Legislation
The Occupational Health Society of Australia (Western Australian Branch) had input into the updating of the following Western Australian legislation which has been harmonised with the Safe Work Australia Model legislation. The Western Australian police force are covered by the Work Health and Safety Act, 2020, Western Australia, and the Work Health and Safety General) Regulations, 2022. Health is now clearly defined in legislation as including physical and mental health.
Work Health and Safety Act, 2020, Western Australia. https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/statutes.nsf/law_a147282.html
Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations, 2022, Western Australia. https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/statutes.nsf/law_s53267.html
Work Health and Safety (Mines) Regulations, 2022, Western Australia.https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/statutes.nsf/law_s53266.html
Work Health and Safety (Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Operations) Regulations, 2022, Western Australia. https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/statutes.nsf/law_a147282_subsidiary.html
Federal Legislation
The Society, along with other interested associations, has previously made a submission into the content of the Federal Legislation with particular emphasis on health monitoring. To view our submission see attached PDF.
State Legislation
When the Society was incorporated in 1978 one of the main concerns of the membership was the lack of specific legislation in regards to occupational health and safety (OHS) concerns in the workplace. Regulation of OHS was contained in a number of individual pieces of legislation which were very hard to police. The Society, through expert knowledge and invitations to intra-state, interstate, and overseas input, made a positive contribution to the introduction of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of Western Australia together with the regulations, codes of practice, guidance notes, policies, and general information brochures. The regulatory body of the day, commonly known as Work Safe, also had a number of their employees join and provide empirical knowledge to the Society.