The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) reminds those working within the shipping sector should be familiar with the work health and safety obligations applying in their state or territory.
It is highlighted that compliance with the the National Law does not automatically mean that the operation of a DCV is compliant with WHS (Work, Health and Seafty) laws, and vice versa.
The regulatory framework that applies to domestic commercial vessels (DCVs) includes both Commonwealth and state / territory laws. For that reason the WHS laws apply to DCVs and impose certain obligations on the operation of DCVs. Those obligations are in addition to the obligations imposed by the Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law Act 2012 (the National Law), which is administered by AMSA.
In addition, don’t forget that health and safety laws can also apply to other people at or near a workplace, including volunteers and visitors.
AMSA highlights some additional requirements under work health and safety laws, including:
- worker representation and consultation
- risk and workplace management
- hazardous work tasks:noise, manual tasks, confined space entry, falls from height, scaffolding
- high risk work licensing:lifting, forklift, scaffolding, asbestos, energised electrical work, pressure vessels (boilers)
- diving
- demolition work
- electrical (in some states is separate legislation)
- plant and structures
- construction work (including dredging)
- hazardous chemicals, dangerous goods
- asbestos
- major hazard facilities
- mines (in some states is separate legislation)
- Incident / injury / near miss reporting (in addition to AMSAs incident reporting requirements)
