Source: https://blog.greencap.com.au/2017/07/06/victorian-occupational-health-safety-regulations-2017-summary-changes-part-5/
Timestamp: 2017-12-13 20:27:50
Document Index: 642136381

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 5', 'art 5', 'art 5', 'art 4', 'art 5', 'art 5']

Part 5.1 – Construction
Part 5.2 – Major Hazard Facilities
Part 5.3 – Mines
Click here for changes to Part 4
The key changes to the Construction regulations are in relation to:
Changes to registration requirements regarding construction induction requirements No longer required to be legislated to undertake construction work
In the OHS Regulations 2017, the references to ‘registration’ in relation to the construction induction training requirements have been removed. The provisions have also been revised to refer directly to the prerequisite of undertaking construction induction training and to acquire a ‘construction induction training card’ (CI card) as evidence to show that training has been taken.
Regulation 5.1.6 Self-employed person to have the same duties as an employer This provision has been removed
Referring to Regulation 5.1.6 of the OHS Regulations 2007, the provision states that self-employed persons have the same duties as an employer.
In the OHS Regulations 2017, this provision has been removed. ‘Self-employed person’ will now be specifically referenced in any regulation where a self-employed person has an obligation or duty and where the task at hand is required to be compliant with the OHS Act.
No equivalent regulation. Regulation 331 Emergency procedures
The new regulation applies to construction work if there is a risk of a person becoming engulfed by soil or other material when the work is performed. An employer or self-employed person must now establish emergency procedures following sub regulations and before the construction work is undertaken.
The key changes to the Major Hazard Facilities regulations are in relation to:
Regulation 5.2.5 Safety Management System Regulation 372 Safety management system
In the OHS Regulations 2007, Regulation 5.2.5 explains the core content required in a Safety Management System and also states that it must include the matters found in Schedule 10.
In order to enhance readability, all SMS content requirements have been grouped under Schedule 15 of the OHS Regulations 2017.
Regulation 5.2.9 Emergency plan Regulation 375 Emergency plan
Major Hazard Facility (MHF) operators must prepare emergency plans in conjunction with emergency services responsible for the area where the MHF is located. Additionally, these must also be prepared for municipal councils in the area occupied by the local community in regards to the off-site consequences of a major incident.
Under Regulation 5.2.9 of the OHS Regulations 2007, there are no requirements to provide any part of the plant to the relevant municipal councils although there is a requirement to provide a copy of the plan to engaged emergency services.
As a measure of preparing and to allow the swift response of municipal councils in the occurrence of a major incident, a new requirement has been added to the OHS Regulations 2017, which can be seen below:
“(c) to send to the municipal councils involved in the preparation of the plan under regulation 375(3)(c)(ii) a copy of those parts of the emergency plan relating to the off-site consequences of a major incident occurring.”
Regulation 5.2.15 Content of a Safety Case Regulation 385 Content of safety case
In the OHS Regulations 2007, Regulation 5.2.15 explains the core content that is required in a Safety Case and also the matters the Safety Case must be able to demonstrate. It stresses that a Safety Case must also incorporate all information specified in Schedule 12.
In order to enhance readability, all relevant Safety Case content requirements have been grouped under Schedule 17 of the OHS Regulations 2017.
Regulation 5.2.17 Review of Safety Case Regulation 387 Review of safety case
Under Regulation 5.2.17 of the OHS Regulations 2017, a major hazard facility operator must review and revise the Safety Case in response to specified triggers. Following this, the operator must send a full copy of the revised Safety Case to WorkSafe.
This has been revised in Regulation 387 of OHS Regulations 2017. Operators are now allowed to provide WorkSafe with details of the amendments made to the Safety Case rather than the previous requirement of sending in the full revised Safety Case. However, an operator may still provide the full revised Safety Case by choice or under circumstances whereby a request is made by WorkSafe.
Regulation 5.2.27 Operators of certain facilities to notify Authority Regulation 360 Operators of certain facilities to notify Authority
In Regulation 5.2.27 of OHS Regulations 2007, it is required for an operator of a facility to notify WorkSafe when the facility contains (or may contain) Schedule 9 materials in an amount exceeding 10 percent of their threshold but less than their threshold.
Through this regulation, a facility holding materials at or above threshold is not technically required to inform WorkSafe of this fact. However, if the facility holds materials above the threshold it would have to acquire registration or licensing to be able to operate.
This has been revised under Regulation 360 of the OHS Regulations 2017 to require a facility operator to inform WorkSafe where materials are present in amounts exceeding 10 per cent of their threshold. This will streamline notification requirements and ensure that there is no gap in the coverage of these regulations.
Schedule 9 Materials at Major Hazard Facilities (and their thresholds) Schedule 14 Materials at major hazard facilities and their threshold quantities
Under Schedule 9 of the OHS Regulations 2007, the term ‘major hazard facility’ is defined by reference to the hazardous materials and thresholds. Thus, the scope of Part 5.2 (Major Hazard Facilities) is determined by the information contained in Schedule 9.
In the OHS Regulations 2017, Schedule 9 has been replaced by Schedule 14. This has been revised to confirm that the current state of knowledge around major hazard facilities risks is reflected in the regulations. Major hazard facility operators will be required to review the revised Schedule to find whether any amendments to material descriptions or thresholds may affect their operations. For example, operators should contemplate on whether any hazardous materials they have on site are subject to a revised threshold quantity.
Schedule 11 Matters to be included in Emergency Plan Schedule 16 Matters to be included in major hazard facility emergency plan
Schedule 11 of the OHS Regulations 2007 contains information that must be included in an emergency plan prepared for a major hazard facility (MHF).
Under Schedule 16 of the OHS Regulations 2017, it is now required for a MHF operator to consider the protection of emergency services employees when preparing an emergency plan.
Contained as part of the preparation and implementation of the major hazard facilities’ emergency plan, the amendment is expected to ensure that the potential impact of a major incident on first responders is appropriately planned.
Schedule 12 Additional matters to be included in Safety Case Schedule 17 Additional matters to be included in major hazard facility safety case
Under Schedule 12 of the OHS Regulations 2007, major hazard facility operators are required to graphically present demographic information for the local community in their safety cases.
This requirement has been removed in the OHS Regulations 2017 and now outlines that major hazard facility operators are required to provide seismic data in the safety case where it relates to the risk of a major incident at a major hazard facility. It will be integral to provide this data in a safety case where it is relevant as the possibility and consequence of a major incident could be affected by the type and nature of any seismic activity posing a risk.
Furthermore, major hazard facility operators are now required to compile a summary of any notifiable incidents (i.e. incidents that require notification to WorkSafe under Part 5 of the OHS Act) that have taken place at the major hazard facility in the last five years, in addition to major incidents as shown at Item 10. This revision aims to ensure that operators address the hazards and risks highlighted by past incidents, including those that may not fall under the definition of a ‘major incident’.
Aside from these amendments, the requirements in the rest of the Schedule have remained unaffected.
The key changes to the Mines regulations are in relation to:
Regulation 5.3.2 What is a mining hazard? Regulation 400 What is a mining hazard?
In Regulation 400 of the OHS Regulations 2017, the list of mining hazards has been combined to become consistent with the Model WHS terminology for principal mining hazards while the remaining mining-hazard types have been retained.
Regulation 5.3.11 Who may enter mine Regulation 408 Who may enter mine
Regulation 408 of the OHS Regulations 2017 has introduced new guidelines to improve upon the flexibility of working conditions for young employees. The relevant additions to the regulation are now allowing:
an apprentice or trainee over 16 years but under 18 years to work in an underground mine if they are under direct supervision (direct supervision is defined)
a person under the age of 16 years to work at the mine but not carry out work in any open cut workings or in an underground mine.
Regulation 5.3.18 Communication in the event of an employee working alone Regulation 415 Communication in the event of an employee working alone
Under Regulation 5.3.18 of the OHS Regulations 2007, mining operators are required to ensure, as far as practicable, that there are available methods of ‘constant communication’ with an employee who is working alone at an isolated location at a mine.
These regulations have been amended in the OHS Regulations 2017 to state that the operator must instead provide an ‘effective’ means of communication.
Regulation 5.3.30 Working environment Regulation 429 Working environment
Regulation 5.3.30 of the OHS Regulations 2007 require mining operators to ensure air is maintained at a safe level ‘throughout the mine’
This has been revised in Regulation 429 of the OHS Regulations 2017 to state that mining operators have the duty to ensure air is maintained at a safe level in “areas in the mine in which persons work or travel”.
Regulation 5.3.334 Emergency plan Regulation 433 Emergency plan
Regulation 5.3.34 of the OHS Regulations 2007 has been revised for Regulation 433 of the OHS Regulations 2017. The amended regulation now requires the operator of a prescribed mine to provide relevant parts of the emergency plan to municipal councils.
This change seeks to improve safety standards by providing support to municipal councils and allow them to become better prepared and able to respond more quickly in the event of an incident affecting the health or safety of people occupying the area surrounding a mine.
May 31, 2017 Greencap
January 27, 2016 Greencap