powers means the functions and

powers conferred on an inspector under thisAct.

condition includes limitation and restriction.

construct includes assemble, erect, reconstruct,reassemble and re-erect.

corresponding regulator means the holder of apublic office, or a public authority, of theCommonwealth, or of a State, who or whichis responsible for administering acorresponding WHS law.

corresponding WHS law means:

Note


court means:

Note



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dangerous incident, in Part 3see section 37

demolition includes deconstruction.

design, in relation to plant, a substance or astructure includes:

(a) design of part of the plant, substance orstructure; and

(b) redesign or modify a design.

disclose, in relation to information, includesdivulge or communicate to any person orpublish.

discriminatory conduct, in Part 6seesection 105.

document includes record.

employee record, in relation to an employee, hasthe same meaning as it has in the Privacy Act1988 of the Commonwealth.

employer organisation means an organisation ofemployers.

Fair Work Act means the Fair Work Act 2009 ofthe Commonwealth.

handling includes transport.

health means physical and psychological health.

health and safety dutysee section 30.

health and safety representative, in relation to aworker, means the health and safety

representative elected under Part 5 for thework group of which the worker is amember.

import means to bring into the jurisdiction fromoutside Australia.


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inspector means an inspector appointed underPart 9.

internal reviewer means:

(a) the regulator; or

(b) a person appointed by the regulatorunder section 225.

local authority means:

Note


medical treatment means treatment by a medicalpractitioner registered under [the relevantregistration Act].

Note


notifiable incidentsee section 35.

officer means:

(a) an officer within the meaning ofsection 9 of the Corporations Act 2001of the Commonwealth other than apartner in a partnership; or

(b) an officer of the Crown within themeaning of section 247; or

(c) an officer of a public authority withinthe meaning of section 252,

other than an elected member of a local

authority acting in that capacity.official of a union, in Part 7see section 116.

person conducting a business or undertakingsee section 5.


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personal information has the same meaning as ithas in the Privacy Act 1988 of theCommonwealth.

plant includes:

(a) any machinery, equipment, appliance,container, implement and tool; and

(b) any component of any of those things;and

(c) anything fitted or connected to any ofthose things.

prohibited reason, in Part 6see section 106.

public authority means:

Note


reasonably practicable, in relation to a duty toensure health and safetysee section 18.

regulator means:Note


relevant person conducting a business orundertaking, in Part 7see section 116.

relevant State or Territory industrial law, inPart 7see section 116.

relevant union, in Part 7see section 116.

relevant worker, in Part 7see section 116

representative, in relation to a worker, means:

(a) the health and safety representative forthe worker; or

(b) a union representing the worker; or

(c) any other person the worker authorisesto represent him or her.


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serious injury or illness, in Part 3seesection 36.

State includes Territory.

State or Territory industrial law has the samemeaning as it has in the Fair Work Act.

structure means anything that is constructed,whether fixed or moveable, temporary orpermanent, and includes:

(a) buildings, masts, towers, framework,pipelines, transport infrastructure andunderground works (shafts or tunnels);and

(b) any component of a structure; and

(c) part of a structure.

substance means any natural or artificialsubstance, whether in the form of a solid,liquid, gas or vapour.

supplysee section 6.

this Act includes the regulations.

Note


union means:

(a) an employee organisation that isregistered, or taken to be registered,under the Fair Work (RegisteredOrganisations) Act 2009 of the

Commonwealth; or

(b) an association of employees orindependent contractors, or both, that isregistered or recognised as such anassociation (however described) undera State or Territory industrial law.


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volunteer means a person who is acting on avoluntary basis (irrespective of whether theperson receives out-of-pocket expenses).

WHS entry permit means a WHS entry permitissued under Part 7.

WHS entry permit holder means a person whoholds a WHS entry permit.

WHS undertaking means an undertaking given

under section 216(1).work group means a work group determined

under Part 5.

workersee section 7.

workplacesee section 8.

Subdivision 2 Other important terms

5 Meaning ofperson conducting a business or

undertaking

(1) For the purposes of this Act, a person conducts abusiness or undertaking:

(a) whether the person conducts the business orundertaking alone or with others; and

(b) whether or not the business or undertaking isconducted for profit or gain.

(2) A business or undertaking conducted by a personincludes a business or undertaking conducted by apartnership or an unincorporated association.

(3) If a business or undertaking is conducted by apartnership (other than an incorporatedpartnership), a reference in this Act to a personconducting the business or undertaking is to beread as a reference to each partner in thepartnership.


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(4) A person does not conduct a business orundertaking to the extent that the person isengaged solely as a worker in, or as an officer of,that business or undertaking.

(5) An elected member of a local authority does not inthat capacity conduct a business or undertaking.

(6) The regulations may specify the circumstances inwhich a person may be taken not to be a personwho conducts a business or undertaking for thepurposes of this Act or any provision of this Act.

(7) A volunteer association does not conduct abusiness or undertaking for the purposes of thisAct.

(8) In this section, volunteer association means agroup of volunteers working together for one ormore community purposes where none of thevolunteers, whether alone or jointly with any othervolunteers, employs any person to carry out workfor the volunteer association.

6 Meaning ofsupply

(1) A supply of a thing includes a supply and aresupply of the thing by way of sale, exchange,lease, hire or hire-purchase, whether as principalor agent.

(2) A supply of a thing occurs on the passing ofpossession of the thing to the person or an agentof the person to be supplied.

(3) A supply of a thing does not include:

(a) the return of possession of a thing to theowner of the thing at the end of a lease orother agreement; or

(b) a prescribed supply.


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(4) A financier is taken not to supply plant, asubstance or a structure for the purposes of thisAct if:

(a) the financier has, in the course of thefinancier's business as a financier, acquiredownership of, or another right in, the plant,substance or structure on behalf of acustomer of the financier; and

(b) the action by the financier, that would be asupply but for this subsection, is taken by thefinancier for, or on behalf of, that customer.

(5) If subsection (4) applies, the person (other thanthe financier) who had possession of the plant,substance or structure immediately before thefinancier's customer obtained possession of theplant, substance or structure is taken for thepurposes of this Act to have supplied the plant,substance or structure to the financier's customer.

7 Meaning ofworker

(1) A person is a worker if the person carries outwork in any capacity for a person conducting abusiness or undertaking, including work as:

(a) an employee; or

(b) a contractor or subcontractor; or

(c) an employee of a contractor orsubcontractor; or

(d) an employee of a labour hire company who

has been assigned to work in the person'sbusiness or undertaking; or

(e) an outworker; or

(f) an apprentice or trainee; or

(g) a student gaining work experience; or


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(h) a volunteer; or

(i) a person of a prescribed class.

(2) For the purposes of this Act, a police officer is:

(a) a worker; and

(b) at work throughout the time when the officeris on duty or lawfully performing thefunctions of a police officer, but nototherwise.

Note


(3) The person conducting the business orundertaking is also a worker if the person is anindividual who carries out work in that business orundertaking.

8 Meaning ofworkplace

(1) A workplace is a place where work is carried outfor a business or undertaking and includes any

place where a worker goes, or is likely to be,while at work.

(2) In this section, place includes:

(a) vehicle, vessel, aircraft or other mobilestructure; and

(b) any waters and any installation on land, onthe bed of any waters or floating on anywaters.

9 Examples and notes

(1) An example at the foot of a provision forms partof this Act.

(2) A note at the foot of a provision forms part of thisAct.

Note

See the jurisdictional notes in the Appendix.


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Division 4 Application of Act

10 Act binds the Crown

(1) This Act binds the Crown in right of thisjurisdiction and, in so far as the legislative powerof the Parliament of this jurisdiction permits, theCrown in all its other capacities.

Note


(2) The Crown is liable for an offence against thisAct.

(3) Without limiting subsection (1), the Crown isliable for a contravention of a WHS civil penaltyprovision.

11 Extraterritorial application

Note


12 ScopeNote



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Division 1 Introductory

Subdivision 1 Principles that apply to duties

13 Principles that apply to duties

This Subdivision sets out the principles that applyto all duties that persons have under this Act.

Note

The principles will apply to duties under this Part and other Partsof this Act such as duties relating to incident notification andconsultation.

14 Duties not transferrable

A duty cannot be transferred to another person.

15 Person may have more than one duty

A person can have more than one duty by virtueof being in more than one class of duty holder.

16 More than one person can have a duty

(1) More than one person can concurrently have thesame duty.

(2) Each duty holder must comply with that duty tothe standard required by this Act even if anotherduty holder has the same duty.

(3) If more than one person has a duty for the same

matter, each person:(a) retains responsibility for the person's duty in

relation to the matter; and

(b) must discharge the person's duty to theextent to which the person has the capacityto influence and control the matter or wouldhave had that capacity but for an agreement


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or arrangement purporting to limit or removethat capacity.

17 Management of risks

A duty imposed on a person to ensure health andsafety requires the person:

(a) to eliminate risks to health and safety, so faras is reasonably practicable; and

(b) if it is not reasonably practicable to eliminate

risks to health and safety, to minimise thoserisks so far as is reasonably practicable.

Subdivision 2 What is reasonably practicable

18 What is reasonably practicable in ensuring health

and safety

In this Act, reasonably practicable, in relation toa duty to ensure health and safety, means thatwhich is, or was at a particular time, reasonably

able to be done in relation to ensuring health andsafety, taking into account and weighing up allrelevant matters including:

(a) the likelihood of the hazard or the riskconcerned occurring; and

(b) the degree of harm that might result from thehazard or the risk; and

(c) what the person concerned knows, or oughtreasonably to know, about:

(i) the hazard or the risk; and(ii) ways of eliminating or minimising the

risk; and

(d) the availability and suitability of ways toeliminate or minimise the risk; and


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(e) after assessing the extent of the risk and theavailable ways of eliminating or minimisingthe risk, the cost associated with availableways of eliminating or minimising the risk,including whether the cost is grosslydisproportionate to the risk.

Division 2 Primary duty of care

19 Primary duty of care

(1) A person conducting a business or undertakingmust ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable,the health and safety of:

(a) workers engaged, or caused to be engaged bythe person; and

(b) workers whose activities in carrying outwork are influenced or directed by theperson,

while the workers are at work in the business or

undertaking.

(2) A person conducting a business or undertakingmust ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable,that the health and safety of other persons is notput at risk from work carried out as part of theconduct of the business or undertaking.

(3) Without limiting subsections (1) and (2), a personconducting a business or undertaking must ensure,so far as is reasonably practicable:

(a) the provision and maintenance of a workenvironment without risks to health andsafety; and

(b) the provision and maintenance of safe plantand structures; and


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(c) the provision and maintenance of safesystems of work; and

(d) the safe use, handling and storage of plant,structures and substances; and

(e) the provision of adequate facilities for thewelfare at work of workers in carrying outwork for the business or undertaking,including ensuring access to those facilities;and

(f) the provision of any information, training,instruction or supervision that is necessary toprotect all persons from risks to their healthand safety arising from work carried out aspart of the conduct of the business orundertaking; and

(g) that the health of workers and the conditionsat the workplace are monitored for thepurpose of preventing illness or injury ofworkers arising from the conduct of thebusiness or undertaking.

(4) If:

(a) a worker occupies accommodation that isowned by or under the management orcontrol of the person conducting the businessor undertaking; and

(b) the occupancy is necessary for the purposesof the worker's engagement because otheraccommodation is not reasonably available,

the person conducting the business or undertakingmust, so far as is reasonably practicable, maintainthe premises so that the worker occupying thepremises is not exposed to risks to health andsafety.


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(5) A self-employed person must ensure, so far as isreasonably practicable, his or her own health andsafety while at work.

Note

A self-employed person is also a person conducting abusiness or undertaking for the purposes of this section.

Division 3 Further duties of persons conducting

businesses or undertakings

20 Duty of persons conducting businesses or

undertakings involving management or control of

workplaces

(1) In this section, person with management orcontrol of a workplace means a personconducting a business or undertaking to the extentthat the business or undertaking involves themanagement or control, in whole or in part, of theworkplace but does not include:

(a) the occupier of a residence, unless theresidence is occupied for the purposes, or aspart of, the conduct of a business orundertaking; or

(b) a prescribed person.

(2) The person with management or control of aworkplace must ensure, so far as is reasonablypracticable, that the workplace, the means ofentering and exiting the workplace and anythingarising from the workplace are without risks to the

health and safety of any person.21 Duty of persons conducting businesses or

undertakings involving management or control of

fixtures, fittings or plant at workplaces

(1) In this section, person with management orcontrol of fixtures, fittings or plant at aworkplace means a person conducting a business


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or undertaking to the extent that the business orundertaking involves the management or controlof fixtures, fittings or plant, in whole or in part, ata workplace, but does not include:

(a) the occupier of a residence, unless theresidence is occupied for the purposes, or aspart of, the conduct of a business orundertaking; or

(b) a prescribed person.

(2) The person with management or control offixtures, fittings or plant at a workplace mustensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that thefixtures, fittings and plant are without risks to thehealth and safety of any person.

22 Duties of persons conducting businesses or

undertakings that design plant, substances or

structures

(1) This section applies to a person (the designer)

who conducts a business or undertaking thatdesigns:

(a) plant that is to be used, or could reasonablybe expected to be used, as, or at, aworkplace; or

(b) a substance that is to be used, or couldreasonably be expected to be used, at aworkplace; or

(c) a structure that is to be used, or couldreasonably be expected to be used, as, or at,a workplace.

(2) The designer must ensure, so far as is reasonablypracticable, that the plant, substance or structure isdesigned to be without risks to the health andsafety of persons:


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(a) who, at a workplace, use the plant, substanceor structure for a purpose for which it wasdesigned; or

(b) who handle the substance at a workplace; or

(c) who store the plant or substance at aworkplace; or

(d) who construct the structure at a workplace;or

(e) who carry out any reasonably foreseeableactivity at a workplace in relation to:

(i) the manufacture, assembly or use of theplant for a purpose for which it wasdesigned, or the proper storage,decommissioning, dismantling ordisposal of the plant; or

(ii) the manufacture or use of the substancefor a purpose for which it was designedor the proper handling, storage or

disposal of the substance; or

(iii) the manufacture, assembly or use of thestructure for a purpose for which it wasdesigned or the proper demolition ordisposal of the structure; or

Example

Inspection, operation, cleaning, maintenance or repairof plant.

(f) who are at or in the vicinity of a workplace

and who are exposed to the plant, substanceor structure at the workplace or whose healthor safety may be affected by a use or activityreferred to in paragraph (a), (b), (c), (d)or (e).

(3) The designer must carry out, or arrange thecarrying out of, any calculations, analysis, testingor examination that may be necessary for the


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performance of the duty imposed bysubsection (2).

(4) The designer must give adequate information toeach person who is provided with the design forthe purpose of giving effect to it concerning:

(a) each purpose for which the plant, substanceor structure was designed; and

(b) the results of any calculations, analysis,

testing or examination referred to insubsection (3), including, in relation to asubstance, any hazardous properties of thesubstance identified by testing; and

(c) any conditions necessary to ensure that theplant, substance or structure is without risksto health and safety when used for a purposefor which it was designed or when carryingout any activity referred to in subsection(2)(a) to (e).

(5) The designer, on request, must, so far as isreasonably practicable, give current relevantinformation on the matters referred to insubsection (4) to a person who carries out, or is tocarry out any of the activities referred to insubsection (2)(a) to (e).


undertakings that manufacture plant, substances or

structures

(1) This section applies to a person (the

manufacturer) who conducts a business orundertaking that manufactures:



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(2) The manufacturer must ensure, so far as isreasonably practicable, that the plant, substance orstructure is manufactured to be without risks tothe health and safety of persons:

(a) who, at a workplace, use the plant, substanceor structure for a purpose for which it wasdesigned or manufactured; or





(i) the assembly or use of the plant for apurpose for which it was designed ormanufactured or the proper storage,decommissioning, dismantling ordisposal of the plant; or

(ii) the use of the substance for a purposefor which it was designed or

manufactured or the proper handling,storage or disposal of the substance; or


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(iii) the assembly or use of the structure fora purpose for which it was designed ormanufactured or the proper demolitionor disposal of the structure; or

Example


(f) who are at or in the vicinity of a workplaceand who are exposed to the plant, substance

or structure at the workplace or whose healthor safety may be affected by a use or activityreferred to in paragraph (a), (b), (c), (d)or (e).

(3) The manufacturer must carry out, or arrange thecarrying out of, any calculations, analysis, testingor examination that may be necessary for theperformance of the duty imposed bysubsection (2).

(4) The manufacturer must give adequate informationto each person to whom the manufacturer providesthe plant, substance or structure concerning:

(a) each purpose for which the plant, substanceor structure was designed or manufactured;and

(b) the results of any calculations, analysis,testing or examination referred to insubsection (3), including, in relation to asubstance, any hazardous properties of thesubstance identified by testing; and

(c) any conditions necessary to ensure that theplant, substance or structure is without risksto health and safety when used for a purposefor which it was designed or manufactured orwhen carrying out any activity referred to insubsection (2)(a) to (e).


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(5) The manufacturer, on request, must, so far as isreasonably practicable, give current relevantinformation on the matters referred to insubsection (4) to a person who carries out, or is tocarry out, any of the activities referred to insubsection (2)(a) to (e).


undertakings that import plant, substances or

structures

(1) This section applies to a person (the importer)who conducts a business or undertaking thatimports:




(2) The importer must ensure, so far as is reasonablypracticable, that the plant, substance or structure iswithout risks to the health and safety of persons:

(a) who, at a workplace, use the plant, substanceor structure for a purpose for which it wasdesigned or manufactured; or





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(ii) the use of the substance for a purposefor which it was designed ormanufactured or the proper handling,storage or disposal of the substance; or


Example


(f) who are at or in the vicinity of a workplaceand who are exposed to the plant, substanceor structure at the workplace or whose healthor safety may be affected by a use or activityreferred to in paragraph (a), (b), (c), (d)or (e).

(3) The importer must:

(a) carry out, or arrange the carrying out of, anycalculations, analysis, testing or examinationthat may be necessary for the performance of

the duty imposed by subsection (2); or(b) ensure that the calculations, analysis, testing

or examination have been carried out.

(4) The importer must give adequate information toeach person to whom the importer provides theplant, substance or structure concerning:


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(5) The importer, on request, must, so far as isreasonably practicable, give current relevantinformation on the matters referred to insubsection (4) to a person who carries out, or is tocarry out, any of the activities referred to in

subsection (2)(a) to (e).


undertakings that supply plant, substances or

structures

(1) This section applies to a person (the supplier) whoconducts a business or undertaking that supplies:





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(2) The supplier must ensure, so far as is reasonablypracticable, that the plant, substance or structure iswithout risks to the health and safety of persons:

(a) who, at a workplace, use the plant orsubstance or structure for a purpose forwhich it was designed or manufactured; or


(c) who store the plant or substance at a

workplace; or(d) who construct the structure at a workplace;

or



(ii) the use of the substance for a purposefor which it was designed ormanufactured or the proper handling,storage or disposal of the substance; or


Example

Inspection, storage, operation, cleaning, maintenanceor repair of plant.

(f) who are at or in the vicinity of a workplaceand who are exposed to the plant, substanceor structure at the workplace or whose healthor safety may be affected by a use or activityreferred to in paragraph (a), (b), (c), (d)or (e).


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(3) The supplier must:

(a) carry out, or arrange the carrying out of, anycalculations, analysis, testing or examinationthat may be necessary for the performance ofthe duty imposed by subsection (2); or

(b) ensure that the calculations, analysis, testingor examination have been carried out.

(4) The supplier must give adequate information to

each person to whom the supplier supplies theplant, substance or structure concerning:




(5) The supplier, on request, must, so far as isreasonably practicable, give current relevantinformation on the matters referred to insubsection (4) to a person who carries out, or is to

carry out, any of the activities referred to insubsection (2)(a) to (e).


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26 Duty of persons conducting businesses or

undertakings that install, construct or commission

plant or structures

(1) This section applies to a person who conducts abusiness or undertaking that installs, constructs orcommissions plant or a structure that is to be used,or could reasonably be expected to be used, as, orat, a workplace.

(2) The person must ensure, so far as is reasonablypracticable, that the way in which the plant orstructure is installed, constructed or commissionedensures that the plant or structure is without risksto the health and safety of persons:

(a) who install or construct the plant or structureat a workplace; or

(b) who use the plant or structure at a workplacefor a purpose for which it was installed,constructed or commissioned; or

(c) who carry out any reasonably foreseeableactivity at a workplace in relation to theproper use, decommissioning or dismantlingof the plant or demolition or disposal of thestructure; or

(d) who are at or in the vicinity of a workplaceand whose health or safety may be affectedby a use or activity referred to in paragraph(a), (b) or (c).

Division 4 Duty of officers, workers and other persons

27 Duty of officers

(1) If a person conducting a business or undertakinghas a duty or obligation under this Act, an officerof the person conducting the business orundertaking must exercise due diligence to ensure


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that the person conducting the business orundertaking complies with that duty or obligation.

(2) Subject to subsection (3), the maximum penaltyapplicable under Division 5 of this Part for anoffence relating to the duty of an officer under thissection is the maximum penalty fixed for anofficer of a person conducting a business orundertaking for that offence.

(3) Despite anything to the contrary in section 33, ifthe duty or obligation of a person conducting abusiness or undertaking was imposed under aprovision other than a provision of Division 2 or 3of this Part or this Division, the maximum penaltyunder section 33 for an offence by an officerunder section 33 in relation to the duty orobligation is the maximum penalty fixed under theprovision creating the duty or obligation for anindividual who fails to comply with the duty orobligation.

(4) An officer of a person conducting a business orundertaking may be convicted or found guilty ofan offence under this Act relating to a duty underthis section whether or not the person conductingthe business or undertaking has been convicted orfound guilty of an offence under this Act relatingto the duty or obligation.

(5) In this section, due diligence includes takingreasonable steps:

(a) to acquire and keep up-to-date knowledge of

work health and safety matters; and

(b) to gain an understanding of the nature of theoperations of the business or undertaking ofthe person conducting the business orundertaking and generally of the hazards andrisks associated with those operations; and


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(c) to ensure that the person conducting thebusiness or undertaking has available for use,and uses, appropriate resources andprocesses to eliminate or minimise risks tohealth and safety from work carried out aspart of the conduct of the business orundertaking; and

(d) to ensure that the person conducting thebusiness or undertaking has appropriate

processes for receiving and consideringinformation regarding incidents, hazards andrisks and responding in a timely way to thatinformation; and

(e) to ensure that the person conducting thebusiness or undertaking has, and implements,processes for complying with any duty orobligation of the person conducting thebusiness or undertaking under this Act; and

Examples

For the purposes of paragraph (e), the duties orobligations under this Act of a person conducting abusiness or undertaking may include:

reporting notifiable incidents;

consulting with workers;

ensuring compliance with notices issued underthis Act;

ensuring the provision of training andinstruction to workers about work health andsafety;

ensuring that health and safety representativesreceive their entitlements to training.

(f) to verify the provision and use of theresources and processes referred to inparagraphs (c) to (e).


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28 Duties of workers

While at work, a worker must:

(a) take reasonable care for his or her ownhealth and safety; and

(b) take reasonable care that his or her acts oromissions do not adversely affect the healthand safety of other persons; and

(c) comply, so far as the worker is reasonably

able, with any reasonable instruction that isgiven by the person conducting the businessor undertaking to allow the person to complywith this Act; and

(d) cooperate with any reasonable policy orprocedure of the person conducting thebusiness or undertaking relating to health orsafety at the workplace that has been notifiedto workers.

29 Duties of other persons at the workplace

A person at a workplace (whether or not theperson has another duty under this Part) must:

(a) take reasonable care for his or her ownhealth and safety; and

(b) take reasonable care that his or her acts oromissions do not adversely affect the healthand safety of other persons; and

(c) comply, so far as the person is reasonablyable, with any reasonable instruction that is

given by the person conducting the businessor undertaking to allow the personconducting the business or undertaking tocomply with this Act.


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Division 5 Offences and penalties

30 Health and safety duty

In this Division, health and safety duty means aduty imposed under Division 2, 3 or 4 of this Part.

31 Reckless conductCategory 1

(1) A person commits a Category 1 offence if:

(a) the person has a health and safety duty; and

(b) the person, without reasonable excuse,engages in conduct that exposes anindividual to whom that duty is owed to arisk of death or serious injury or illness; and

(c) the person is reckless as to the risk to anindividual of death or serious injury orillness.

Maximum penalty:

In the case of an offence committed by an

individual (other than as a person conductinga business or undertaking or as an officer ofa person conducting a business orundertaking)$300 000 or 5 yearsimprisonment or both.

In the case of an offence committed by anindividual as a person conducting a businessor undertaking or as an officer of a personconducting a business or undertaking$600 000 or 5 years imprisonment or both.

In the case of an offence committed by abody corporate$3 000 000.

(2) The prosecution bears the burden of proving thatthe conduct was engaged in without reasonableexcuse.


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32 Failure to comply with health and safety duty

Category 2

A person commits a Category 2 offence if:


(b) the person fails to comply with that duty; and

(c) the failure exposes an individual to a risk ofdeath or serious injury or illness.

Maximum penalty:In the case of an offence committed by anindividual (other than as a person conductinga business or undertaking or as an officer ofa person conducting a business orundertaking)$150 000.

In the case of an offence committed by anindividual as a person conducting a businessor undertaking or as an officer of a personconducting a business or undertaking

$300 000.In the case of an offence committed by abody corporate$1 500 000.

33 Failure to comply with health and safety duty

Category 3

A person commits a Category 3 offence if:


(b) the person fails to comply with that duty.

Maximum penalty:In the case of an offence committed by anindividual (other than as a person conductinga business or undertaking or as an officer ofa person conducting a business orundertaking)$50 000.


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In the case of an offence committed by anindividual as a person conducting a businessor undertaking or as an officer of a personconducting a business or undertaking$100 000.

In the case of an offence committed by abody corporate$500 000.

34 Exceptions

(1) A volunteer does not commit an offence underthis Division for a failure to comply with a healthand safety duty, except a duty under section 28or 29.

(2) An unincorporated association does not commitan offence under this Act, and is not liable for acivil penalty under this Act, for a failure tocomply with a duty or obligation imposed on theunincorporated association under this Act.

(3) However:

(a) an officer of an unincorporated association(other than a volunteer) may be liable for afailure to comply with a duty undersection 27; and

(b) a member of an unincorporated associationmay be liable for failure to comply with aduty under section 28 or 29.


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Part 3 Incident notification


35


35 What is a notifiable incident

In this Act, notifiable incident means:

(a) the death of a person; or

(b) a serious injury or illness of a person; or

(c) a dangerous incident.

36 What is a serious injury or illness

In this Part, serious injury or illness of a personmeans an injury or illness requiring the person tohave:

(a) immediate treatment as an in-patient in ahospital; or

(b) immediate treatment for:

(i) the amputation of any part of his or herbody; or

(ii) a serious head injury; or

(iii) a serious eye injury; or

(iv) a serious burn; or

(v) the separation of his or her skin from anunderlying tissue (such as degloving orscalping); or

(vi) a spinal injury; or

(vii) the loss of a bodily function; or

(viii) serious lacerations; or


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(c) medical treatment within 48 hours ofexposure to a substance,

and any other injury or illness prescribed by theregulations but does not include an illness orinjury of a prescribed kind.

37 What is a dangerous incident

In this Part, a dangerous incident means anincident in relation to a workplace that exposes a

worker or any other person to a serious risk to aperson's health or safety emanating from animmediate or imminent exposure to:

(a) an uncontrolled escape, spillage or leakageof a substance; or

(b) an uncontrolled implosion, explosion or fire;or

(c) an uncontrolled escape of gas or steam; or

(d) an uncontrolled escape of a pressurised

substance; or(e) electric shock; or

(f) the fall or release from a height of any plant,substance or thing; or

(g) the collapse, overturning, failure ormalfunction of, or damage to, any plant thatis required to be authorised for use inaccordance with the regulations; or

(h) the collapse or partial collapse of a structure;

or(i) the collapse or failure of an excavation or of

any shoring supporting an excavation; or

(j) the inrush of water, mud or gas in workings,in an underground excavation or tunnel; or


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(k) the interruption of the main system ofventilation in an underground excavation ortunnel; or

(l) any other event prescribed by theregulations,

but does not include an incident of a prescribedkind.

38 Duty to notify of notifiable incidents

(1) A person who conducts a business or undertakingmust ensure that the regulator is notifiedimmediately after becoming aware that anotifiable incident arising out of the conduct ofthe business or undertaking has occurred.

Maximum penalty:

In the case of an individual$10 000.

In the case of a body corporate$50 000.

(2) The notice must be given in accordance with this

section and by the fastest possible means.

Note


(3) The notice must be given:

(a) by telephone; or

(b) in writing.

Example

The written notice can be given by facsimile, email or other

electronic means.(4) A person giving notice by telephone must:

(a) give the details of the incident requested bythe regulator; and

(b) if required by the regulator, give a writtennotice of the incident within 48 hours of thatrequirement being made.


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(5) A written notice must be in a form, or contain thedetails, approved by the regulator.

(6) If the regulator receives a notice by telephone anda written notice is not required, the regulator mustgive the person conducting the business orundertaking:

(a) details of the information received; or

(b) an acknowledgement of receiving the notice.

(7) A person conducting a business or undertakingmust keep a record of each notifiable incident forat least 5 years from the day that notice of theincident is given to the regulator under thissection.

Maximum penalty:

In the case of an individual$5000.


39 Duty to preserve incident sites

(1) The person with management or control of aworkplace at which a notifiable incident hasoccurred must ensure so far as is reasonablypracticable, that the site where the incidentoccurred is not disturbed until an inspector arrivesat the site or any earlier time that an inspectordirects.

Maximum penalty:



(2) In subsection (1) a reference to a site includes anyplant, substance, structure or thing associated withthe notifiable incident.


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(3) Subsection (1) does not prevent any action:

(a) to assist an injured person; or

(b) to remove a deceased person; or

(c) that is essential to make the site safe or tominimise the risk of a further notifiableincident; or

(d) that is associated with a police investigation;or

(e) for which an inspector or the regulator hasgiven permission.


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Part 4 Authorisations


40


40 Meaning ofauthorised

In this Part, authorisedmeans authorised by alicence, permit, registration or other authority(however described) as required by theregulations.

41 Requirements for authorisation of workplaces

A person must not conduct a business orundertaking at a workplace or direct or allow aworker to carry out work at a workplace if:

(a) the regulations require the workplace orworkplaces in that class of workplace to beauthorised; and

(b) the workplace is not authorised inaccordance with the regulations.

Maximum penalty:



42 Requirements for authorisation of plant or

substance

(1) A person must not use plant or a substance at aworkplace if:

(a) the regulations require the plant or substanceor its design to be authorised; and

(b) the plant or substance or its design is notauthorised in accordance with theregulations.

Maximum penalty:




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(2) A person who conducts a business or undertakingmust not direct or allow a worker to use the plantor substance at a workplace if:

(a) the regulations require the plant or substanceor its design to be authorised; and

(b) the plant or substance or its design is notauthorised in accordance with theregulations.

Maximum penalty:In the case of an individual$20 000.


43 Requirements for authorisation of work

(1) A person must not carry out work at a workplaceif:

(a) the regulations require the work, or class ofwork, to be carried out by, or on behalf of, aperson who is authorised; and

(b) the person, or the person on whose behalf thework is carried out, is not authorised inaccordance with the regulations.

Maximum penalty:



(2) A person who conducts a business or undertakingmust not direct or allow a worker to carry out

work at a workplace if:(a) the regulations require the work, or class of

work, to be carried out by, or on behalf of, aperson who is authorised; and


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(b) the person, or the person on whose behalf thework is to be carried out, is not authorised inaccordance with the regulations.

Maximum penalty:



44 Requirements for prescribed qualifications or

experience

(1) A person must not carry out work at a workplaceif:

(a) the regulations require the work, or class ofwork, to be carried out by, or under thesupervision of, a person who has prescribedqualifications or experience; and

(b) the person does not have the prescribedqualifications or experience or the work isnot carried out under the supervision of a

person who has the prescribed qualificationsor experience.

Maximum penalty:



(2) A person who conducts a business or undertakingmust not direct or allow a worker to carry outwork at a workplace if:

(a) the regulations require the work, or class of

work, to be carried out by, or under thesupervision of, a person who has prescribedqualifications or experience; and

(b) the worker does not have the prescribedqualifications or experience or the work isnot carried out under the supervision of a


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person who has the prescribed qualificationsor experience.

Maximum penalty:



45 Requirement to comply with conditions of

authorisation

A person must comply with the conditions of anyauthorisation given to that person under theregulations.

Maximum penalty:




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Part 5 Consultation, representation and participation


44

Part 5 Consultation, representation and

participation

Division 1 Consultation, co-operation and co-ordination

between duty holders

46 Duty to consult with other duty holders

If more than one person has a duty in respect of

the same matter under this Act, each person withthe duty must, so far as is reasonably practicable,consult, co-operate and co-ordinate activities withall other persons who have a duty in relation to thesame matter.

Maximum penalty:



Division 2 Consultation with workers

47 Duty to consult workers

(1) The person conducting a business or undertakingmust, so far as is reasonably practicable, consult,in accordance with this Division and theregulations, with workers who carry out work forthe business or undertaking who are, or are likelyto be, directly affected by a matter relating towork health or safety.

Maximum penalty:In the case of an individual$20 000.


(2) If the person conducting the business orundertaking and the workers have agreed toprocedures for consultation, the consultation mustbe in accordance with those procedures.


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(3) The agreed procedures must not be inconsistentwith section 48.

48 Nature of consultation

(1) Consultation under this Division requires:

(a) that relevant information about the matter isshared with workers; and

(b) that workers be given a reasonableopportunity:

(i) to express their views and to raise workhealth or safety issues in relation to thematter; and

(ii) to contribute to the decision-makingprocess relating to the matter; and

(c) that the views of workers are taken intoaccount by the person conducting thebusiness or undertaking; and

(d) that the workers consulted are advised of the

outcome of the consultation in a timelymanner.

(2) If the workers are represented by a health andsafety representative, the consultation mustinvolve that representative.

49 When consultation is required

Consultation under this Division is required inrespect of the following health and safety matters:

(a) when identifying hazards and assessing risks

to health and safety arising from the workcarried out or to be carried out by thebusiness or undertaking;

(b) when making decisions about ways toeliminate or minimise those risks;

(c) when making decisions about the adequacyof facilities for the welfare of workers;


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(d) when proposing changes that may affect thehealth or safety of workers;

(e) when making decisions about the proceduresfor:

(i) consulting with workers; or

(ii) resolving work health or safety issues atthe workplace; or

(iii) monitoring the health of workers; or

(iv) monitoring the conditions at anyworkplace under the management orcontrol of the person conducting thebusiness or undertaking; or

(v) providing information and training forworkers; or

(f) when carrying out any other activityprescribed by the regulations for thepurposes of this section.

Division 3 Health and safety representatives

Subdivision 1 Request for election of health and safety

representatives

50 Request for election of health and safety

representative

A worker who carries out work for a business orundertaking may ask the person conducting thebusiness or undertaking to facilitate the conduct ofan election for one or more health and safetyrepresentatives to represent workers who carry outwork for the business or undertaking.


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Subdivision 2 Determination of work groups

51 Determination of work groups

(1) If a request is made under section 50, the personconducting the business or undertaking mustfacilitate the determination of one or more workgroups of workers.

(2) The purpose of determining a work group is tofacilitate the representation of workers in the work

group by one or more health and safetyrepresentatives.

(3) A work group may be determined for workers atone or more workplaces.

52 Negotiations for agreement for work group

(1) A work group is to be determined by negotiationand agreement between:

(a) the person conducting the business orundertaking; and

(b) the workers who will form the work group ortheir representatives.

(2) The person conducting the business orundertaking must take all reasonable steps tocommence negotiations with the workers within14 days after a request is made under section 50.

(3) The purpose of the negotiations is to determine:

(a) the number and composition of work groupsto be represented by health and safety

representatives; and

(b) the number of health and safetyrepresentatives and deputy health and safetyrepresentatives (if any) to be elected; and


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(c) the workplace or workplaces to which thework groups will apply; and

(d) the businesses or undertakings to which thework groups will apply.

(4) The parties to an agreement concerning thedetermination of a work group or groups may, atany time, negotiate a variation of the agreement.

(5) The person conducting the business or

undertaking must, if asked by a worker, negotiatewith the worker's representative in negotiationsunder this section (including negotiations for avariation of an agreement) and must not excludethe representative from those negotiations.

Maximum penalty:



(6) The regulations may prescribe the matters that

must be taken into account in negotiations for anddetermination of work groups and variations ofagreements concerning work groups.

53 Notice to workers

(1) The person conducting a business or undertakinginvolved in negotiations to determine a workgroup must, as soon as practicable after thenegotiations are completed, notify the workers ofthe outcome of the negotiations and of any workgroups determined by agreement.

Maximum penalty:



(2) The person conducting a business or undertakinginvolved in negotiations for the variation of anagreement concerning the determination of a work


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group or groups must, as soon as practicable afterthe negotiations are completed, notify the workersof the outcome of the negotiations and of thevariation (if any) to the agreement.

Maximum penalty:



54 Failure of negotiations

(1) If there is a failure of negotiations (includingnegotiations concerning the variation of anagreement), any person who is or would be a partyto the negotiations may ask the regulator toappoint an inspector for the purposes of thissection.

(2) An inspector appointed under subsection (1) maydecide:

(a) the matters referred to in section 52(3), or

any of those matters which is the subject ofthe proposed variation (as the case requires);or

(b) that work groups should not be determinedor that the agreement should not be varied(as the case requires).

(3) For the purposes of this section, there is a failureof negotiations if:

(a) the person conducting the business orundertaking has not taken all reasonable

steps to commence negotiations with theworkers and negotiations have notcommenced within 14 days after

(i) a request is made under section 50; or

(ii) a party to the agreement requests thevariation of the agreement; or


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(b) agreement cannot be reached on a matterrelating to the determination of a work group(or the variation of an agreement concerninga work group) within a reasonable time afternegotiations commence.

(4) A decision under this section is taken to be anagreement under section 52.

Subdivision 3 Multiple-business work groups

55 Determination of work groups of multiple

businesses

(1) Work groups may be determined for workerscarrying out work for two or more personsconducting businesses or undertakings at one ormore workplaces.

(2) The particulars of the work groups are to bedetermined by negotiation and agreement, inaccordance with section 56, between each of the

persons conducting the businesses or undertakingsand the workers.

(3) The parties to an agreement concerning thedetermination of a work group or groups may, atany time, negotiate a variation of the agreement.

(3) The determination of one or more work groupsunder this Subdivision does not:

(a) prevent the determination under thisSubdivision or Subdivision 2 of any otherwork group of the workers concerned; or

(b) affect any work groups of those workers thathave already been determined under thisSubdivision or Subdivision 2.


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Part 5 Consultat

model work health and safety act november 10

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