WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY ACT 2020

Western Australian Current Acts

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WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY ACT 2020

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

PART 1 -- Preliminary

Division 1 -- Introduction

1. Short title
2. Commencement

Division 2 -- Object

3. Object

Division 3 -- Interpretation

Subdivision 1 -- Definitions

4. Definitions

Subdivision 2 -- Other important terms

4A. Meaning of officer
5. Meaning of person conducting a business or undertaking
6. Meaning of supply
7. Meaning of worker
8. Meaning of workplace
9. Notes

Division 4 -- Application of Act

10. Act binds Crown
11. Not used
12. Not used

Division 5 -- Establishment of various offices and bodies

12A. Effect of Schedule

PART 2 -- Health and safety duties

Division 1 -- Introductory

Subdivision 1 -- Principles that apply to duties

13. Principles that apply to duties
14. Duties not transferable
15. Person may have more than 1 duty
16. More than 1 person can have a duty
17. Management of risks

Subdivision 2 -- What is reasonably practicable

18. What is reasonably practicable in ensuring health and safety

Division 2 -- Primary duty of care

19. Primary duty of care

Division 3 -- Further duties of persons conducting businesses or undertakings

20. Duty of persons conducting businesses or undertakings involving management or control of workplaces
21. Duty of persons conducting businesses or undertakings involving management or control of fixtures, fittings or plant at workplaces
22. Duties of persons conducting businesses or undertakings that design plant, substances or structures
23. Duties of persons conducting businesses or undertakings that manufacture plant, substances or structures
24. Duties of persons conducting businesses or undertakings that import plant, substances or structures
25. Duties of persons conducting businesses or undertakings that supply plant, substances or structures
26. Duty of persons conducting businesses or undertakings that install, construct or commission plant or structures
26A. Duty of persons conducting businesses or undertakings that provide services relating to work health and safety

Division 4 -- Duty of officers, workers and other persons

27. Duty of officers
28. Duties of workers
29. Duties of other persons at the workplace

Division 5 -- Offences and penalties

Subdivision 1 -- Preliminary

30. Terms used

Subdivision 2 -- Industrial manslaughter

30A. Industrial manslaughter -- crime

Subdivision 3 -- Other offences and penalties

31. Failure to comply with health and safety duty -- Category
32. Failure to comply with health and safety duty -- Category 2
33. Failure to comply with health and safety duty -- Category

Subdivision 4 -- Exceptions

34. Volunteers and unincorporated associations

PART 3 -- Incident notification

35. What is a notifiable incident
36. What is a serious injury or illness
37. What is a dangerous incident
38. Duty to notify of notifiable incidents
39. Duty to preserve incident sites

PART 4 -- Authorisations

Division 1 -- Preliminary

40. Meaning of authorised

Division 2 -- Requirements for authorisations

41. Requirements for authorisation of workplaces
42. Requirements for authorisation of plant or substance
43. Requirements for authorisation of work

Division 3 -- Other requirements

44. Requirements for prescribed qualifications or experience
45. Requirement to comply with conditions of authorisation

Division 4 -- Use of automated electronic systems for functions relating to authorisations

45A. Preliminary
45B. Use of automated electronic systems under authorisation provisions
45C. Replacing decision made by automated electronic system or re-exercising or re-performing authorisation function

PART 5 -- Consultation, representation and participation

Division 1 -- Consultation, cooperation and coordination between duty holders

46. Duty to consult with other duty holders

Division 2 -- Consultation with workers

47. Duty to consult workers
48. Nature of consultation
49. When consultation is required

Division 3 -- Health and safety representatives

Subdivision 1 -- Request for election of health and safety representatives

50. Request for election of health and safety representative

Subdivision 2 -- Determination of work groups

51. Determination of work groups
52. Negotiations for determination of work group
53. Notice to workers
54. Failure of negotiations

Subdivision 3 -- Multiple business work groups

55. Determination of work groups of multiple businesses
56. Negotiation of agreement for work groups of multiple businesses
57. Notice to workers
58. Withdrawal from negotiations or agreement involving multiple businesses
59. Effect of Subdivision on other arrangements

Subdivision 4 -- Election of health and safety representatives

60. Eligibility to be elected
61. Procedure for election of health and safety representatives
62. Eligibility to vote
63. When election not required
64. Term of office of health and safety representative
65. Disqualification of health and safety representatives
66. Immunity of health and safety representatives
67. Deputy health and safety representatives

Subdivision 5 -- Powers and functions of health and safety representatives

68. Powers and functions of health and safety representatives
69. Powers and functions generally limited to the particular work group

Subdivision 6 -- Obligations of person conducting business or undertaking to health and safety representatives

70. General obligations of person conducting business or undertaking
71. Exceptions from obligations under section 70(1)
72. Obligation to train health and safety representatives
73. Obligation to share costs if multiple businesses or undertakings
74. List of health and safety representatives

Division 4 -- Health and safety committees

75. Health and safety committees
76. Constitution of committee
77. Functions of committee
78. Meetings of committee
79. Duties of person conducting business or undertaking

Division 5 -- Issue resolution

80. Parties to an issue
81. Resolution of health and safety issues
82. Referral of issue to regulator for resolution by inspector
82A. Extension of deadline for making decision resolving issue

Division 6 -- Right to cease or direct cessation of unsafe work

83. Definition of cease work under this Division
84. Right of worker to cease unsafe work
85. Health and safety representative may direct that unsafe work cease
86. Worker to notify if ceases work
87. Alternative work
88. Continuity of engagement of worker
89. Request to regulator to appoint inspector to assist
89A. Referral of issue about application of section 88 to Tribunal

Division 7 -- Provisional improvement notices

90. Provisional improvement notices
91. Provisional improvement notice to be in writing
92. Contents of provisional improvement notice
93. Provisional improvement notice may include recommendations to remedy contravention
94. Minor changes to provisional improvement notice
95. Issue of provisional improvement notice
96. Health and safety representative may cancel notice
97. Display of provisional improvement notice
98. Formal irregularities or defects in notice
99. Offence to contravene a provisional improvement notice
100. Request for review of provisional improvement notice
101. Inspector to review notice
102. Decision of inspector on review of provisional improvement notice

Division 8 -- Part not to apply to prisoners

103. Part does not apply to prisoners

PART 6 -- Discriminatory, coercive and misleading conduct

Division 1 -- Prohibition on discriminatory, coercive or misleading conduct

104. Prohibition on discriminatory conduct
105. What is discriminatory conduct
106. What is a prohibited reason
107. Prohibition of requesting, instructing, inducing, encouraging, authorising or assisting discriminatory conduct
108. Prohibition of coercion or inducement
109. Misrepresentation

Division 2 -- Criminal proceedings in relation to discriminatory conduct

110. Proof of discriminatory conduct
111. Order for compensation or reinstatement

Division 3 -- Civil proceedings in relation to discriminatory or coercive conduct

112. Civil proceedings in relation to engaging in or inducing discriminatory or coercive conduct
113. Procedure for civil actions for discriminatory conduct

Division 4 -- General

114. General provisions relating to orders
115. Prohibition on multiple actions

PART 7 -- Not used

Division 1 -- Not used

116. Not used

Division 2 -- Not used

117. Not used
118. Not used
119. Not used
120. Not used

Division 3 -- Not used

121. Not used
122. Not used

Division 4 -- Not used

123. Not used
124. Not used
125. Not used
126. Not used
127. Not used
128. Not used
129. Not used
130. Not used

Division 5 -- Not used

131. Not used
132. Not used
133. Not used
134. Not used
135. Not used
136. Not used
137. Not used
138. Not used
139. Not used
140. Not used

Division 6 -- Not used

141. Not used
142. Not used
143. Not used

Division 7 -- Not used

144. Not used
145. Not used
146. Not used
147. Not used
148. Not used

Division 8 -- Not used

149. Not used
150. Not used
151. Not used

PART 8 -- The regulator

Division 1 -- Functions of regulator

152. Functions of regulator
153. Powers of regulator
154. Delegation by regulator

Division 2 -- Powers of regulator to obtain information and require independent reports

155. Powers of regulator to obtain information
155A. Supplementary provisions relating to appearances
155B. Power of regulator to require independent report
155C. Powers to copy and retain documents

PART 9 -- Securing compliance

Division 1 -- Appointment of inspectors

156. Appointment of inspectors
157. Identification of inspectors
158. Accountability of inspectors
159. Suspension and ending of appointment of inspectors

Division 2 -- Functions and powers of inspectors

160. Functions and powers of inspectors
161. Conditions on inspectors’ compliance powers
162. Inspectors subject to regulator’s directions

Division 3 -- Powers relating to entry

Subdivision 1 -- General powers of entry

163. Powers of entry
164. Notification of entry
165. General powers on entry under section
166. Persons assisting inspectors

Subdivision 2 -- Entry warrants

166A. Terms used
166B. Entry to places under entry warrant
167. Applying for and issuing entry warrant
167A. Use of remote communication
167B. Effect and execution of entry warrant
167C. General powers when executing entry warrant
167D. Persons assisting inspectors
168. Not used
169. Not used

Subdivision 3 -- Limitation on entry powers

170. Places used for residential purposes

Division 4 -- Powers relating to documents and information

171. Power to require documents and answers to questions
172. Abrogation of privilege against self-incrimination
173. Warning to be given
174. Powers to copy and retain documents

Division 5 -- Seizure

175. Power to seize things
176. Inspector’s power to seize dangerous workplaces and things
177. Powers supporting seizure
178. Receipt for seized things
178A. Inspecting, examining, analysing and testing seized things
179. Forfeiture of seized things
180. Return of seized things
181. Access to seized things

Division 6 -- Damage

182. Damage etc. to be minimised
183. Inspector to give notice of damage
184. Not used

Division 7 -- Other matters

185. Power to require name and address
186. Inspector may take affidavits
187. Not used

Division 8 -- Offences in relation to inspectors

188. Offence to hinder or obstruct inspector
189. Offence to impersonate inspector
190. Offence to assault, threaten or intimidate inspector

PART 10 -- Enforcement measures

Division 1 -- Improvement notices

191. Issue of improvement notices
192. Contents of improvement notice
193. Compliance with improvement notice
194. Extension of time for compliance with improvement notices

Division 2 -- Prohibition notices

195. Power to issue prohibition notice
196. Contents of prohibition notice
197. Compliance with prohibition notice

Division 3 -- Non-disturbance notices

198. Issue of non-disturbance notice
199. Contents of non-disturbance notice
200. Compliance with non-disturbance notice
201. Issue of subsequent notices

Division 4 -- General requirements applying to notices

202. Application of Division
203. Notice to be in writing
204. Directions in notices
205. Recommendations in notice
206. Changes to notice by inspector
207. Regulator may vary or cancel notice
208. Formal irregularities or defects in notice
209. Issue and giving of notice
210. Display of notice

Division 5 -- Remedial action

211. When regulator may carry out action
212. Power of regulator to take other remedial action
213. Costs of remedial or other action

Division 6 -- Not used

214. Not used
215. Not used

PART 11 -- Enforceable undertakings

216. Regulator may accept WHS undertakings
217. Notice of decision and reasons for decision
218. When a WHS undertaking is enforceable
219. Compliance with WHS undertaking
220. Contravention of WHS undertaking
221. Withdrawal or variation of WHS undertaking
222. Proceeding for alleged contravention

PART 12 -- Review of decisions

Division 1 -- Reviewable decisions

223. Which decisions are reviewable
223A. Review applications by unions

Division 2 -- Internal review

224. Application for internal review
225. Internal reviewer
226. Decision of internal reviewer
227. Decision on internal review
228. Stays of reviewable decisions on internal reviews

Division 3 -- External review

229. Application for external review
229A. Conduct and outcome of external review
229B. Stays of decisions subject to external review

PART 13 -- Legal proceedings

Division 1 -- General matters

229C. Terms used
230. Prosecutions
231. Procedure if prosecution is not brought
232. Limitation period for prosecutions
232A. Admission of evidence obtained unlawfully
233. Not used

Division 2 -- Sentencing of offenders

234. Application of this Division
235. Orders generally
236. Adverse publicity orders
237. Orders for restoration
238. Work health and safety project orders
239. Release on the giving of a court-ordered WHS undertaking
240. Not used
241. Training orders
242. Offence to fail to comply with order

Division 3 -- Not used

243. Not used

Division 4 -- Offences by bodies corporate

244. Imputing conduct to bodies corporate

Division 5 -- The Crown

Subdivision 1 -- Prosecutions

244A. Crown may be prosecuted
244B. Prosecution against agent of Crown that is body corporate
244C. Prosecution of Crown in other cases
244D. Provisions applicable to responsible agency
244E. Proceedings where Crown agency has ceased to exist
244F. Penalties in proceedings against Crown

Subdivision 2 -- Other matters

244G. Issue of notices to Crown
244H. Imputing conduct to Crown agency
245. Not used
246. Not used
247. Not used
248. Not used

Division 6 -- Not used

249. Not used
250. Not used
251. Not used
252. Not used
253. Not used

Division 7 -- Not used

254. Not used
255. Not used
256. Not used
257. Not used
258. Not used
259. Not used
260. Not used
261. Not used
262. Not used
263. Not used
264. Not used
265. Not used
266. Not used

Division 8 -- Civil liability not affected by this Act

267. Civil liability not affected by this Act

PART 14 -- General

Division 1 -- General provisions

268. Offence to give false or misleading information
269. Act does not affect legal professional privilege
270. Immunity from liability
271. Confidentiality of information
272. No contracting out
272A. No insurance or other indemnities against fines
273. Person not to levy workers

Division 2 -- Codes of practice

274. Approved codes of practice
275. Use of codes of practice in proceedings

Division 3 -- Regulation-making powers

276. Regulation-making powers

Division 4 -- Review of Act

277. Operation of Act to be reviewed every 5 years

PART 15 -- Repeals and consequential amendments

Division 1 -- Occupational safety and health legislation

278. Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 repealed
279. Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996 repealed

Division 2 -- Mines safety and inspection legislation

Subdivision 1 -- Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 amended

280. Act amended
281. Section 3 deleted
282. Section 4 amended
283. Section 4A deleted
284. Section 6A deleted
285. Section 7 amended
286. Parts 2 to 8 deleted
287. Sections 94 and 95 deleted
288. Section 96A deleted
289. Sections 98 to 99A deleted
290. Section 100 amended
291. Sections 100A and 101 deleted
292. Part 9 Divisions 2 and 3 deleted
293. Sections 102A and 103 deleted
294. Section 104 amended
295. Section 105A amended
296. Section 105AB amended
297. Sections 105 to 110 deleted

Subdivision 2 -- Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations 1995 repealed

298. Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations 1995 repealed

Division 3 -- Petroleum and geothermal energy legislation

Subdivision 1 -- Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Resources Act 1967 amended

299. Act amended
300. Section 5 amended
301. Section 7AA deleted
302. Section 112A amended
303. Section 119 amended
304. Section 126A amended
305. Part IIIA deleted
306. Section 153 amended
307. Schedule 1 deleted

Subdivision 2 -- Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Safety Levies Act 2011 amended

308. Act amended
309. Long title amended
310. Section 3 amended
311. Sections 3A to 3E inserted
3A. Diving operation 1
3B. DSMS 1
3C. Geothermal energy operation 1
3D. Petroleum operation 1
3E. Safety case 1
312. Part 2 replaced

PART 2 -- Safety levies

Division 1 -- Safety case levy

4. Safety case levy payable 1
5. Liability for payment of safety case levy 1
6. Amount of safety case levy 1

Division 2 -- DSMS levy

7. DSMS levy payable 1
8. Liability for payment of DSMS levy 1
9. Amount of DSMS levy 1
313. Section 10 amended
314. Section 11 amended
315. Section 12 amended
316. Section 13 amended
317. Section 14 amended
318. Section 15 amended
319. Section 16 amended
320. Section 18 amended
321. Section 21 amended
322. Section 22 amended
323. Section 26 amended

Subdivision 3 -- Petroleum Pipelines Act 1969 amended

324. Act amended
325. Section 4 amended
326. Section 5AA deleted
327. Section 32 replaced
32. Certain local laws not to apply to licensed pipelines 1
328. Section 36 amended
329. Part IVA deleted
330. Section 63 amended
331. Section 66BB amended
332. Section 67 amended
333. Schedule 1 deleted

Subdivision 4 -- Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Act 1982 amended

334. Act amended
335. Section 4 amended
336. Section 4A inserted
4A. Meaning of facility and offshore petroleum operation 1
337. Part IIA deleted
338. Section 97 amended
339. Section 119 amended
340. Section 137A amended
341. Part IIIA deleted
342. Section 152 amended
343. Schedule 3 amended
344. Schedule 5 deleted

Subdivision 5 -- Various regulations repealed

345. Regulations under Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Resources Act 1967 repealed
346. Regulations under Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Safety Levies Act 2011 repealed
347. Regulations under Petroleum Pipelines Act 1969 repealed
348. Regulations under Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Act 1982 repealed

Division 4 -- Other consequential amendments

Subdivision 1 -- Building and Construction Industry Training Fund and Levy Collection Act 1990 amended

349. Act amended
350. Section 8 amended

Subdivision 2 -- Constitution Acts Amendment Act 1899 amended

351. Act amended
352. Schedule V amended

Subdivision 3 -- Fair Trading Act 2010 amended

353. Act amended
354. Schedule 1 amended

Subdivision 4 -- Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1911 amended

355. Act amended
356. Section 246B amended

Subdivision 5 -- Industrial Relations Act 1979 amended

357. Act amended
358. Section 7 amended
359. Section 8 amended
360. Section 16 amended
361. Section 49I amended
362. Section 113 amended

Subdivision 6 -- Local Government Act 1995 amended

363. Act amended
364. Section 5.40 amended

Subdivision 7 -- Public Sector Management Act 1994 amended

365. Act amended
366. Section 8 amended
367. Section 29 amended

Subdivision 8 -- Workers’ Compensation and Injury Management Act 1981 amended

368. Act amended
369. Section 47 deleted
370. Section 48 amended
371. Section 95 amended
372. Section 100B amended

PART 16 -- Transitional provisions

Division 1 -- Preliminary

373. Terms used
374. Application of Interpretation Act 1984 not affected
375. Continued application of enactments
376. Transitional regulations

Division 2 -- General saving in relation to certain matters

377. Enactments to continue to apply in relation to certain matters occurring before commencement day

Division 3 -- Office holders and bodies

378. WorkSafe Commissioner
379. Chief Inspector of Mines
380. Members of Work Health and Safety Commission
381. First annual report of Work Health and Safety Commission
382. Continuation of Mining Industry Advisory Committee
383. Continuation of other advisory committees

Division 4 -- Health and safety duties

Subdivision 1 -- Designers

384. Section 22 applies only if designing starts on or after commencement day
385. Continued application of repealed enactments relating to designers

Subdivision 2 -- Manufacturers

386. Plant, substance or structure manufactured in batch
387. Section 23 applies only if manufacturing starts on or after commencement day
388. Continued application of repealed enactments relating to manufacturers

Subdivision 3 -- Importers

389. Section 24 not to apply if importation process starts before commencement day
390. Continued application of repealed enactments relating to importers

Subdivision 4 -- Suppliers

391. Start of supply
392. Section 25 not to apply if supply started before commencement day
393. Continued application of repealed enactments relating to suppliers

Subdivision 5 -- Persons who install, construct or commission plant or structures

394. Section 26 not to apply if installing, constructing or commissioning occurs before commencement day
395. Continued application of repealed enactments relating to persons who install or construct plant or structures

Division 5 -- Health and safety representatives

Subdivision 1 -- Preliminary

396. Terms used

Subdivision 2 -- Main provisions

397. Safety and health representatives elected before commencement day
398. Elections in process before commencement day
399. Disqualifications
400. Functions and powers under repealed enactments

Division 6 -- Health and safety committees

Subdivision 1 -- Preliminary

401. Term used

Subdivision 2 -- Main provisions

402. Safety and health committees in place before commencement day
403. Process to establish safety and health committee started before commencement day

Division 7 -- Issue resolution

404. Part 5 Division 5 to apply to unresolved issues arising before commencement day
405. Continued application of enactments relating to issue resolution

Division 8 -- The regulator

406. Continuing powers and functions under OSHA
407. Continuing powers and functions under MSIA
408. Continuing powers and functions under petroleum and geothermal energy legislation
409. Delegation

Division 9 -- Inspectors

410. Inspectors under OSHA
411. Inspectors under MSIA
412. Inspectors under PGERA
413. Inspectors under PPA
414. Inspectors under P(SL)A
415. Application of sections 161 and

Division 10 -- Legal proceedings

416. Jurisdiction of Occupational Safety and Health Tribunal to be exercised by Tribunal
417. Jurisdiction of safety and health magistrates to be exercised by health and safety magistrates

Division 11 -- Other matters

418. Notifiable incidents
419. Independent studies at mines
420. Codes of practice
421. Protections from personal liability

Division 12 -- Levies

Subdivision 1 -- Mines safety and inspection levy

422. Administration costs
423. Mines Safety and Inspection Levy Regulations 2010

Subdivision 2 -- Petroleum and geothermal energy safety levies

424. Administration costs
425. Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Safety Levies Act 2011 to continue to apply to past levy periods
SCHEDULE 1 -- Various offices and bodies
SCHEDULE 2 -- Regulation-making powers

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