Australia: Health and Safety: Compliance Update: Industrial Manslaughter Now Part of Health and Safety Regulations in Queensland

The Queensland Parliament recently passed the Work Health and Safety and Other Legislation Amendment Bill (2017) in response to four deaths at Dreamworld theme park, and the deaths of employees at the Eagle Farm racecourse in 2016. The law introduces new industrial manslaughter provisions and other amendments to the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Old) WHS Act.

Asinta’s Australian Partner, Mark Rapely of CA Financial Services Group says, “If you operate in Queensland it is a good time to examine and update your Health and Safety procedures which should include a detailed review of how the procedures work with any external regulator or Government body in relation to the compliance with safety standards.”

He adds, “Those individuals falling under the ‘Senior Officer’ definition will likely need to go through retraining. Those working with the compliance teams responsible for the checks on business procedures will also be made aware of the importance of ticking off any issues with Health and Safety in a very timely and prudent fashion.”

You can read more about the legislation in this SHRM article.

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