Workplace safety updates for AgVet businesses
New updates are shaping workplace safety practices in Australia. While most sit outside Agsafe’s Industry Standard, they could still impact your operations.
Here’s a summary of key areas to review and where you may need expert advice or guidance.
Psychosocial legislation in Victoria
Victoria has implemented and released their psychosocial legislation. It covers a wide range of issues from gendered violence, sexual harassment, aggression or violence, workplace bullying and work-related stress. WorkSafe Victoria has lots of resources available to assist.
New Codes of Practice: silica and fatigue at work
SafeWork Australia (and various other jurisdictions) has released two new Codes of Practice:
Managing risks of respirable crystalline silica (RCS) in the workplace. Exposure to crystalline silica can lead to lung-related diseases such as silicosis and lung cancer. However, the silica does need to be in the right form (not all silica is crystalline) and size (it needs to be in respirable and inhalable size ranges) for this risk to be present. RCS is typically found in with products that identify that they this content (through their safety data sheet) or in processes where size reduction happens to items that have crystalline silica such as cutting or grinding.
Managing the risk of fatigue at work. This code of practice promotes consideration of factors that could result in fatigue for workers such as long or extended shifts, irregular hours or where there are not sufficient breaks during shifts or between shifts or physically demanding jobs.
Airborne contaminants
SafeWork Australia has released a new framework for managing airborne contaminants. These used to be called WES (workplace exposure standards) but are now being referred to as WEL (workplace exposure limits). The WELs for some substances have been reduced further. Whilst this does not change the need for air monitoring if there is an exposure risk, if your site has certain exposure to chemicals (that is, packages are opened and used) this may need to be considered if you are at a site where there are significant number of chemical spills.
NSW EPA review of pesticides regulation
NSW EPA has hired a consultant to conduct a regulatory impact study. They may be reaching out to businesses to get their viewpoints on how changes to how poisons are sold via retail will impact their businesses. It is likely that there will be more information to provide on this one for several months.
Proposed safety management system standard for heavy vehicles
The National Transport Commission (NTC) is proposing a safety management system standard for those vehicles that fall under heavy vehicle national legislation. The proposed changes are to change from a more prescriptive system to an outcomes-based system that allows better flexibility for businesses of different size and complexity. The change may affect some administrative requirements around accreditation.
Find out more
For detailed guidance and practical tools, visit these official resources:
WorkSafe Victoria – Psychosocial hazards and workplace wellbeing
SafeWork Australia – Codes of Practice on silica and fatigue
SafeWork Australia – Workplace Exposure Limits (WEL) framework
NSW EPA – Pesticides Regulation review updates
National Transport Commission – Heavy vehicle safety management proposals
For tailored advice, consider consulting your regulator or a qualified safety consultant.