Work Health and Safety and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2015

Overview

This bill restores workplace safety protections that were wound back in 2014 and re-establishes key electrical safety oversight bodies. It gives trained health and safety representatives the power to order unsafe work to stop, lets union safety inspectors enter workplaces immediately to investigate suspected breaches, and requires employers to notify the regulator when a worker is off for more than four days due to injury.

Who it affects

Workers gain stronger on-the-job safety protections while employers face new notification duties and less notice before safety inspections. Electrical tradespeople and the industry will again have a dedicated Commissioner and advisory committees overseeing electrical safety.

Key changes

• Trained health and safety representatives can direct a worker to stop work if there is a serious, immediate risk to health or safety
• Union workplace entry permit holders can enter workplaces immediately to investigate suspected safety breaches, with notice given as soon as practicable afterwards
• Employers must notify the regulator when a worker is absent for more than four days due to a workplace injury or illness
• Maximum penalty for breaching entry permit conditions is halved from 200 to 100 penalty units, and the separate offence for failing to give notice of entry is removed
• The Commissioner for Electrical Safety, Electrical Safety Education Committee and Electrical Equipment Committee are reinstated to advise on electrical safety