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Popular Articles
- Will all States harmonise?
- Transitioning to the WHS Act – Part 3
- Transitioning to the WHS Act – Part 2
- Transitioning to the WHS Act – Part 1
- Codes of Practice – Interpreting and transitioning
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Understanding the WHS Act: Union right of entry – Part 1
February 2012
This week’s subject is the new union right of entry provisions in the WHS Act. These new provisions include the provision to allow a permit holder to enter your workplace, and consult and advise your workers on health and safety matters.
Under the WHS Act, if you do not allow a valid permit holder their right to enter your workplace, you can be liable for penalties of up to $10,000 for an individual and $50,000 for a corporation.
The WHS Act includes an additional right of entry for union officials which is to consult and advise, as well as understanding the extent of the other rights which include inspecting a suspected safety breach and inspecting employee records that relate to that safety breach.
Understanding the WHS Act: Consultation – Part 3
February 2012
There have been some changes made to the rules regarding safety committees under the new health and safety laws.
Importantly, if you already have a safety committee in place, it can continue to operate, so long as it complies with the following:
Safety committees
A PCBU must establish a health and safety committee within 2 months of being requested to do so by:
- an HSR for a work group; or
- 5 or more workers at that workplace; or
- if prescribed by the regulations.
Understanding the WHS Act: Consultation – Part 2
February 2012
Continuing from last Friday’s bulletin on the consultation provisions under the WHS Act, we have decided to discuss health and safety representatives today and move onto safety committees on Friday.
The changes to requirements surrounding health and safety representatives are integral to the new consultation arrangements under the WHS Act.
The new safety laws introduce the role of a health and safety representative (HSR). In some jurisdictions, like New South Wales, an HSR is a new role which is similar to the role of the chair of the OHS Committee.
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