The National Standard for Licensing Persons Performing High Risk Work (the Standard) was adopted in the Northern Territory on 30th June 2010. The Standard has made training, assessment and licensing of high risk work consistent across Australia leading to safer workplaces.To help workers that hold a national certificate of competency cards or ‘old style’ certificates or licences, a five year transition period is in place to provide workers time to convert to the new licence.The second transition milestone is approaching. Workers who hold an old licence issued between 1996 to 1998 have until 30 June 2012 to convert their licence.The transitional arrangements are show in the table below.
NT WorkSafe has issued a media release slamming the complacency of Territory businesses that transport and store flammable gas cylinders in the rear of enclosed work vans, with over 60% of businesses inspected being issued with a Prohibition Notices.
Download the media release: media_release_3_may.pdf
Recent media coverage attacking the new work health and safety regulations governing asbestos overlooks the key fact that asbestos is a dangerous substance which continues to cause the death of hundreds of Australians each year.
The dangers of asbestos are well documented, as it is a known carcinogen and inhalation of asbestos fibres can cause mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis after a long latency period. As a result, the use of asbestos has been banned in Australia since 31 December 2003.
Despite the ban, a large quantity of asbestos is still present in the community. Due to the products excellent fire resistance, insulation properties, fibre strength, durability and flexibility, asbestos was used extensively in the construction and manufacturing industries between the 1940’s to 1970’s.
One of the effects of asbestos exposure, mesothelioma, is a fatal cancer which typically occurs 20 to 40 years after exposure. Data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows that since 1982, the number of new cases of mesothelioma has increased dramatically in Australia. The latest data shows that 660 new cases of mesothelioma were diagnosed in 2007 and 551 deaths were registered with an underlying cause of mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma deaths have been categorised in waves. The first wave of mesothelioma deaths, occurred in workers such as miners, who had direct exposure to asbestos in the mines. The second wave of deaths occurred in workers such as builders and carpenters who worked with asbestos containing materials. A third wave of deaths have now begun to occur in what are being referred to as ‘bystanders’, including home renovators.
A recent high profile mesothelioma ‘bystander’ death was that of Australian adventurer, Lincoln Hall, famous for his expeditions to climb Mount Everest. Mr Hall died on 20 March 2012. His mesothelioma was linked to asbestos cement flat sheets used when he was a child, to build cubby houses with his father.
“The main concern for NT WorkSafe is the health and safety of workers and others”, said Laurene Hull, Executive Director of NT WorkSafe.
“The new Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011, which commenced on 1 January 2012, has introduced new requirements covering the removal of asbestos in the Northern Territory.”
“The new requirements raise the safety standards in line with the rest of Australia,” said Ms Hull.
“One requirement is companies are now required to have an appropriately trained and experienced supervisor, to supervise the removal of asbestos.”
“Given the potential hazards associated with the removal of asbestos, the experience of the supervisor is paramount.”
“Asbestos fibres not only pose a risk to workers conducting the removal work, the fibres may become airbourne and affect people in surrounding workplaces, or if the removal work is being conducted in a residential property, other residential properties in the neighbourhood,” she said.
NT WorkSafe conducted a series of workshops with industry over the proposed changes before the implementation of the new laws and overall, industry are supportive of the changes.
A list of licensed Asbestos Removalists is available on the NT WorkSafe website.
Safe Work Australia has released the third set of draft Codes of Practice for public comment. Comments will be accepted until 5.00pm (AEST) Friday 22 June 2012.
The third set of Codes are designed to support the Model Work Health and Safety Act and includes:
To make a comment or view the draft codes, visit the Safe Work Australia website.
The Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy aims to build on the National Occupational Health and Safety Strategy 2002–2012 and continue to drive improvement in work health and safety towards the vision of healthy safe and productive working lives.
The draft strategy has been released by Safe Work Australia for public comment. Comments will be accepted until 5.00pm (AEST) Monday 21 May 2012.
To make a comment or view the draft strategy, visit the Safe Work Australia website.
The Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Law) Act 2011 has now commenced for mining operations in the NT, after commencement was deferred until 1 March 2012. The deferral arose from delays in completing the national model mining regulations. In the interim, the NT mining regulations under the old Workplace Health and Safety Regulations have been remodelled as Chapter 10 of the new Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Law) Regulations 2011.The remodelled Chapter 10 of the Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Law) Act 2011 will remain in place until the national model mining regulations and Codes of Practice are finalised. When this has occurred, the remodelled mining regulations will be repealed. It is anticipated the national model mining regulations will be finalised by 1 January 2013.The incorporation of remodelled mining regulations does not result in any substantial change to industry specific obligations. However general obligations are amended as per the Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Act and Regulations. These changes include repealing the Dangerous Goods Act regarding licensing for the storage, use and handling of dangerous goods, and changes to plant registration and inspection requirements for all plant, including that operated by mining activities. Additionally mining incident notification obligations are now consistent with other workplace requirements as described within Sections 35 – 39 of the Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011. Mining operations should commence to apply these requirements immediately. The general transitional provisions for the new legislation set out as part of the 1 January 2012 commencement will apply to mining operations.
A media release has been issued to provide an update to the investigation on the copper concentrate spill which occured as a result of the train derailment near Katherine in December last year.Download media release: media_release_29_Feb.pdf
Safe Work Australia Chair, Mr Tom Phillips AM, today launched a new volunteer assistance package developed by Safe Work Australia in partnership with Volunteering Australia. The package includes a Volunteer Assistance Line, email and webpage designed to provide guidance and support to volunteers and volunteer organisations who may be affected by the new work health and safety (WHS) laws.View the media release.
Access the Volunteer Assistance Package
Safe Work Australia has issued a media release after inaccurate media reports regarding volunteers and the new Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws.
Safe Work Australia Chair, Mr Tom Phillips AM, is concerned inaccurate and alarmist claims made about the new WHS laws could seriously discourage volunteers and potential volunteers from undertaking volunteer work. View the media release.
A media release has been issued outlining the Direction NT WorkSafe has issued under the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road and Rail (National Uniform Legislation) Act to Oz Minerals, the consignor of the copper concentrate which has spilled as a result of the derailment.
Download media release: Media Release 6 Jan 12.pdf