Proposed National Code of Practice for the Prevention of Falls in General Construction and accompanying draft Regulatory Impact Statement
Proposed National Code of Practice for the Prevention of Falls in General Construction and accompanying draft Regulatory Impact Statement
The following documents were released for public comment in August 2005. Public comment closed on 18 November 2005.
· Part 1 - the Public Discussion paper
· Part 2 - the draft National Code of Practice for the Prevention of Falls in General Construction
· Part 3 - the draft Regulation Impact Statement for the National Code of Practice for the Prevention of Falls in General Construction
These documents are available free of charge.
Executive Summary
1. In October 2002, NOHSC recognised that the construction industry warranted a high priority under the National OHS Strategy 2002 – 2012 in Australia’s efforts to reduce workplace death and injury. In particular, undertaking work at height in the construction industry was recognised as a high-risk activity.
2. A Construction Reference Group, comprising representatives of the Australian, State and Territory OHS authorities, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union, was established and undertook the task of developing a draft National Code of Practice for the Prevention of Falls in General Construction. This draft code of practice provides practical guidance to those involved in non-housing construction work on ways to eliminate the risk of falling.
3. The Office of the Australian Safety and Compensation Council has subsequently developed a draft regulation impact statement that examines the costs and other impacts of accidents involving construction workers falling from height. It also seeks to identify the costs and benefits of introducing a national code of practice for the prevention of such falls.
4. A Public Discussion paper completes the package of material available on which the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission invites public comment. The Public Discussion paper also provides information on how respondents can submit their comment, and the process for considering public submissions in the further development of the code of practice and regulation impact statement.
5. The code of practice and regulation impact statement will be finalised after a consideration of public submissions. It is expected that the code of practice will be declared in 2006, after which the Australian, State and Territory Governments will examine how to adopt it into their OHS laws.
Public comment closed on 18 November 2005.
Page last updated: 20/07/2008