10 Things you need to know - Health & safety harmonisation

There are over 500+  pages in the  Work Health & Safety Regulations.  The following is a short list of some of the items that will affect many businesses:

• A work health & safety management plan is required for all construction projects with a value of $250,000 or more
• Safe work method statements are required for high risk construction projects.
• Hazardous substances which are household chemicals will no longer need to be included in a hazardous substances register.
• Terminology for OHS & WHS Representatives is replaced with HS representatives.
• No term is prescribed for the duration for a health and safety committee.
• All contractors are covered under the definition of workers (including subcontractors of contractors).
• Hand held tools are defined as plant.
• OHS/WHS committees may remain under the new work health and safety laws, in the form of health and safety committees (HSCs).
• As a PCBU you will need to consult with all workers in your workplace because this term will cover more than just employees.
• The term employee is replaced with worker which includes employees, labour hire, volunteers, apprentices, work experience, contractors and sub-contractors.