The Health and Safety Reform Bill currently before a parliamentary select committee will, when enacted, create a new Health and Safety at Work Act. In conjunction with the new Act, the Government is also producing new regulations to work with the Act. Exposure drafts of the first regulations have now been released.

These exposure drafts are being released to ensure that they are fit for purpose and technically accurate. Current regulations available for review are:

  • Regulations for general risk and workplace management;
  • Regulations for major hazard facilities; and
  • Recently-made health and safety regulations covering the mining, petroleum and adventure activities sectors, which will be transferred into the new regime.

The regulations are available here.
In the coming weeks, exposure drafts will also be released for:

  • regulations on work involving asbestos;
  • administrative regulations that detail infringement offences and fees in phase one regulation, and prescribe a standard infringement notice;
  • worker participation, engagement and representation regulations; and
  • regulations for work involving hazardous substances.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.