work health and safety act 2011 qld

Wor2011

Act NQueensland

k Health and Safety Act

o. 18 of 2011

Work

Conten

Part 1Division 11 2 Division 23 Division 3Subdivisio4 Subdivisio5 6 7 8 9 Division 410 11 12 Part 2Division 1Subdivisio13 14 15 16 17 11AC018TOC.fm June 7, 2011 9:50 am

Queensland

Health and Safety Act 2011

ts

PagePreliminaryIntroductionShort title . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28Commencement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28ObjectObject . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28Interpretation

n 1 DefinitionsDefinitions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

n 2 Other important termsMeaning of person conducting a business or undertaking . . . . . . 30Meaning of supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31Meaning of worker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32Meaning of workplace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32Section number not used . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33Application of ActAct binds all persons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33Section number not used . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33Scope: application of Act to particular matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33Health and safety dutiesIntroductory

n 1 Principles that apply to dutiesPrinciples that apply to duties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34Duties not transferrable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34Person may have more than 1 duty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34More than 1 person can have a duty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34Management of risks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Contents

Work Health and Safety Act 2011

Page 2

Subdivision 2 What is reasonably practicable18 What is reasonably practicable in ensuring health and safety . . . 35Division 219 Division 3

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

Division 427 28 29 Division 530 31 32 33 33A 34 Part 335 36 37 38 39 2011 Act No. 18

Primary duty of carePrimary duty of care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36Further duties of persons conducting businesses or undertakingsDuty of persons conducting businesses or undertakings involving management or control of workplaces. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38Duty of persons conducting businesses or undertakings involving management or control of fixtures, fittings or plant at workplaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38Duties of persons conducting businesses or undertakings that design plant, substances or structures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39Duties of persons conducting businesses or undertakings that manufacture plant, substances or structures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41Duties of persons conducting businesses or undertakings that import plant, substances or structures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42Duties of persons conducting businesses or undertakings that supply plant, substances or structures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44Duty of persons conducting businesses or undertakings that install, construct or commission plant or structures . . . . . . . . . . . 46Duty of officers, workers and other personsDuty of officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47Duties of workers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49Duties of other persons at the workplace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49Offences and penaltiesHealth and safety duty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50Reckless conductcategory 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50Failure to comply with health and safety dutycategory 2 . . . . . 51Failure to comply with health and safety dutycategory 3 . . . . . 51Duty prevails over particular excuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52Exceptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52Incident notificationWhat is a notifiable incident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53What is a serious injury or illness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53What is a dangerous incident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54Duty to notify of notifiable incidents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54Duty to preserve incident sites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5511AC018TOC.fm June 7, 2011 9:50 am

Contents


2011 Act N

Part 4 Authorisations40 Meaning of authorised . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5641 42 43 44 45 Part 5Division 1

46 Division 247 48 49 Division 3Subdivisio50 Subdivisio51 52 53 54 Subdivisio55 56

57 58

59 Subdivisio60 61 62 63 64 o. 18 Page 3

Requirements for authorisation of workplaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56Requirements for authorisation of plant or substance . . . . . . . . . 57Requirements for authorisation of work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57Requirements for prescribed qualifications or experience . . . . . . 58Requirement to comply with conditions of authorisation . . . . . . . 58Consultation, representation and participationConsultation, cooperation and coordination between duty holdersDuty to consult with other duty holders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59Consultation with workersDuty to consult workers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59Nature of consultation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59When consultation is required . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60Health and safety representatives

n 1 Request for election of health and safety representativesRequest for election of health and safety representative . . . . . . . 61

n 2 Determination of work groupsDetermination of work groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61Negotiations for agreement for work group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62Notice to workers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63Failure of negotiations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

n 3 Multiple-business work groupsDetermination of work groups of multiple businesses . . . . . . . . . 64Negotiation of agreement for work groups of multiple businesses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64Notice to workers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65Withdrawal from negotiations or agreement involving multiple businesses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66Effect of subdivision on other arrangements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

n 4 Election of health and safety representativesEligibility to be elected . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66Procedure for election of health and safety representatives. . . . . 67Eligibility to vote . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67When election not required . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67Term of office of health and safety representative . . . . . . . . . . . . 6811AC018TOC.fm June 7, 2011 9:50 am

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65 Disqualification of health and safety representatives . . . . . . . . . . 6866 Immunity of health and safety representatives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6967 Subdivisio67A 67B 67C

67D 67E 67F Subdivisio68 69

Subdivisio

70

71 72 73 74 Division 475 76 77 78 79 Division 580 81 82 Division 683 84 2011 Act No. 18

Deputy health and safety representatives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69n 4A Disqualification process

Definition for subdivision. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70Application of subdivision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70Decision on application may be given on the papers or at a hearing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70Applications decided on the papers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71Applications decided at a hearing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72Notice of decision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

n 5 Powers and functions of health and safety representativesPowers and functions of health and safety representatives . . . . . 73Powers and functions generally limited to the particular work group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

n 6 Obligations of person conducting business or undertaking to health and safety representativesGeneral obligations of person conducting business or undertaking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75Exceptions from obligations under s 70(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77Obligation to train health and safety representatives . . . . . . . . . . 78Obligation to share costs if multiple businesses or undertakings. 80List of health and safety representatives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80Health and safety committeesHealth and safety committees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81Constitution of committee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81Functions of committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82Meetings of committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82Duties of person conducting business or undertaking . . . . . . . . . 83Issue resolutionParties to an issue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84Resolution of health and safety issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84Referral of issue to regulator for resolution by inspector . . . . . . . 85Right to cease or direct cessation of unsafe workDefinition of cease work under this division . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85Right of worker to cease unsafe work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8611AC018TOC.fm June 7, 2011 9:50 am

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2011 Act N

85 Health and safety representative may direct that unsafe work cease . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

86 Worker to notify if ceases work. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8787 88 89 Division 790 91 92 93

94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102

Division 8103 Part 6Division 1

104 105 106 107

108 109 Division 2110 111 o. 18 Page 5

Alternative work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87Continuity of engagement of worker. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87Request to regulator to appoint inspector to assist . . . . . . . . . . . 88Provisional improvement noticesProvisional improvement notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88Provisional improvement notice to be in writing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89Contents of provisional improvement notice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89Provisional improvement notice may give directions to remedy contravention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89Minor changes to provisional improvement notice . . . . . . . . . . . . 90Issue of provisional improvement notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90Health and safety representative may cancel notice . . . . . . . . . . 90Display of provisional improvement notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90Formal irregularities or defects in notice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91Offence to contravene a provisional improvement notice . . . . . . . 91Request for review of provisional improvement notice . . . . . . . . . 91Regulator to appoint inspector to review notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92Decision of inspector on review of provisional improvement notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92Part not to apply to prisoners and detaineesPart does not apply to prisoners and detainees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93Discriminatory, coercive and misleading conductProhibition of discriminatory, coercive or misleading conductProhibition of discriminatory conduct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93What is discriminatory conduct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94What is a prohibited reason . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94Prohibition of requesting, instructing, inducing, encouraging, authorising or assisting discriminatory conduct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96Prohibition of coercion or inducement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96Misrepresentation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97Criminal proceedings in relation to discriminatory conductProof of discriminatory conduct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98Order for compensation or reinstatement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9811AC018TOC.fm June 7, 2011 9:50 am

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Division 3 Civil proceedings in relation to discriminatory or coercive conduct

112 Civil proceedings in relation to engaging in or inducing

113 Division 4114 115 Part 7Division 1116 Division 2117 118 119 120

Division 3121 122 Division 4123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130

Division 5131 132 133 134 135 136 2011 Act No. 18

discriminatory or coercive conduct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99Procedure for civil actions for discriminatory conduct . . . . . . . . . 100GeneralGeneral provisions relating to orders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101Prohibition of multiple actions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101Workplace entry by WHS entry permit holdersIntroductoryDefinitions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102Entry to inquire into suspected contraventionsEntry to inquire into suspected contraventions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103Rights that may be exercised while at workplace . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103Notice of entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104Entry to inspect employee records or information held by another person . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105Entry to consult and advise workersEntry to consult and advise workers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106Notice of entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106Requirements for WHS entry permit holdersContravening WHS entry permit conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106WHS entry permit holder must also hold permit under other law. 107WHS entry permit to be available for inspection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107When right may be exercised . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107Where the right may be exercised . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107Work health and safety requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108Residential premises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108WHS entry permit holder not required to disclose names of workers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108WHS entry permitsApplication for WHS entry permit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109Consideration of application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109Eligibility criteria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109Issue of WHS entry permit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110Conditions on WHS entry permit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110Term of WHS entry permit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11011AC018TOC.fm June 7, 2011 9:50 am

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2011 Act N

137 Expiry of WHS entry permit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110138 Application to revoke WHS entry permit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111139

140 Division 6141 142

143 Division 7144

145 146

147 148 Division 8149 150 151 Part 8Division 1152 153 154 Division 2155 Part 9Division 1156 157 158 159 Division 2160 o. 18 Page 7

Commission must permit WHS entry permit holder to show cause . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112Determination of application. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113Dealing with disputesApplication for assistance of inspector to resolve dispute . . . . . . 113Commission may deal with a dispute about a right of entry under this Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114Contravening order made to deal with dispute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115ProhibitionsPerson must not refuse or delay entry of WHS entry permit holder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115Person must not hinder or obstruct WHS entry permit holder . . . 115WHS entry permit holder must not delay, hinder or obstruct any person or disrupt work at workplace. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116Misrepresentations about things authorised by this part . . . . . . . 116Unauthorised use or disclosure of information or documents . . . 116GeneralReturn of WHS entry permits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118Union to provide information to industrial registrar . . . . . . . . . . . . 118Register of WHS entry permit holders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119The regulatorFunctions of regulatorFunctions of regulator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119Powers of regulator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120Delegation by regulator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120Powers of regulator to obtain informationPowers of regulator to obtain information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121Securing complianceAppointment of inspectorsAppointment of inspectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122Identity cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123Accountability of inspectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123Suspension and ending of appointment of inspectors . . . . . . . . . 124Functions and powers of inspectorsFunctions and powers of inspectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12411AC018TOC.fm June 7, 2011 9:50 am

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161 Conditions on inspectors compliance powers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124162 Inspectors subject to regulators directions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125Division 3Subdivisio163 164 165 166 Subdivisio167 167A 168 169

Subdivisio170 Subdivisio171

172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 Division 4182 183 184 Division 5185 186 2011 Act No. 18

Powers relating to entryn 1 General powers of entry

Powers of entry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125Notification of entry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125General powers on entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126Persons assisting inspectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127

n 2 Search warrantsSearch warrants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127Electronic application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128Announcement before entry on warrant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130Copy of warrant to be given to person with management or control of place . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131

n 3 Limitation on entry powersPlaces used for residential purposes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131

n 4 Specific powers on entryPower to require production of documents and answers to questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132Abrogation of privilege against self-incrimination . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133Warning to be given . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133Powers to copy and retain documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134Power to seize evidence etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134Inspectors power to seize dangerous workplaces and things . . . 135Powers supporting seizure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135Receipt for seized things . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137Forfeiture of seized things . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137Return of seized things. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138Access to seized things . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139Damage and compensationDamage etc. to be minimised. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139Inspector to give notice of damage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139Compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140Other mattersPower to require name and address. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140Inspector may take affidavits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14111AC018TOC.fm June 7, 2011 9:50 am

Contents


2011 Act N

187 Inspector at coronial inquests. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142Division 6 Offences in relation to inspectors188 189 190 Part 10Division 1191 192 193 194 Division 2195 196 197 Division 3198 199 200 201 Division 4202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 Division 5211 212 213 Division 6214 o. 18 Page 9

Offence to hinder or obstruct inspector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142Offence to impersonate inspector. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142Offence to assault, threaten or intimidate inspector . . . . . . . . . . . 142Enforcement measuresImprovement noticesIssue of improvement notices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143Contents of improvement notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143Compliance with improvement notice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144Extension of time for compliance with improvement notices . . . . 144Prohibition noticesPower to issue prohibition notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144Contents of prohibition notice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145Compliance with prohibition notice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146Non-disturbance noticesIssue of non-disturbance notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146Contents of non-disturbance notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146Compliance with non-disturbance notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147Issue of subsequent notices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147General requirements applying to noticesApplication of division. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147Notice to be in writing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148Directions in notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148Recommendations in notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148Changes to notice by inspector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148Regulator may vary or cancel notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148Formal irregularities or defects in notice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148Issue and giving of notice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149Display of notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149Remedial actionWhen regulator may carry out action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150Power of the regulator to take other remedial action . . . . . . . . . . 150Costs of remedial or other action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151InjunctionsApplication of division. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15111AC018TOC.fm June 7, 2011 9:50 am

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215 Injunctions for noncompliance with notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151Part 11 Enforceable undertakings216 217 218 219 220 221 222 Part 12Division 1223 Division 2224 225 226 227 228 Division 3229 Division 4229A 229B 229C 229D 229E 229F Part 13Division 1230 231 232 233 Division 2234 235 2011 Act No. 18

Regulator may accept WHS undertakings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152Notice of decision and reasons for decision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152When a WHS undertaking is enforceable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152Compliance with WHS undertaking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153Contravention of WHS undertaking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153Withdrawal or variation of WHS undertaking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153Proceeding for alleged contravention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154Review of decisionsReviewable decisionsWhich decisions are reviewable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154Internal reviewApplication for internal review. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155Internal reviewer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156Decision of internal reviewer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156Decision on internal review. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157Stay of reviewable decisions on internal review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157External reviewApplication for external review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158Review by commissionDecision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158How to start review. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159Stay of operation of decision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159Hearing procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160Powers of commission on application. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160Appeals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160Legal proceedingsGeneral mattersProsecutions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161Procedure if prosecution is not brought . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161Limitation period for prosecutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163Multiple contraventions of health and safety duty provision . . . . . 163Sentencing for offencesApplication of this division . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164Orders generally. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16411AC018TOC.fm June 7, 2011 9:50 am

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2011 Act N

236 Adverse publicity orders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164237 Orders for restoration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165238 239 240 241 242 Division 3243 Division 4244 Division 5245 246

247 248

Division 6249

250 251 252 253 Division 7254 255 256

257 258 259 260 261 262 263 o. 18 Page 11

Work health and safety project orders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166Release on the giving of a court-ordered WHS undertaking . . . . 166Injunctions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167Training orders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167Offence to fail to comply with order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167

Division and section number not used . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168Offences by bodies corporateImputing conduct to bodies corporate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168The State, Commonwealth and other StatesOffences and the State, Commonwealth and other States . . . . . 168WHS civil penalty provisions and the State, Commonwealth and other States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169Officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170Responsible agency for the State, Commonwealth or another State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170Public authoritiesApplication to public authorities that are bodies corporate or local governments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172Proceedings against public authorities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172Imputing conduct to public authorities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172Officer of public authority . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173Proceedings against successors to public authorities . . . . . . . . . 173WHS civil penalty provisionsWhen is a provision a WHS civil penalty provision. . . . . . . . . . . . 173Proceedings for contravention of WHS civil penalty provision . . . 174Involvement in contravention treated in same way as actual contravention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174Contravening a civil penalty provision is not an offence . . . . . . . . 175Civil proceeding rules and procedure to apply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175Proceeding for a contravention of a WHS civil penalty provision . 175Proceeding may be taken by the regulator or an inspector . . . . . 175Limitation period for WHS civil penalty proceedings . . . . . . . . . . 176Recovery of a monetary penalty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176Civil double jeopardy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17611AC018TOC.fm June 7, 2011 9:50 am

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264 Criminal proceedings during civil proceedings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176265 Criminal proceedings after civil proceedings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177266

Division 8267 Part 14Division 1268 269 270 271 272 273 Division 2274 275 Division 3276 Part 15277 278 Part 16Division 1

Subdivisio279 Subdivisio280

281

282 Subdivisio283 284 285 2011 Act No. 18

Evidence given in proceedings for contravention of WHS civil penalty provision not admissible in criminal proceedings. . . . . . . 177Civil liability not affected by this ActCivil liability not affected by this Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178GeneralGeneral provisionsOffence to give false or misleading information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178Act does not affect legal professional privilege . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179Immunity from liability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179Confidentiality of information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180No contracting out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181Person not to levy workers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181Codes of practiceApproved codes of practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182Use of codes of practice in proceedings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183Regulation-making powerRegulation-making power. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184RepealsRepeal of Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 . . . . . . . . . . . . 185Repeal of Dangerous Goods Safety Management Act 2001 . . . . 185Transitional provisionsProvisions for the repeal of the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995

n 1 PreliminaryDefinitions for div 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185

n 2 ProceedingsApplication of this Act and repealed Act in relation to particular provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186Application of this Act and repealed Act in relation to other particular provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186Investigations and proceedings generally . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188

n 3 Status of persons, bodies, processes and other mattersPrincipal contractor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188Code of practice preserved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189Enforceable undertaking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18911AC018TOC.fm June 7, 2011 9:50 am

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286 Appointment to particular board and committee preserved . . . . . 191287 Election of workplace health and safety representative

preserved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192288

289 290

291 292 293 294 295 296 297 Division 2

298 299

300

301 302 303 304 305 306 Division 3307

Part 17Division 1

308 309 Division 2310 o. 18 Page 13

Training requirements for workplace health and safety representative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192Provisional improvement notices preserved. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193Suspension or cancellation relating to workplace health and safety representative preserved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193Workplace health and safety committee preserved . . . . . . . . . . . 194Appointment of authorised representative preserved. . . . . . . . . . 195Appointment of inspector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195Warrants and actions by inspectors preserved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196Improvement notice preserved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196Prohibition notice preserved. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197Appeals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197Provisions for repeal of Dangerous Goods Safety Management Act 2001Definitions for pt 15, div 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197Application of this Act and repealed Act in relation to particular provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198Application of this Act and repealed Act in relation to other particular provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198Investigations and proceedings generally . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199Directive by authorised officer preserved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200Warrants and actions by authorised officer preserved . . . . . . . . . 201Cost recovery notice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201Appeals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202Regulation-making power for major hazard facility. . . . . . . . . . . . 202Other transitional provisionsPower to make subordinate legislation unaffected by direct amendment by Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202Amendment of asbestos definitionAmendment of Coal Mining Safety and Health Regulation 2001Regulation amended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203Amendment of sch 9 (Dictionary) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203Amendment of Public Health Regulation 2005Regulation amended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20411AC018TOC.fm June 7, 2011 9:50 am

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311 Amendment of s 2B (Definitions for div 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204Division 3 Amendment of Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health

Regulation 2001312 313 Division 4314 315 Division 5

316 317

Part 18Division 1Subdivisio

318 319 320 321 322 323 324

Subdivisio

325 326

327 Subdivisio328 329 330 2011 Act No. 18

Regulation amended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205Amendment of sch 7 (Dictionary) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205Amendment of Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995Act amended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206Amendment of sch 3 (Dictionary) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206Amendment of Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 2008Regulation amended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207Replacement of sch 9, s 1 (Amosite, crocidolite, fibrous anthophyllite, tremolite or actinolite) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207Amendment of other legislation relating to safetyBuilding and construction work levy amendments

n 1 Building and Construction Industry (Portable Long Service Leave) Act 1991Act amended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208Amendment of s 3A (Who is an eligible worker). . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208Amendment of s 32 (Funds of authority) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208Amendment of s 66 (Imposition of levies) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209Amendment of s 72 (Rate of levy) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209Amendment of sch (Dictionary) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209Insertion of new pt 11, div 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209Division 7 Transitional provisions for Work Health and

Safety Act 2011124 Liability to pay fee under regulation preserved. . . . . . 210

n 2 Building and Construction Industry (Portable Long Service Leave) Regulation 2002Regulation amended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210Amendment of s 6 (Building and construction work for which no levy is payableAct, s 70(2)) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210Amendment of s 7 (Prescribed percentage for levyAct, s 72). . 211

n 3 Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 2008Regulation amended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211Omission of pt 9 (Notifiable building and construction work) . . . . 212Omission of sch 1, item 1 (Notification of building and construction work) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21211AC018TOC.fm June 7, 2011 9:50 am

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Division 2 Amendment of Electrical Safety Act 2002331 Act amended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212332 333 334

335

336

337

338

339 340 341

342 343 344

345

346

347 o. 18 Page 15

Amendment of s 3 (Act binds all persons) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212Amendment of s 5 (How purpose of Act is to be achieved) . . . . . 212Amendment of s 10 (Meanings of electrical risk, electrically safe and electrical safety) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212Replacement of ss 14 and 15. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21314 Meaning of electrical equipment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21315 Meaning of electrical installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214Replacement of s 18 (Meaning of electrical work) . . . . . . . . . . . . 21518 Meaning of electrical work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215Replacement of s 21 (Meaning of employer) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21821 Meaning of person conducting a business or

undertaking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218Replacement of s 22 (Meaning of worker) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21922 Meaning of worker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219Omission of s 23 (Meaning of self-employed person) . . . . . . . . . 220Amendment of pt 2 hdg (Electrical safety obligations) . . . . . . . . . 220Replacement of pt 2, div 1 (Preliminary) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220Division 1 IntroductorySubdivision 1 Principles that apply to duties26 Principles that apply to duties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22127 Duties not transferable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22127A Person may have more than 1 duty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22127B More than 1 person can have a duty . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221Subdivision 2 What is reasonably practicable28 What is reasonably practicable in ensuring electrical

safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222Amendment of pt 2, div 2 heading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222Amendment of s 29 (Obligation of electricity entity) . . . . . . . . . . . 222Amendment of s 30 (Obligation of employer or self-employed person) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223Amendment of s 31 (Obligation of designer of electrical equipment) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223Amendment of s 32 (Obligation of manufacturer of electrical equipment) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224Amendment of s 33 (Obligation of importer of electrical equipment) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22411AC018TOC.fm June 7, 2011 9:50 am

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348 Replacement of s 34 (Obligation of supplier of electrical equipment) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22534 Duty of person conducting business or undertaking

349

350

351

352

353

354

355

356 357 358

359 360

361

362

363 2011 Act No. 18

that supplies electrical equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225Amendment of s 35 (Additional obligations of designer, manufacturer, importer or supplier of electrical equipment) . . . . . 225Amendment of s 36 (Obligation of installer of electrical equipment or electrical installation) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226Amendment of s 37 (Obligation of repairer of electrical equipment or electrical installation) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226Amendment of s 38 (Obligation of person in control of electrical equipment) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227Insertion of new s 38A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22738A Duty of officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227Replacement of s 39 (Obligation of worker) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22939 Duty of worker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229Replacement of s 40 (Obligation of other person) . . . . . . . . . . . . 23040 Duty of other person. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230Amendment of s 40A (Minister may make recall order) . . . . . . . . 230Renumbering of pt 2, div 2A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230Insertion of new pt 2, div 2A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231Division 2A Offences and penalties40A Electrical safety duty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23140B Reckless conductcategory 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23140C Failure to comply with electrical safety

dutycategory 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23240D Failure to comply with electrical safety

dutycategory 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23240E Duty prevails over particular excuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23340F Exceptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233Amendment of pt 2, div 3, hdg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234Omission of s 41 (Effect of regulation for discharge of electrical safety obligation) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234Amendment of s 42 (Ministerial notice about discharging electrical safety obligation) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234Amendment of s 43 (Effect of ministerial notice for discharge of electrical safety obligation) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234Amendment of s 44 (Code of practice about discharging electrical safety obligation) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23511AC018TOC.fm June 7, 2011 9:50 am

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364 Replacement of s 45 (Effect of code of practice for discharge of electrical safety obligation) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23545 Use of code of practice in proceedings . . . . . . . . . . . 235

365 366 367

368

369

370

371

372 373 374 375 376 377 o. 18 Page 17

Omission of pt 2, div 4 (Defences) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236Omission of pt 2, div 5 (Effect of Act on civil liability) . . . . . . . . . . 236Replacement of pt 3 (Enforceable undertakings) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236Part 3 Enforceable undertakings49 Regulator may accept an electrical safety

undertaking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23650 Notice of decision and reasons for decision . . . . . . . . 23751 When an electrical safety undertaking is enforceable 23752 Compliance with an electrical safety undertaking . . . 23753 Contravention of an electrical safety undertaking. . . . 23754 Withdrawal or variation of electrical safety

undertaking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23854A Proceeding for alleged contravention . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238Amendment of s 57AA (Employer or self-employed person must ensure workers are appropriately licensed) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239Amendment of s 57AB (Employers or self-employed persons must keep register of licensed workers) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239Amendment of s 57AC (Licence holder engaged by employer or self-employed person must notify changes) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240Amendment of s 63 (Electrical licence conditions and restrictions) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240Amendment of s 67 (Obligation of prescribed electricity entity) . . 241Amendment of s 77 (Composition of board). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241Amendment of s 94 (Functions of equipment committee) . . . . . . 241Amendment of pt 10, hdg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241Renumbering of pt 10, div 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241Replacement of pt 10, div 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242Division 1 Regulator122 Functions of regulator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242122A Powers of regulator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243122B Delegation by regulator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243122C Power of regulator to obtain information. . . . . . . . . . . 243Division 2 Appointment of inspectors123 Appointment of inspectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245123A Identity cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24511AC018TOC.fm June 7, 2011 9:50 am

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124 Accountability of inspectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246125 Suspension and ending of appointment of inspectors 246

378

379 2011 Act No. 18

126 Appointment of temporary inspector . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246127 Exercise of powers by temporary inspector . . . . . . . . 247Insertion of new section 136B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248136B Offence to impersonate accredited auditor. . . . . . . . . 248Replacement of pt 11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248Part 11 Securing complianceDivision 1 Functions and powers of inspectors137 Functions and powers of inspectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248137A Conditions on inspectors' compliance powers . . . . . . 248137B Inspectors subject to regulators directions . . . . . . . . 249Division 2 Powers relating to entrySubdivision 1 General powers of entry138 Powers of entry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249138A Notification of entry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250138B General powers on entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250138C Persons assisting inspectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252138D Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252Subdivision 2 Search warrants139 Search warrants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253139A Electronic application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254139B Announcement before entry on warrant . . . . . . . . . . . 255139C Copy of warrant to be given to person with

management or control of place. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256Subdivision 3 Limitation on entry powers140 Places used for residential purposes . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256Subdivision 4 Specific powers on entry141 Power to require production of documents and

answers to questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257141A Abrogation of privilege against self-incrimination . . . . 258141B Warning to be given . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258141C Powers to copy and retain documents . . . . . . . . . . . . 259141D Power to seize evidence etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260141E Inspectors power to seize unsafe electrical

equipment at an entered place. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26011AC018TOC.fm June 7, 2011 9:50 am

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141F Inspectors power to seize other unsafe electrical equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261

141G Powers supporting seizure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261o. 18 Page 19

141H Inspector may require things return . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263141I Receipt for seized things . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263141J Forfeiture of seized things . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264141K Return of seized thing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265141L Returning seized electrical equipment that is not

electrically safe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265141M Access to seized things . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266Division 3 Damage and compensation142 Damage etc. to be minimised. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267142A Inspector to give notice of damage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267142B Compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267Division 4 Serious electrical incident or dangerous

electrical event143 Power to inquire into serious electrical incident or

dangerous electrical event . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268Division 5 Other matters144 Power to require name and address . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269144A Inspector may take affidavits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270144B Inspector at coronial inquests. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270Division 6 Offences in relation to inspectors145 Offence to hinder or obstruct inspector . . . . . . . . . . . 270145A Offence to impersonate inspector. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270145B Offence to assault, threaten or intimidate inspector . . 271Part 11A Enforcement measuresDivision 1 Improvement notices146 Issue of improvement notice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271146A Contents of improvement notice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271146B Compliance with improvement notice. . . . . . . . . . . . . 272146C Extension of time for compliance with improvement

notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272Division 2 Electrical safety protection notices147 Electrical safety protection notice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273Division 3 Unsafe equipment notices148 Unsafe equipment notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27411AC018TOC.fm June 7, 2011 9:50 am

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Division 4 Non-disturbance notices149 Issue of non-disturbance notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275

380 381 382 383

384

385 386 2011 Act No. 18

149A Contents of non-disturbance notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275149B Compliance with non-disturbance notice . . . . . . . . . . 276149C Issue of subsequent notices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276Division 5 General requirements applying to notices150 Application of division. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276150A Notice to be in writing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276150B Directions in notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277150C Recommendations in notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277150D Changes to notice by inspector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277150E Regulator may vary or cancel notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277150F Formal irregularities or defects in notice. . . . . . . . . . . 277150G Issue and giving of notice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278150H Display of notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278Division 6 Remedial action151 When regulator may carry out action . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279151A Power of the regulator to take other remedial action . 279151B Costs of remedial or other action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280Division 7 Injunctions152 Application of division. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280152A Injunctions for noncompliance with notices . . . . . . . . 280Division 8 Retail entity to give information153 Provision of information by retail entity. . . . . . . . . . . . 281Replacement of pt 12, hdg (Reviews and appeals) . . . . . . . . . . . 281Replacement of pt 12, div 2 hdg (Reviews of decisions) . . . . . . . 281Amendment of s 170 (Review of decisions) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282Replacement of s 171 (Stay of operation of original decision) . . . 282171 Stay of reviewable decisions on internal review . . . . . 282Replacement of pt 12, div 3 (Appeals) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283Division 3 External review172 Application for external review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283Renumbering of pt 14 (Miscellaneous provisions) . . . . . . . . . . . . 283Replacement of pt 13, divs 2, 2A and 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283Division 2 Other matters186 Prosecutions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28311AC018TOC.fm June 7, 2011 9:50 am

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186A Procedure if prosecution is not brought . . . . . . . . . . . 284186B Limitation period for prosecutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285o. 18 Page 21

186C Multiple contraventions of electrical safety duty provision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286

Division 3 Sentencing for offences187 Application of this division . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287187A Orders generally. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287187B Adverse publicity order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287187C Order for restoration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288187D Electrical safety project order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288187E Release on the giving of a court-ordered electrical

safety undertaking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289187F Injunction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290187G Training order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290187H Forfeiture on conviction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290187I Dealing with forfeited thing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290187J Offence to fail to comply with order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291Division 4 Offences by bodies corporate188 Imputing conduct to body corporate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291Division 5 The State, Commonwealth and other States189 Offence and the State, Commonwealth and other

States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292189A Officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292189B Responsible agency for the State, Commonwealth

or other State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293Division 6 Public authorities190 Application to public authorities that are bodies

corporate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294190A Proceedings against public authorities. . . . . . . . . . . . 294190B Imputing conduct to public authorities . . . . . . . . . . . . 295190C Officer of public authority . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295190D Proceedings against successors to public authorities 295Division 7 Civil liability not affected by this Act191 Civil liability not affected by this Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296Part 14 GeneralDivision 1 General provisions192 Offence to give false or misleading information . . . . . 29611AC018TOC.fm June 7, 2011 9:50 am

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192A Act does not affect legal professional privilege . . . . . 297192B Immunity from liability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297

387

388 389

390 Division 3

391 392

393

394

395 396 397 398 399

400 401 2011 Act No. 18

193 Confidentiality of information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298194 No contracting out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299195 Person not to levy workers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299Replacement of ss 205205B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299205 Recovery of fee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300205A Disciplinary action and offences. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300Omission of s 207 (Delegation by chief executive). . . . . . . . . . . . 300Insertion of new pt 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301Part 20 Transitional provisions for Work Health and

Safety Act 2011247A Definitions for pt 20. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301248 Proceedings for offence generally . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301249 Enforceable undertaking preserved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302250 Appointment of inspector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303251 Improvement notice preserved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303252 Warrants and actions by inspector preserved . . . . . . 304253 Reviews and appeals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305254 Replacement of chief executive by regulator . . . . . . . 305Amendment of sch 2 (Dictionary) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306Amendment of Electrical Safety and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2011Act amended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309Omission of s 4 (Amendment of s 26 (Obligations for electrical safety)) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309Amendment of s 5 (Amendment of s 32 (Obligation of manufacturer of electrical equipment)) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309Amendment of s 6 (Amendment of s 33 (Obligation of importer of electrical equipment)) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309Amendment of s 7 (Insertion of new s 40AA). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310Amendment of s 8 (Insertion of new pt 2A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310Amendment of s 10 (Insertion of new pt 14, div 1A) . . . . . . . . . . 312Amendment of s 13 (Amendment of sch 2 (Dictionary)) . . . . . . . 312Amendment of s 15 (Replacement of pt 6 and insertion of new pt 6A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312Amendment of s 19 (Amendment of sch 9 (Dictionary)) . . . . . . . 312Commencement provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31211AC018TOC.fm June 7, 2011 9:50 am

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Division 4 Amendment of Penalties and Sentences Act 1992402 Act amended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313403 Division 5404 Part 19

405 406 407

408

409

410 Schedule 1Part 11 Part 2Division 12 3

Division 24 o. 18 Page 23

Amendment of s 5 (Meaning of penalty unit) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313GeneralAmendments in sch 4 (Minor and consequential amendments) . 314Amendment of Workers Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003Act amended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314Amendment of s 108 (Compensation entitlement) . . . . . . . . . . . . 314Insertion of new ch 3, pt 2, div 5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315Division 5 Compensation and leave entitlements119A Compensation entitlement does not restrict taking or

accrual of leave . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315Insertion of new ch 14, pt 1A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315Part 1A Information provisions for building and

construction industry576A Definitions for pt 1A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316576B Who is the principal contractor for a construction

project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316576C Principal contractor may require relevant contractor

to give document confirming insurance status . . . . . . 317576D Injury data for construction projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318576E Restriction on disclosure by principal contractor of

information obtained under this part. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319Insertion of new s 584A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319584A Reviews of workers compensation scheme. . . . . . . . 319Amendment of sch 6 (Dictionary) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319Application of Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 321Dangerous goods and high risk plantApplication to storage and handling of dangerous goods . . . . . . 321Relationship with other ActsMining safety and related mattersRelationship with mining Acts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324Relationship with other Acts relating to design or manufacture of operating plant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325Electrical safetyRelationship with Electrical Safety Act 2002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32611AC018TOC.fm June 7, 2011 9:50 am

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Division 3 Transport rail safety5 Relationship with Transport (Rail Safety) Act 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . 327Division 46 Schedule 2

Part 11 Part 2Division 12 Division 23 4 5 Division 36 7 8 9 10 Division 411 12 13 Division 514 15 Division 6

16 17 18 19 20 2011 Act No. 18

Other legislationGenerally . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328The regulator and local tripartite consultation arrangements and other local arrangements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329The regulatorAppointment of regulator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329Industry consultative arrangementsPurposes of partPurposes of part. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329The board and its functionsWork health and safety board. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330Functions of board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330Annual report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331Membership and conduct of board proceedingsMembership of board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331Times of board meetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332Conduct of proceedings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332Disclosure of interests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333Minutes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333Provisions about appointed board membersDuration of appointment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 334Leave of absence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 334Conditions of appointment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 334Industry sector standing committeesIndustry sector standing committees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 335Functions of industry sector standing committees . . . . . . . . . . . . 335Membership and conduct of industry sector standing committee proceedingsMembership of industry sector standing committee . . . . . . . . . . . 336Times of industry sector standing committee meetings . . . . . . . . 336Conduct of industry sector standing committee proceedings. . . . 337Disclosure of interests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 338Minutes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33811AC018TOC.fm June 7, 2011 9:50 am

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Division 7 Provisions about industry sector standing committee members

21 Duration of appointment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33822 23 Part 324

Schedule 2Schedule 31 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 Schedule 4o. 18 Page 25

Leave of absence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 339Conditions of appointment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 339Self-insurance reportApplication for report relating to workers compensation self-insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340

A Reviewable decisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341Regulation-making powers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350Duties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350Incidents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350Plant, substances or structures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350Protection and welfare of workers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 351Hazards and risks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 351Records and notices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 351Authorisations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 352Work groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 352Health and safety committees and health and safety representatives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 353Issue resolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 353WHS entry permits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 353Identity cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 353Forfeiture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 353Review of decisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 354Minor and consequential amendments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 355Electrical Safety Act 2002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 355Electrical Safety Regulation 2002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 357Environmental Protection Act 1994 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 357Environmental Protection (Air) Policy 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 357Environmental Protection (Noise) Policy 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358Fire and Rescue Service Act 1990. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358Industrial Relations Act 1999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Act 1999 . . . . . . . . . . . 359Petroleum and Gas (Production and Safety) Act 2004. . . . . . . . . 360Petroleum and Gas (Production and Safety) Regulation 2004. . . 361Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Act 1982 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36111AC018TOC.fm June 7, 2011 9:50 am

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Right to Information Act 2009. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 362Statutory Instruments Act 1992 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 362

Schedule 52011 Act No. 18

Sustainable Planning Act 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 362Tourism Services (Code of Conduct for Inbound Tour Operators) Regulation 2003 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363Transport Infrastructure Act 1994 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363Transport (Rail Safety) Act 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 364Vocational Education, Training and Employment Act 2000 . . . . . 367Workers Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003 . . . . . . . . . 368Dictionary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37111AC018TOC.fm June 7, 2011 9:50 am


Act No. 18 of 2011

An Act to provide comprehensively for work health and safety, to provide for a new definition of asbestos in particular legislation and for a work health and safety levy, to amend other legislation as a consequence, and to amend the Workers Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003 for particular purposes[Assented to 6 June 2011]

Queensland

[s 1]

Work Health and Safety Act 2011Part 1 Preliminary

Page 28

The Parliament of Queensland enacts

Part 1

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Preliminary

n 1 Introduction

hort titleThis Act may be cited as the Work Health and Safety Act2011.

ommencementThis Act, other than part 17, part 18, division 1 and part 19,commences on a day to be fixed by proclamation.

n 2 Object

bject) The main object of this Act is to provide for a balanced and

nationally consistent framework to secure the health andsafety of workers and workplaces by(a) protecting workers and other persons against harm to

their health, safety and welfare through the eliminationor minimisation of risks arising from work or fromparticular types of substances or plant; and

(b) providing for fair and effective workplacerepresentation, consultation, cooperation and issueresolution in relation to work health and safety; and

(c) encouraging unions and employer organisations to takea constructive role in promoting improvements in workhealth and safety practices, and assisting persons11AC018_.fm June 7, 2011 9:50 am

[s 3]


2011 Act N

conducting businesses or undertakings and workers to

(2o. 18 Page 29

achieve a healthier and safer working environment; and(d) promoting the provision of advice, information,

education and training in relation to work health andsafety; and

(e) securing compliance with this Act through effective andappropriate compliance and enforcement measures; and

(f) ensuring appropriate scrutiny and review of actions bypersons exercising powers and performing functionsunder this Act; and

(g) providing a framework for continuous improvement andprogressively higher standards of work health andsafety; and

(h) maintaining and strengthening the nationalharmonisation of laws relating to work health and safetyand to facilitate a consistent national approach to workhealth and safety in Queensland.

) In furthering subsection (1)(a), regard must be had to theprinciple that workers and other persons should be given thehighest level of protection against harm to their health, safetyand welfare from hazards and risks arising from work or fromparticular types of substances or plant as is reasonablypracticable.Note

The numbering of this Act closely corresponds to the same numberingin a model Bill prepared for and approved by the Council of AustralianGovernments. To maximise uniformity between this Act and the modelBill, the numbers of some sections in the model Bill that are not relevanthave not been used in the numbering of this Act, unless required forprovisions particular to the State. Adoption of the numbering of themodel Bill also results in alphanumeric numbering being used to insertfurther provisions particular to the State.11AC018_.fm June 7, 2011 9:50 am

[s 4]


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Division 3 Interpretation

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(62011 Act No. 18

ision 1 Definitions

efinitionsThe dictionary in schedule 5 defines particular words used inthis Act.

ision 2 Other important terms

eaning of person conducting a business or undertaking) For this Act, a person conducts a business or undertaking

(a) whether the person conducts the business or undertakingalone or with others; and

(b) whether or not the business or undertaking is conductedfor profit or gain.

) A business or undertaking conducted by a person includes abusiness or undertaking conducted by a partnership or anunincorporated association.

) If a business or undertaking is conducted by a partnership(other than an incorporated partnership), a reference in thisAct to a person conducting the business or undertaking is tobe read as a reference to each partner in the partnership.

) A person does not conduct a business or undertaking to theextent that the person is engaged solely as a worker in, or asan officer of, that business or undertaking.

) An elected member of a local government does not in thatcapacity conduct a business or undertaking.

) A regulation may specify the circumstances in which a personmay be taken not to be a person who conducts a business orundertaking for the purposes of this Act or any provision ofthis Act.11AC018_.fm June 7, 2011 9:50 am

[s 6]


2011 Act N

(7) A volunteer association does not conduct a business or

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undertaking for the purposes of this Act.) In this section, volunteer association means a group of

volunteers working together for 1 or more communitypurposes where none of the volunteers, whether alone orjointly with any other volunteers, employs any person to carryout work for the volunteer association.

eaning of supply) A supply of a thing includes a supply and a resupply of the

thing by way of sale, exchange, lease, hire or hire-purchase,whether as principal or agent.

) A supply of a thing occurs on the passing of possession of thething to the person or an agent of the person to be supplied.

) A supply of a thing does not include(a) the return of possession of a thing to the owner of the

thing at the end of a lease or other agreement; or(b) a prescribed supply.

) A financier is taken not to supply plant, a substance or astructure for the purposes of this Act if(a) the financier has, in the course of the financiers

business as a financier, acquired ownership of, oranother right in, the plant, substance or structure onbehalf of a customer of the financier; and

(b) the action by the financier, that would be a supply butfor this subsection, is taken by the financier for, or onbehalf of, that customer.

) If subsection (4) applies, the person (other than the financier)who had possession of the plant, substance or structureimmediately before the financiers customer obtainedpossession of the plant, substance or structure is taken for thepurposes of this Act to have supplied the plant, substance orstructure to the financiers customer.11AC018_.fm June 7, 2011 9:50 am

[s 7]


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7 Meaning of worker(1

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) A person is a worker if the person carries out work in anycapacity for a person conducting a business or undertaking,including work as(a) an employee; or(b) a contractor or subcontractor; or(c) an employee of a contractor or subcontractor; or(d) an employee of a labour hire company who has been

assigned to work in the persons business orundertaking; or

(e) an outworker; or(f) an apprentice or trainee; or(g) a student gaining work experience; or(h) a volunteer; or(i) a person of a prescribed class.

) For this Act, a police officer is(a) a worker; and(b) at work throughout the time when the officer is on duty

or lawfully performing the functions of a police officer,but not otherwise.

) The person conducting the business or undertaking is also aworker if the person is an individual who carries out work inthat business or undertaking.

eaning of workplace) A workplace is a place where work is carried out for a

business or undertaking and includes any place where aworker goes, or is likely to be, while at work.

) In this section, place includes(a) a vehicle, vessel, aircraft or other mobile structure; and11AC018_.fm June 7, 2011 9:50 am

[s 9]


2011 Act N

(b) any waters and any installation on land, on the bed of

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any waters or floating on any waters.

ection number not usedSee note to section 3.

n 4 Application of Act

ct binds all persons) This Act binds all persons including the State and, so far as

the legislative power of the Parliament permits, theCommonwealth and the other States.

) The State, the Commonwealth and the other States are liablefor an offence against this Act.

) Without limiting subsection (1), the State, the Commonwealthand the other States are liable for a contravention of a WHScivil penalty provision.

ection number not usedSee note to section 3.

cope: application of Act to particular mattersSchedule 1 provides for the application of this Act to(a) dangerous goods and high risk plant; and(b) matters dealt with under other legislation.11AC018_.fm June 7, 2011 9:50 am

[s 13]

Work Health and Safety Act 2011Part 2 Health and safety duties

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Part 2 Health and safety duties

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n 1 Introductory

ision 1 Principles that apply to duties

rinciples that apply to dutiesThis subdivision sets out the principles that apply to all dutiesthat persons have under this Act.Note

The principles will apply to duties under this part and other parts of thisAct including, for example, duties relating to incident notification andconsultation.

uties not transferrableA duty can not be transferred to another person.

erson may have more than 1 dutyA person can have more than 1 duty by virtue of being inmore than 1 class of duty holder.

ore than 1 person can have a duty) More than 1 person can concurrently have the same duty.) Each duty holder must comply with that duty to the standard

required by this Act even if another duty holder has the sameduty.

) If more than 1 person has a duty for the same matter, eachperson(a) retains responsibility for the persons duty in relation to

the matter; and11AC018_.fm June 7, 2011 9:50 am

[s 17]


2011 Act N

(b) must discharge the persons duty to the extent to which

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the person has the capacity to influence and control thematter or would have had that capacity but for anagreement or arrangement purporting to limit or removethat capacity.

anagement of risksA duty imposed on a person to ensure health and safetyrequires the person(a) to eliminate risks to health and safety, so far as is

reasonably practicable; and(b) if it is not reasonably practicable to eliminate risks to

health and safety, to minimise those risks so far as isreasonably practicable.

ision 2 What is reasonably practicable

hat is reasonably practicable in ensuring health and afety

In this Act, reasonably practicable, in relation to a duty toensure health and safety, means that which is, or was at aparticular time, reasonably able to be done in relation toensuring health and safety, taking into account and weighingup all relevant matters including(a) the likelihood of the hazard or the risk concerned

occurring; and(b) the degree of harm that might result from the hazard or

the risk; and(c) what the person concerned knows, or ought reasonably

to know, about(i) the hazard or the risk; and(ii) ways of eliminating or minimising the risk; and11AC018_.fm June 7, 2011 9:50 am

[s 19]


Page 36

(d) the availability and suitability of ways to eliminate or

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minimise the risk; and(e) after assessing the extent of the risk and the available

ways of eliminating or minimising the risk, the costassociated with available ways of eliminating orminimising the risk, including whether the cost isgrossly disproportionate to the risk.

n 2 Primary duty of care

rimary duty of care) A person conducting a business or undertaking must ensure,

so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of(a) workers engaged, or caused to be engaged by the

person; and(b) workers whose activities in carrying out work are

influenced or directed by the person;while the workers are at work in the business or undertaking.

) A person conducting a business or undertaking must ensure,so far as is reasonably practicable, that the health and safety ofother persons is not put at risk from work carried out as part ofthe conduct of the business or undertaking.

) Without limiting subsections (1) and (2), a person conductinga business or undertaking must ensure, so far as is reasonablypracticable(a) the provision and maintenance of a work environment

without risks to health and safety; and(b) the provision and maintenance of safe plant and

structures; and(c) the provision and maintenance of safe systems of work;

and(d) the safe use, handling and storage of plant, structures

and substances; and11AC018_.fm June 7, 2011 9:50 am

[s 19]


2011 Act N

(e) the provision of adequate facilities for the welfare at

(4

(5o. 18 Page 37

work of workers in carrying out work for the business orundertaking, including ensuring access to thosefacilities; and

(f) the provision of any information, training, instruction orsupervision that is necessary to protect all persons fromrisks to their health and safety arising from work carriedout as part of the conduct of the business or undertaking;and

(g) that the health of workers and the conditions at theworkplace are monitored for the purpose of preventingillness or injury of workers arising from the conduct ofthe business or undertaking.

) If(a) a worker occupies accommodation that is owned by or

under the management or control of the personconducting the business or undertaking; and

(b) the occupancy is necessary for the purposes of theworkers engagement because other accommodation isnot reasonably available;

the person conducting the business or undertaking must, so faras is reasonably practicable, maintain the premises so that theworker occupying the premises is not exposed to risks tohealth and safety.

) A self-employed person must ensure, so far as is reasonablypracticable, his or her own health and safety while at work.Note

A self-employed person is also a person conducting a business orundertaking for the purposes of this section.11AC018_.fm June 7, 2011 9:50 am

[s 20]


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Division 3 Further duties of persons

20 Din(1

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21 Dinp(12011 Act No. 18

conducting businesses or undertakings

uty of persons conducting businesses or undertakings volving management or control of workplaces) In this section, person with management or control of a

workplace means a person conducting a business orundertaking to the extent that the business or undertakinginvolves the management or control, in whole or in part, of theworkplace but does not include(a) the occupier of a residence, unless the residence is

occupied for the purposes of, or as part of, the conductof a business or undertaking; or

(b) a prescribed person.) The person with management or control of a workplace must

ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the workplace,the means of entering and exiting the workplace and anythingarising from the workplace are without risks to the health andsafety of any person.

uty of persons conducting businesses or undertakings volving management or control of fixtures, fittings or lant at workplaces) In this section, person with management or control of

fixtures, fittings or plant at a workplace means a personconducting a business or undertaking to the extent that thebusiness or undertaking involves the management or controlof fixtures, fittings or plant, in whole or in part, at aworkplace, but does not include(a) the occupier of a residence, unless the residence is

occupied for the purposes of, or as part of, the conductof a business or undertaking; or

(b) a prescribed person.11AC018_.fm June 7, 2011 9:50 am

[s 22]


2011 Act N

(2) The person with management or control of fixtures, fittings or

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plant at a workplace must ensure, so far as is reasonablypracticable, that the fixtures, fittings and plant are withoutrisks to the health and safety of any person.

uties of persons conducting businesses or ndertakings that design plant, substances or structures) This section applies to a person (the designer) who conducts a

business or undertaking that designs(a) plant that is to be used, or could reasonably be expected

to be used, as, or at, a workplace; or(b) a substance that is to be used, or could reasonably be

expected to be used, at a workplace; or(c) a structure that is to be used, or could reasonably be

expected to be used, as, or at, a workplace.) The designer must ensure, so far as is reasonably practica

work health and safety act 2011 qld

Documents

safety act

division 1subdivisio13

authorisation of plant

safety dutycategory

workplaces38duties of

undertakingsduty of

safety dutiesintroductoryn

amqueensland health