The Health and Safety in Employment Amendment Act 2002 - Implications for the Electricity Supply Industry

摘要

The Health and Safety in Employment Amendment Act 2002 was passed on Christmas Eve last year, and came into force on 5~(th) May this year. The Act introduced a number of amendments to the principal Act (passed in 1992 and previously amended in 1993 and 1998) which present a number of challenges to employers and principals in the electricity supply industry. This paper explores some of the changes, and offers comment on their meaning and possible approaches to compliance.rnTopics covered include;rn1. Stress and fatigue as hazards and sources of harm, and possible privacy issues,rn2. The challenge of ensuring employees behaviour does not present a source of harm to themselves or other employees,rn3. Employee participation, the role of representatives (employee/union), and 'good faith' requirements,rn4. The role of employee representatives, and hazard notices,rn5. The right to refuse dangerous work,rn6. The redefinition of a place of work such that it now includes places which are themselves mobile,rn7. The provision of PPE, and the positions an employer may take in respect to employees providing their own protective clothing,rn8. Implications for employers and principals related to accident recording and serious harm reporting,rn9. Duties of suppliers of plant and equipment,rn10. Duties relating to loaned employees,rn11. Infringement notices.