Publication
Mission impossible? Teresa Ribera’s mission letter and the future of EU merger review
Executive Vice President Vestager’s momentous tenure as Commissioner responsible for EU competition policy is nearing its end.
WHS Law Briefing
February 2024
Australia | Publication | February 2024
Welcome to our WHS Law Briefing. This briefing identifies key issues and emerging trends in WHS law, and details the significant legislative and case law developments to date in February 2024. Please contact our national WHS team contacts if you would like to discuss any of the matters in this briefing or would like any source materials which have not been included. We welcome your feedback.
Key issues and trends
| Engineered stone and respirable crystalline silica | A prohibition on the use, supply and manufacture of engineered stone will commence in the majority of jurisdictions from 1 July 2024. In New South Wales, a 6 month campaign targeting exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) has been launched and a silica worker register will be established. In the Australian Capital Territory, a new Code of Practice: Managing the Risks of Airborne Crystalline Silica (Silica Dust) has been approved. Safe Work Australia has been requested to prepare (by the end of February 2024) an outline of agreed policy parameters for amendments to the national model WHS Regulations on crystalline silica processes across all industries, including additional training requirements, a requirement to conduct air monitoring, and reporting workplace exposure standard exceedances to the relevant regulator. |
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Industrial manslaughter |
The Federal and South Australian Parliaments have passed legislation to introduce an offence of industrial manslaughter in mid 2024, and the NSW Government has announced its intention to introduce a Bill for an industrial manslaughter offence in the first half of 2024. Industrial manslaughter offences have already been introduced into the work health and safety laws of all other states and territories, except Tasmania. |
| Psychosocial risks |
Express provisions for the management of psychosocial risks have now been included in the WHS Regulations in all states and territories, except Victoria, however WorkSafe Victoria is nevertheless investigating and prosecuting duty holders in relation to psychosocial hazards under the primary health and safety duty. Work Health and Safety Regulators around Australia have responded by resourcing specialised inspectors, publishing mandatory codes of practice concerning the management of psychosocial risks, conducting investigations and commencing prosecutions, including in connection with HR processes (organisational justice, procedural fairness and welfare considerations), work design/systems of work, and allegations of sexual harassment and bullying. |
| Sexual harassment | Safe Work Australia has published a national model WHS Code of Practice, Sexual and gender-based harassment and the Australian Human Rights Commission has published practical guidelines and resources to assist duty holders to comply with the positive duty under the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth) in respect of preventing sexual harassment. The AHRC’s powers to investigate and enforce compliance with the positive duty commenced on 12 December 2023. |
Recent publications
Publication
Agreement on new EU gas projects and measures under the European Green Deal
On November 28, 2023, the European Commission (EC) adopted its first list of Projects of Common Interest (PCIs), i.e., projects within the EU territory, and Projects of Mutual Interest (PMIs), i.e., projects connecting the EU with other countries, including 166 projects implementing the European Green Deal.
Publication
Facilitating investment in long duration energy storage
On 10 October 2024, the UK government published its long awaited response (the Response) to its January 2024 consultation on “Designing a policy framework to enable investment in long duration electricity storage” (the Consultation).
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