Twenty-one (21) Qld Codes Reviewed and Approved
21 Queensland Codes of Practice (COP) have been reviewed and approved under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and the Electrical Safety Act 2002. They come into effect on 1 March 2021.
Codes reviewed were part of a broader Safe Work Australia review and include all the heavy hitters - Asbestos (management and removal), Confined Spaces, Excavation, Risk, Hazardous Chemicals, Plant, Work at Heights (risk of falls), Managing Electrical Risks and Safe Design of Structures.
See the full list here
The review was limited to technical accuracy, readability and usability of the codes. WorkSafe Qld have acknowledged that some codes may not represent a contemporary practice and will be working with SafeWork Australia and industry on any future content review.
Key Takeaways
- The update is of Safe Work Australia Codes and other jurisdictions are likely to adopt/ follow suit
- Compliance requirements of codes (in particular control measures) should be included in WHS procedures, established systems of work and work methods.
- Take the opportunity to systematically review your WHS systems and system outputs (e.g. risk assessments) to ensure alignment with content of the codes
- Schedule an update of your systems and registers to reflect updated references
