Changes to workplace exposure standards and Codes of Practice
5 February 2024
Here’s a summary of important WHS changes to workplace exposure standards and Codes of Practice you need to know.
The Work Health & Safety Minister’s meeting in December 2023
brought together all states to agree to consistent approaches
regarding several key WHS issues.
Following the meeting, several new and updated workplace exposure
standards (WES) and Codes of Practice have been released and are now
in effect. All business owners and managers need to be aware of
these changes and take appropriate action where necessary.
NOTE: We are updating our member-only Work Health & Safety Manual to address the changes in workplace exposure standards for welding, and to clarify the requirements relating to hearing testing. We will notify AMCA members when the updated manual is available.
Welding fumes: immediate reduction of workplace exposure standards
A two-thirds majority of state Work Health & Safety ministers
have approved the immediate reduction of the workplace exposure
standard (WES) for welding fumes (not otherwise classified) to an
8-hour time weighted average (TWA) of 1 mg/m3.
Updated model Code of Practice published: Managing the risks of
plant in the workplace
Important sections of the Code of Practice for AMCA members:
New model Code of Practice: Sexual and gender-based harassment
published
The model code will help you meet your WHS obligations. It provides
practical guidance for persons conducting a business or undertaking
(PCBUs) on how to eliminate or minimise the risk of sexual and
gender-based harassment at work so far as is reasonably practicable.
PCBUs must take a proactive, consultative and preventative approach
to sexual and gender-based harassment whether it comes from
colleagues, customers or the public, online or in person. You must
identify and assess the risks, eliminate or minimise them so far as
is reasonably practicable, and review your control measures to make
sure they're working as planned. Managing the risks may mean
changing the layout of your workplace, redesigning the work or the
way you do it – training and policies alone are not effective or
reliable controls.
You must consult your workers on the risks of sexual and
gender-based harassment as well as other psychosocial hazards.
The model code should be read and applied alongside the
Code of Practice: Managing psychosocial hazards at work. Sexual and gender-based harassment often occurs with other
psychosocial hazards and PCBUs must consider the interaction between
these hazards when managing risks to the health and safety of
workers and others.
NOTE: We are updating our member-only Work Health & Safety Manual to address the changes in workplace exposure standards for welding, and to clarify the requirements relating to hearing testing. We will notify AMCA members when the updated manual is available.
Got a question? Contact AMCA on 1300 475 615 or [email protected].