WorkSafe Update

DR ELIZABETH GIBSON, General Manager of CMPA provides an update on communications with WorkSafe

A meeting was held with WorkSafe on 30 May 2013. In attendance were Rob Kelly, Manager Earth Resources Unit and Tony Ferrazza Senior Mining Engineer from WorkSafe and from CMPA Ron Kerr, Pat Kerr and Elizabeth Gibson the meeting was held at Conundrum Holdings, Northern Quarries in Epping. A number of issues were raised and discussed by CMPA.

WorkSafe have agreed to present during the regulation session in the Certificate IV and Diploma (once per year for each course). CMPA requested that WorkSafe visited all sites, if it were possible over a period of time, so that one site was not advantaged over the other. WorkSafe responded that while they will visit a large cross section of the industry based on targeted visits or requests to attend to deal with a safety concern, they cannot promise to visit all the sites across the State.

CMPA queried whether there was a standard format for a site inspection. WorkSafe said that they develop a list of activities to be inspected based on accident statistics. Initially, they look for a degree of confidence that the organisation know their business.

WorkSafe are currently developing a Guidance note for Traffic Management at Quarries which they will seek industry feedback on. It was suggested that the construction material industry could identify areas of high risk. The CMPA would like continued support from WorkSafe in the development of a Blast Management Plan template.

There were not many reportable incidences from quarries that were reported to WorkSafe. Over the July 2012 to April 2013 there were a total of 12 incidences reported, 4 significant and 8 minor. More notifications were received from mines. It was reiterated that if there is a WorkSafe incident then ring the notification line 1800 136 089 (toll free) or 24 hour emergency response line 13 23 60 to report. If it is a matter of clarification of an issue then ring an inspector.

Gavin Moreira will be the CMPA representative at the Earth Resources Tripartite Safety meeting. WorkSafe mentioned the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Regulations 2007 Reform Project. The regulations will be reviewed for Further information obtained after the meeting from WorkSafe (Rob Kelly) is appended below.

OHS REGULATIONS REFORM PROJECT

The OHS Regulations 2007 will sunset in June 2017. WorkSafe is required to review and remake the Regulations by this date. There are currently 500 pages of regulation, covering more than a dozen subject areas, with 8 Compliance Codes, 900 guidance documents attached to the regulations.

Work practices have changed considerably over the last 10 years, so there is a significant opportunity for modernisation of the regulations. As a first step, the regulations will be reviewed to identify opportunities to improve workability, for streamlining and to reduce delays without reducing safety standards.

This will ensure that Victoria’s regulations remain best practice, will assist compliance and drive safety improvements. It is expected that the current OHS Regulations will be amended to deliver these benefits by mid-2014.

WorkSafe will work closely with stakeholders to ensure their views are considered throughout the process. A comprehensive review of the regulations will be carried out in the lead up to replacement of the current OHS Regulations. It will aim to:

• evaluate the effectiveness of the existing regulations;
• improve health and safety outcomes for workers;
• identify and deliver savings to business without reducing safety standards;
• ensure the regulations align with areas of greatest risk;
• ensure the regulations deliver a proportionate regulatory response; and
• streamline and modernise the regulations whilst maintaining best
• practice.

The review will aim to ensure the regulations align with areas of greatest risk and deliver a proportionate response. The review will streamline, modernise and maintain best practice while improving health and safety outcomes for workers.

New OHS Regulations will be in place by June 2017 and will support Victoria’s position as having the safest workplaces in Australia at the lowest average cost to business. WorkSafe are currently planning their approach to the regulations reform, which will look at the regulations as well as the codes that relate to the regulations.

This work will be undertaken on a topic by topic basis. Each subject area will have its own tripartite stakeholder reference group, which will be primarily drawn from WorkSafe’s OHS Stakeholder Reference Group.

In 2013, work is expected to commence on: Manual handling, Plant and high risk work, Hazardous substances and materials (includes carcinogenic substances) and Major hazard facilities and mines.

EPA WARNS ON DANGEROUS BURNS

District residents and businesses could attract hefty fines (starting at $1400 for individuals, over $5800 for a company) for disobeying strong restrictions and regulations around burning off at home, farms or worksites, the Environmental Protection Agency warns.

EPA director said the regulator and local councils took the burning of industrial waste seriously as it impacts on human health and the environment. “Burning of industrial waste is a contravention of the Environment Protection Act(1970), which will attract regulatory action.”

“Companies planning large scale burn off s are required to provide a plan to EPA for approval and check local council restrictions.” Even residents need to be aware of the rules because they will attract fines if they are found to be burning inappropriate incombustible items.

“Burn off s should only be conducted under appropriate weather conditions, fuel must be in a burnable state (cured and not green) and the pile free of incombustible material including earth, to prevent slow smouldering fires.”

An Extract from ‘The Free Press, Kilmore’ on 31st May 2013.

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