Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00421:front:0:p1
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00421
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 0–3131

Work Health and Safety (Managing the Work Environment and Facilities) Code of Practice 2015

made under the

Work Health and Safety Act 2011, section 274 (Approved Codes of Practice)

1 Name of instrument

This instrument is the Work Health and Safety (Managing the Work Environment and Facilities) Code of Practice 2015.

2 Commencement

This instrument commences on the day after it is registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments.

3 Code of Practice Approval

I approve the Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice. I am satisfied that this code of practice was developed by a process described in section 274(2) of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011.

Michaelia Cash
Minister for Employment

17 December 2015

Date

MANAGING THE

WORK ENVIRONMENT
AND FACILITIES

Code of Practice

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FOREWORD

1.   INTRODUCTION
1.1               Who has duties in relation to the work environment and facilities?
1.2               Identifying what facilities are needed
1.3               Maintaining the work environment and facilities

2.   THE WORK ENVIRONMENT
2.1               Entry and exit
2.2               Housekeeping
2.3               Work areas
2.4               Floors and other surfaces
2.5               Workstations
2.6               Lighting
2.7               Air quality
2.8               Heat and cold

3.   WELFARE FACILITIES
3.1               Access to facilities
3.2               Drinking water
3.3               Toilets
3.4               Hand washing
3.5               Dining facilities
3.6               Personal storage
3.7               Change rooms
3.8               Shower facilities

4.   GUIDANCE FOR SPECIFIC TYPES OF WORK
4.1               Outdoor work
4.2               Remote or isolated work
4.3               Accommodation

5.   EMERGENCY PLANS
5.1               Preparing emergency procedures

APPENDIX A – WORK ENVIRONMENT AND FACILITIES CHECKLIST

APPENDIX B – EXAMPLES OF FACILITIES FOR DIFFERENT WORKPLACES

FOREWORD

This Code of Practice on managing the work environment and facilities is an approved code of practice under section 274 of the Work Health and Safety Act (the WHS Act).
An approved code of practice is a practical guide to achieving the standards of health, safety and welfare required under the WHS Act and the Work Health and Safety Regulations (the WHS Regulations).
A code of practice applies to anyone who has a duty of care in the circumstances described in the code. In most cases, following an approved code of practice would achieve compliance with the health and safety duties in the WHS Act, in relation to the subject matter of the code. Like regulations, codes of practice deal with particular issues and do not cover all hazards or risks that may arise. The health and safety duties require duty holders to consider all risks associated with work, not only those for which regulations and codes of practice exist.
Codes of practice are admissible in court proceedings under the WHS Act and Regulations. Courts may regard a code of practice as evidence of what is known about a hazard, risk