WHSAC Communique August 2021

The Council is established under the Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011 (the Act) to review the operation of the legislation and to make recommendations to the Minister on possible changes to the administration of the Act or standards of work health and safety in the Northern Territory.

The Council consists of persons representing employers and employees in industries such as construction, mining, resource, local government, entertainment / tourism, including union representation and the person constituting the Authority under the Work Health Administration Act 2011.

The Council was appointed in June 2020 for a two year period and includes five new members and five members who were reappointed from the previous Council.

Membership and contact details are published on the NT WorkSafe website. Industries are encouraged to contact Council members to submit items regarding possible improvements to work health and safety across the Northern Territory.

The Work Health and Safety Advisory Council met on 30 August 2021.

The following items were discussed:

Prosecutions

The Work Health Authority gave the Council an overview on the current prosecutions. Council also discussed a number of matters currently under investigation.

Industrial Manslaughter (section 34B)

The Work Health Authority advised the Council that there was currently no information available to share publicly with the Council as these matters are highly sensitive.

Health and Safety Representatives (HSR)

NT WorkSafe have developed a plan to support HSRs in the Northern Territory. The plan was developed as per recommendation 21 of the Lyons review.

NT WorkSafe five year strategic plan 2021-2026

NT WorkSafe Communications Manger gave the council a presentation on NT WorkSafe’s five year strategic plan. The strategic plan aims to increase the level of work health and safety compliance by workers, managers, businesses and other duty holders, and in turn influence the levels of serious injuries, fatalities and return to work timeframes in the Northern Territory.

Psychosocial Hazards

The council discussed Psychosocial Hazards and agreed that the introduction of a Psychosocial Hazards regulation into the Work Health and Safety regulations should be done without the removal of the “Hierarchy of Controls”.

Next Meeting

The next meeting is scheduled for 8 November 2021.