- Removing the ambiguity regarding a section 31 offence, clarifying that an officer can commit a Category 1 offence, the most serious WHS offence.
- Enabling the WHS Regulator to ensure prohibited asbestos is removed permanently from workplaces. Prohibited asbestos means asbestos or ACM, fixed or installed in a workplace on or after 31 December 2001 (commence on 24 April 2024).
- Providing clarity, ensuring a person is prohibited from taking out insurance for penalties imposed under the WHS Act.
- Introduces imputation of conduct regarding the liability of bodies corporate for the conduct of officers and agents.
- Increasing penalties, including a significant increase to the Category 1 offence (commence on 1 July 2024).
- improving the process when SafeWork NSW is consulting on NSW codes of practice
- enabling NSW Police to issue a penalty notice regarding compliance with food delivery rider requirements only
- providing clarification to section 162 of the WHS Act; and
- ensuring the Act contains sufficient regulation making powers.
All these provisions commenced on the date of assent, 24 October 2023, with the exception of those noted down as starting at later time.
A copy of the Bill can be found on the NSW Parliament website while the Act is available on the NSW Legislation website.
Work Health and Safety Amendment (Penalty Notices) Regulation 2022
It allows penalty notices to be issued for previously existing electrical work and asbestos offences in the WHS Regulation. Under Schedule 18A, penalty notices can now be issued for offences under the following clauses:
- Clause 149(1) – disconnection of unsafe electrical equipment
- Clause 156 – inadvertently re-energising de-energised electrical equipment
- Clause 164(2) – use of socket outlets in a hostile operating environment
- Clause 166(1) and (2) – unsafe distances to an overhead or underground electric line
- Clause 446 (1) and (3) – limitation on use of certain equipment on asbestos or asbestos containing materials
- Clause 469 – signage and barricades for asbestos removal work
- Clause 473(2) – asbestos clearance inspections
- Clause 474(2) and (3) – asbestos clearance certificates
Work Health and Safety Amendment (Food Delivery Riders) Regulation 2022
From 1 July 2022, food delivery platforms are required to supply food delivery riders with high-visibility personal protective equipment (PPE). The Amendment Regulation specifies the prescribed PPE, which includes a retroreflective outer garment and a bag or container used to transport the food or drink. These items must be in accordance with the prescribed Australian Standard.
Riders have a duty to, while delivering food or drink, wear the high-visibility PPE that has been provided to them by the food delivery platform.
From 1 January 2022, food delivery platforms are required to provide induction training to food delivery riders. The training must contain modules on general road safety, hazard and fatigue management, use of PPE, and Work Health and Safety duties and obligations. Food delivery platforms must not allow a rider to commence work for them, until they have completed induction training.
Upon completion of their induction training, riders will be provided with a training verification record. This evidences that they are appropriately trained. The verification record is required to include the riders name, address, date of birth, the date they completed their training and the date on which they were provided with PPE.
Riders have a duty to carry this verification on them while working and must make it available for inspection to SafeWork NSW and NSW Police. Riders also have a separate duty to wear the PPE provided to them.
Food delivery platforms will also be required to keep records on induction training and the provision of PPE. Records must be kept for a period of 5 years, with SafeWork NSW able to access these records upon written request.
Explosives Regulation Amendment (Exemptions) Regulation 2022
The amendments exempt transport operators and persons working for transport operators who are transporting small arms ammunition, and percussion caps used in small arms ammunition, from licensing and security clearance requirements.
These persons are exempt from requirements to hold a security clearance and a licence to transport. They are also exempt from requirements to hold a security clearance to have unsupervised access to explosives. The exemptions apply to all stages of the transport journey, including any storage that is part of this journey.
Transport workers that are exempted from requirements to hold a security clearance or licence to transport are still required to report any loss, theft, suspicious incidents and serious incidents relating to explosives to the relevant authority.
Percussion caps are also now defined as articles of Classification Code 1.4S under the United Nations Model Regulations for Transport of Dangerous Goods 21st Edition, and which serve as igniting elements in small arms ammunition, consisting of a metal or plastics cap containing a small amount of primary explosive mixture.
Amendments to the Explosives Act 2003
The amendments implement recommendations of the 2019 Statutory Review of the Explosives Act (PDF, 789.18 KB), increasing maximum penalty amounts in accordance with CPI and clarifying extra-territorial inspector powers.
The Bill also amends the Explosives Act to clarify regulation-making powers and amends the Subordinate Legislation Act 1989 to postpone the repeal of the Explosives Regulation 2013 until 1 September 2024.
Amendments to the WHS Regulation 1 March 2023
Amendments to the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017 (WHS Regulation) are due to come into effect on 1 March 2023.
Demolition licensing
The Work Health and Safety Amendment (Demolition Licensing) Regulation 2022 makes some amendments to the WHS Regulation 2017, to transition the existing demolition licensing regime from the repealed Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 2001 to the WHS Regulation.
The Amendment Regulation inserts a new Part 4.6 to the Regulation to provide for the licensing of demolition work. It substantially continues the existing licensing framework and adapts it to the WHS Regulation.
The key changes include:
- amending the definition of licensed demolition work, to align it with an existing requirement for notification of some demolition work under the WHS regulation
- setting consistent and strong criteria that SafeWork NSW must be satisfied of before granting, renewing, suspending or cancelling a demolition licence including extending these criteria to the named supervisor on the licence.
- mandating training for demolition workers who do work under the supervision of a licence holder or nominated supervisor – to ensure their safety, and requiring the licence holder to retain those training records (this provision will commence on 1 March 2025).
- enabling SafeWork NSW to authorise Registered Training Organisations for the delivery of training and assessment for a demolition licence.
- increasing licence duration to five years for applications and renewals.
SafeWork NSW is in the process of developing further guidance material to assist industry with understanding the new requirements.
Work Health and Safety Amendment Regulation 2022
The Work Health and Safety Amendment Regulation 2022 makes several amendments to the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017 (WHS Regulation) to give effect to changes made to the national model WHS Regulations.
Psychosocial risks
The Amendment Regulation inserts new provisions on the management of psychosocial risks in the workplace. It defines ‘psychosocial hazard’ and ‘psychosocial risk’ and clarifies the appropriate control measures that persons conducting a business or undertaking are required to implement to manage those risks.
Amusement devices
The Amendment Regulation provides for improved record keeping and operator training for amusement devices and passenger ropeways.
Other amendments
The Amendment Regulation adds a note to clause 15 to clarify that compliance with an Australian/New Zealand Standard referred to in the Regulation is not mandatory unless the WHS Regulation states that it is mandatory.
The Amendment Regulation also amends clause 702 to include the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013. This amendment will facilitate the flow of information between SafeWork NSW to the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, which is needed for investigations and compliance in some matters.
Commencement
The amendments will commence as follows:
- psychosocial hazards and risks will commence on 1 October 2022
- amusement devices will commence 1 December 2022.
- all other provisions will commence on the day the Amendment Regulation is published on the NSW legislation website.
Amendments to the WHS Regulation 18 December 2020
Amendments to the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017 (WHS Regulation) came into effect on 18 December 2020.
The Work Health and Safety Amendment (GHS Labelling) Regulation 2020 updates the hazardous chemical labelling requirements to the 7 th revised edition of the Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS 7) from the 3 rd revised edition (GHS 3).
GHS 7 introduces several changes to classification, labelling and safety data sheet requirements for workplace hazardous chemicals. In addition to these changes, the definition of ‘hazardous chemical’ has been clarified to ensure it captures all Category 2 eye irritants.
A transitional period of two years, from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2022 has also been introduced. During this period, both GHS 3 and GHS 7 may be used.
This transition will provide businesses with the appropriate time to adjust and implement the changes. From 1 January 2023, the transitional arrangements will allow hazardous chemicals labelled with GHS 3 that were already in the supply chain to continue to be supplied and used by businesses until stock runs out.
For further information visit GHS 7 transition.
The amendments also address outdated references to Australian Safety Standards, updating those relating to pressure equipment and lasers used in the building and construction industry.
Further, the Work Health and Safety Amendment (Digital Induction Training Cards) Regulation 2020 enables the issue, use and cancellation of digital versions of general construction induction training cards.
Work Health and Safety Amendment (Information Exchange) Act 2020
The Work Health and Safety Amendment (Information Exchange) Act 2020 was passed by Parliament on 22 October 2020 and came into effect on 27 October 2020.
The Act establishes an information-sharing framework between NSW Health and SafeWork NSW for notifications of certain occupational dust diseases and establishes a Dust Diseases Register, which will be kept by SafeWork NSW. SafeWork NSW will publish an annual report on the Dust Diseases Register on its website. The Act also gives NSW Health broad information-sharing powers with NSW WHS regulators, and requires SafeWork NSW to conduct a case-finding study to investigate crystalline silica exposure in the manufactured stone industry.
These changes are intended to give WHS regulators the information they need to address the rise of silicosis in NSW and to protect workers from other occupational dust diseases. For more information see SafeWork’s pages on working safely with crystalline silica and asbestos.
Amendments to the WHS Regulation 7 August 2020
Amendments to the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017 (WHS Regulation) came into effect on 7 August 2020.
Plant item registration
The Work Health and Safety Amendment (Miscellaneous) Regulation 2020 (Amendment Regulation) maintains the current registration period of 1 year for items of plant and clarifies the items of plant that are required to be registered.
For further information on plant item registration, see the WHS Regulation and SafeWork NSW’s Plant Item Registration page.
Traffic control work clarified
The Amendment Regulation clarifies that traffic control work includes directing traffic in accordance with a work zone traffic management plan and is not limited to using a stop/slow bat or boom gate.
Penalties
It also allows for the following existing offences to be dealt with by way of a penalty notice.
- failing to minimise the risk of an object falling on a person by providing adequate protections against the risk,
- failing to take certain actions in connection with the use of scaffold at a workplace.
See Schedule 18A of the WHS Regulation for further information.
Increases to penalty provisions – Work Health and Safety Amendment (Review) Act 2020 Schedule 2 – Consequential amendments to the WHS Act
Sections
Penalty units
Penalty for financial year 2021-22
Penalty unit value: $102.95
Penalty for financial year 2022-23
Penalty unit value: $107.47
New penalty for financial year 2023-24
Penalty unit value: $115.29
33, 38(1), 39(1), 41, 52(5), 56(2) 61(4), 70(1) and (2), 72(7), 72(7), 79(1), (3) and (4), 99(2), 118(3), 143, 144(1), 145, 146, 147 (1), 148, 155(5), 165(2), 171(6), 177(2) and (6), 188, 190, 193, 200(1), 219, 242(1) and (2), and 271(2) and (4)
33, 42(1) and (2), 43(1) and (2), 44(1) and (2), 44(1) and (2), 45, 46, 47(1), 104(1), 107, 108(1), 109(1), and 197
33, 104(1), 107, 108(1), 109(1), 197
38(1), 39(1), 52(5), 53(1) and (2), 56(2), 57(1) and (2), 61(4), 70(1) and (2), 71(2), 72(7), 74(1), 79(1), (3), and (4), 118(2), 123, 124, 125, 126, 128, 129, 143, 144(1), 145, 146, 147(1), 148, 155(5), 165(2), 171(6), 172(2) and (6), 185(4), 188, 189, 268 (1) and (2), and 271 (2) and (4)
38(7), 75(1), 97(1) and (2), 150, 210(1) and (2) and 273
38(7), 75(1), 97(1) and (2), 150, 210(1) and (2), 273
41, 99(2), 190, 193, 200(1), 219 and 242(1)
42(1) and (2), 43(1) and (2), 44(1) and (2), 45, 46 and 47(1)
53 (1) and (2), 57 (1) and (2), 74 (1) and 149(1)
Penalties in previous years
Increases to penalty provisions – Schedule 3 Consequential amendments to the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017
Sections
Penalty Unit
Penalty for financial year 2021-22
Penalty unit value: $102.95
Penalty for financial year 2022-23
Penalty unit value: $107.47
New penalty for financial year 2023-24
Penalty unit value: $115.29
39(2) and (3), 40, 41(1) and (2), 42(1) and (2), 43(1) (2) and (4); 44(2) and (4); 45; 48(2); 49; 50(1) and (2), 53(1); 55(2), 57(2), 58(2), 59(1), (2), (3), (4), (5) and (6); 61 (1-8) ; 64(2); 65; 66(3); 67(1) and (4); 69; 71(1) and (2); 72(1) and (2); 73; 74(1), (2), and (3); 75(2) and (3); 76(1) and (2); 77(2), (3) and (4); 78(3) and (4); 79(2), 80(2), (3) and (4); 84(1); 85(4); 94(1); 96; 97; 98(1); 111; 124(1) and (2); 125(1); 126; 127(1); 139; 142(1); 150(3); 154; 155(1) and (2); 156; 157(1); 158(1); 159; 160; 161(1) and (2); 162(2), (3) and (5); 163(1); 164(2); 165(2); 166(1) and (2); 168(1) and (2); 170; 175(1) (2) and (3); 176(3); 177; 178(1); 179(1) and (2); 180; 181(2), (3) and (4); 182(2), (3) and (5); 183; 189(2), (4), (5) and (6); 190 (1) and (2); 191(1) and (2); 192(2); 193(1); 194(1) and (2); 197; 199(1) and (2); 201(2); 202(2); 204(1)(2) (3) (4) and (5); 205; 206(1)(2) and (3); 207; 208(2)(3) (4) and (5); 209; 210(1) and (2); 211(1) and (2); 212(2); 215(2)(3)(4) and (5); 216(1); 218(1)(2) and (3); 219(2)(3) (4) (5)(6) and (7); 222(2)(3); 223(2)(3)(4)(5) and (6); 225(2)(3)(4) and (5); 226(1)(3) and (4); 228; 229 (1) and (2); 230(1)(2) and (3); 231, 232; 233; 234(2); 237(2)(4) and (5); 238(1) and (2); 240(1); 241(1); 242(1) and (2); 260(3)(4) and (5); 262(1); 273(3) and (4); 275(1); 282(1); 287; 288(1); 288D; 299(1); 300(1) and (2); 303(1) (2) and (4); 304(5); 306(1) and (3); 309(1); 313(1) (2) and (4); 314; 326(1) and (2); 329; 330(1)(3) and (4); 331(2); 332(2); 333; 334; 335(1); 339(1) and (3); 340(1)(2)(3) and (4); 341(1); 342(1)(2) and (3); 343; 344(1); 345; 346(1); 347(1); 348(1)(4) and (6); 349(1); 350(1); 352; 353(2); 354(1) and (3); 355; 356(1) and (2); 357(1)(2) and (3); 358; 359(1)(2) and (3); 360; 361(2) and (3); 363(2); 363(1) and (2); 364; 365(2) and (3); 366(2) and (3); 367(3); 368; 370; 371; 374(1); 375; 376; 377; 378(1) and (2); 379(1); 389(1) and (2); 390(2) and (3); 391(2) and (3); 395(1) and (2); 396; 397(1) and (2); 398(1); 399(1) and (2); 400(1)(2) and (3); 402(1); 404(1) and (2); 405(1) and (2); 406; 407(1)(2) and (5); 408(1) and (2); 411(1); 412; 413; 414; 415(1); 416(2) and (3); 417(2) and (3); 418(1) and (2); 419(1); 420(2); 422(1); 423(2); 424; 429(2) and (3); 432(2) and (3); 434; 435(1) and (3); 436; 437(1) and (2); 440(1); 441; 442; 443; 444(1) and (2); 445(1)(3) and (4); 449; 450; 451(2) and (3); 452(3); 453(1); 456(3); 457; 458(1) and (3); 459; 460(1) and (2); 461(1) and (2); 462; 463(1); 464(1); 467(2) and (3); 468(2) and (3); 469; 470(2) and (5); 471(1) and (2); 472(1)(2) and (3); 473(2); 474(2)(3) and (4); 475(1)(2)(4) (5) and (6); 476(1) and (2); 477(1)(2)(4)(5) and (6); 479(1); 480; 481; 482(1) and (2); 483(1) and (2); 484(1)(2) and (3); 505(1); 506(1); 507(1); 512; 513(1); 525; 536(1); 554(1) and (3); 555(1) and (4); 556(2); 557(1)(5)(6) and (7); 558(1) and (2); 559(1); 564(1) and (3); 565; 566; 567(1)(2) and (3); 568(1); 569(1); 571; 572(1) and (4); 573(1); 574(1) and (2); 575(1) and (2); 587(1); 588; 593; 594; 607;
39(2) and (3); 40; 41(1) and (2); 42(1) and (2); 43(1)(2) and (3); 44(2) and (4); 45; 48(2); 49; 50(1); 53(1); 55(2); 57(2); 58(2); 59(1)(2)(3)(4)(5) and (6); 61(1-8); 65; 67(1) and (4); 69; 71(1) and (2); 72(1) and (2); 73; 74(1), (2), and (3); 75(2) and (3); 76(1); 78(3) and (4); 79(2); 80(2), (3) and (4); 84(1); 154; 155(1) and (2); 156; 157(1); 158(1); 159; 160; 161(1) and (2); 163(1); 164(2); 166(1) and (2); 168(1) and (2); 177; 178(1); 179(1) and (2); 183; 189(2),(3)(4)(5) and(6); 190(1) and (2); 191(1) and(2); 192(2); 193(1); 194(1) and (2); 197; 199(1) and (2); 201(2); 202(2); 204(1)(2) (3) (4) and (5); 205; 206(1)(2) and (3); 207; 208(2)(3) (4) and (5); 209; 210(1) and (2); 211(1) and (2); 212(2); 215(2)(3)(4) and (5); 216(1); 218(1) (2) and (3); 219(2) (3) (4) (5) (6) and (7); 222(2) and (3); 223(2)(3)(4)(5) and (6); 225(2)(3)(4) and (5); 231; 232; 233; 234(2); 238(1) and (2); 240(1); 241(1); 299(1); 300(1) and (2); 306(1) and (3); 309(1); 314; 329; 330(1)(3) and (4); 331(2); 332(2); 333; 334; 335(1); 339(1) and (3); 340(1) and (2); 341(1); 342(1)(2) and (3); 343; 344(1); 345; 346(1); 347(1); 348(1)(4) and (6); 349(1); 350(1); 352; 353(2); 354(1) and (3); 355; 356(1) and (2); 357(1)(2) and (3); 358; 359(1)(2) and (3); 360; 361(2) and (3); 362(2); 363(2); 363(1) and (2); 365(2) and (3); 366(2) and (3);
367(3); 368; 370; 371(1); 374(1); 375; 376; 377; 379(1); 389(1) and (2); 391(2); 395(1) and (2); 396; 397(1) and (2); 398(1); 399(1) and (2); 400(1)(2) and (3); 402(1); 405(1) and (2); 406; 407(1)(2) and (5); 408(1) and (2); 411(1); 412; 413; 414; 415(1); 416(2) and (3); 417(2) and (3); 419(1); 420(2); 422(1); 424; 429(2) and (3); 432(2) and (3); 434; 435(1) and (3); 436; 437(1) and (2); 440(1); 441; 442; 443; 445(1); 449; 450; 451(2) and (3); 452(3); 453(1); 456(3); 457; 458(1) and (3); 459; 460(1) and (2);462; 463(1); 464(1); 467(2) and (3); 468(2) and (3); 469; 470(2) and (5); 471(1) and (2); 472(1)(2) and (3); 473(2); 474(2)(3) and (4); 475(1)(2)(4) (5) and (6); 476(1) and (2); 477(1)(2)(4)(5) and (6); 479(1); 480; 481; 482(1) and (2); 483(1) and (2); 484(1)(2) and (3); 536(1); 554(1) and (3); 555(1) and (4); 556(2); 557(1)(5)(6) and (7); 558(1) and (2); 559(1); 564(1) and (3); 565; 566(2); 567(1)(2) and (3); 568(1); 569(1); 571; 572(1); 573(1); 574(1) and (2); 575(1) and (2).
19, 22(3), 46(2), 46(3), 46(4), 47, 50(3), 66(2), 66(5), 68(1), 70(1), 70(2), 77(5), 85(1), 85(2), 85(2A), 85(3), 149(1), 150(1), 150(2), 151, 162(4), 165(1), 176(2), 182(4); 187, 188, 195, 196, 198, 200, 213, 224(1), 224(2), 235(2), 236(1), 236(2), 236(3), 239(1), 239(2), 253, 254, 294(1), 295(1), 295(2), 296, 298(1), 301, 302, 303(3), 304(2), 304(3), 304(4), 308, 310, 311(1), 311(2), 312, 313(3), 316, 317(1), 327, 336, 337(1), 337(2), 338, 344(3), 344(5), 344(6), 346(3), 347(3), 369, 371(2), 372(1), 373, 385, 387, 388(2), 388(3), 398(2), 401(1), 403(1), 403(3), 409(1), 410, 415(2), 425(1), 425(2), 426, 427(1), 427(2), 428, 429(5), 430(1), 432(5), 433, 438(1), 438(2), 439, 446(1), 446(3), 448, 451(5), 454(2), 454(3), 455(2), 455(3), 464(3), 465(1), 465(2), 465(3), 466(1), 466(3), 482(3), 529, 547(2), 548(2), 551, 553(4), 553(5), 555(5), 557(8), 560, 562(2), 563, 567(4), 570, 576.
19, 22(3), 46(2), 46(3), 46(4), 47, 50(3), 66(2), 66(5), 68(1), 70(1), 70(2), 77(5), 85(1), 85(2), 85(2A), 85(3), 149(1), 150(1), 150(2), 151, 162(4), 165(1), 176(2), 182(4); 187, 188, 195, 196, 198, 200, 213, 224(1), 224(2), 235(2), 236(1), 236(2), 236(3), 239(1), 239(2), 253, 254, 294(1), 295(1), 295(2), 296, 298(1), 301, 302, 303(3), 304(2), 304(3), 304(4), 308, 310, 311(1), 311(2), 312, 313(3), 316, 317(1), 327, 336, 337(1), 337(2), 338, 344(3), 344(5), 344(6), 346(3), 347(3), 369, 371(2), 372(1), 373, 385, 387, 388(2), 388(3), 398(2), 401(1), 403(1), 403(3), 409(1), 410, 415(2), 425(1), 425(2), 426, 427(1), 427(2), 428, 429(5), 430(1), 432(5), 433, 438(1), 438(2), 439, 446(1), 446(3), 448, 451(5), 454(2), 454(3), 455(2), 455(3), 464(3), 465(1), 465(2), 465(3), 466(1), 466(3), 482(3), 529, 547(2), 548(2), 551, 553(4), 553(5), 555(5), 557(8), 560, 562(2), 563, 567(4), 570, 576.
50(2), 66(3), 76(2), 77(2), 77(2), 77(4), 85(4), 94(1), 96, 97, 98(1), 111, 124(1), 124(2), 125(1), 126, 127(1), 139, 142(1), 150(3), 162(2) ,162(3), 162(4), 162(5), 165(2), 170, 175(1), 175(2), 175(3), 176(3), 180, 181(2), 181(3), 181(4), 182(2), 182(3), 182(5); 226(1), 226(3), 226(4), 228, 229(1), 229(2), 230(1), 230(2), 230(3), 237(2), 237(4), 237(5), 242(1), 242(2), 260(3), 260(4), 260(5), 262(1), 273(3), 273(4), 275(1), 282(1), 287, 288(1), 288D, 303(1), 303(2), 303(4), 304(5), 313(1), 313(2), 313(4), 326(1), 326(2), 340(3), 340(4), 364, 378(1), 378(2), 390(2), 390(3), 391(3), 404(1), 404(2), 418(1), 418(2), 423(2), 444(1), 444(2), 445(3), 445(4), 461(1), 461(2), 505(1), 506(1), 507(1), 512, 513(1), 525, 572(4), 587(1), 588(1), 593, 594(1), 607
