SafeWork Australia has announced that workplace health and safety (WHS) regulators have revised their statement on the approach to WHS compliance during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Agency said the Statement of Regulatory Intent – COVID-19 was developed by the Heads of Workplace Safety Authorities (HWSA).
“It sets out principles WHS regulators use to guide their approach to ensuring compliance with WHS laws during the COVID-19 pandemic,” SafeWork said.
“The revisions ensure the Statement remains current and relevant,” it said.
“Updates include the addition of new information on COVID-19 vaccines.”
SafeWork said the Statement didn’t apply to WHS regulators in the Australian Capital Territory or Victoria.
IHWSA said WHS Regulators would take into account the unprecedented pressure on industry and employers during the pandemic and apply a common sense and practical approach to interactions with workplaces.
“Importantly, compliance and enforcement activity will continue; however, consideration will first be on matters that pose a significant and/or serious risk to health and safety,” HWSA said.
“WHS Regulators’ responses will be proportionate with a focus on what is reasonably practicable in these exceptional circumstances,” it said.
HWSA said that generally WHS Regulators would take a supportive and educative approach to compliance, provided that duty holders had made genuine attempts to comply with legislative requirements.
HWSA’s three-page Statement of Regulatory Intent – COVID-19 can be accessed on SafeWork Australia’s website this PS News link.
