Queensland is leading the country preparing the workforce for emerging jobs in the green hydrogen industry and has launched a draft safety code of practice.
Minister for Resources, Scott Stewart said Queensland would be the first Australian State to develop a clear pathway for hydrogen safety system compliance.
“Green hydrogen is an emerging industry which will create new jobs throughout regional Queensland which is why it’s important the right safety guidelines are in place,” Mr Stewart said.
“Current legislation and safety requirements are tailored for traditional products like LPG and natural gas and do not specifically target hydrogen fuel applications,” he said.
“The draft code will deliver a framework to outline minimum safety requirements and give businesses certainty that they are compliant.”
He said it would be useful for applications that used hydrogen as a fuel gas and would provide guidance to the industry about safe operations, regulatory compliance and approval processes.”
Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen, Mick de Brenni said Queensland’s reputation for safety and reliability was an important guarantee for both workers and investors.
“As we grow the future fuels value chain, workers and unions have told us they want their workplaces and processes to meet the highest safety requirements,” Mr de Brenni said
“We know our global partners want to do business with Queensland because they trust we will deliver a guaranteed clean energy supply chain, as well as high ethical, operational and workplace safety standards.”
He said Green hydrogen was the key to diversifying the State’s energy sector and growing more jobs in more industries to ensuring the safety of workers and the public is paramount.
Mr Stewart said Resources Safety and Health Queensland had consulted with industry and business to develop the draft code which is now open for consultation.
He said that once the feedback was considered, the policy approach and relevant legislative amendments would be finalised later in 2022.
The draft code proposes alternate means of achieving a safe outcome where existing obligations in the current legislation are problematic for hydrogen fuel applications.
It will be routinely reviewed and revised as new standards, competencies and applications are developed.
The draft document can be accessed at this PS News link.
