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Modernisation of Work Health and Safety Laws - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Questions asked during Safe Work Month Webinar on 30 October 2020 have been compiled along with the department's responses. Commencement When did the Work Health and Safety Act receive assent? The Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WHS Act) was assented to by the Governor on 10 November 2020. However...
Safe Work Month
18 Dec 2020

November 2020 - Work Health and Safety Act 2020 receives assent

The Work Health and Safety Bill 2019 was passed as the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WHS Act) and assented to by the Governor on 10 November 2020. The WHS Act will not commence until proclamation. The WHS regulations have to be finalised before proclamation occurs. Work on the WHS regulations...
Work health and safety legislation reform
22 Oct 2020

Health surveillance – Legislative requirements for appointed medical practitioners

READ
Appointed Medical Practitioners (AMPs) are expected to have a good understanding of the duties of an AMP as outlined in regulation 5.24 of the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996 (‘the Regulations’). Medical practitioners who wish to become an AMP are required to be adequately trained...
Health surveillance
16 Sep 2020

COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Industry specific information

The following information has been developed to assist employers and employees meet their safety and health obligations. Department of Mines Industry Regulation and Safety Public transport including taxis and rideshare services - Minimising the risk of exposure to COVID-19 Working from home Safe...
COVID 19 - Coronavirus
09 Apr 2020

COVID-19 (Coronavirus) - looking after your mental health

The following information has been developed for employers and employees looks at ways to look after your mental health during this challenging time. COVID-19 coronavirus guide for employers: Looking after your mental health COVID-19 coronavirus guide for employees: Looking after your mental health...
COVID 19 - Coronavirus
08 Apr 2020

What to do if a worker has COVID-19

WATCH
Safe Work Australia has created an easy to follow infographic to advise workplaces on the steps they should take if a worker comes down with a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19. [scald=8226:image_medium {"link":"https:\/\/ www.commerce.wa.gov.au \/publications\/what-do-if-worker-has-covid-19...
COVID 19 - Coronavirus
07 Apr 2020

Building and Energy Covid-19 safety advice

Industry practitioners would be well aware that the Government of Western Australia has declared a State of Emergency and a Public Health Emergency in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. There are now Directions under the Public Health Act and the Emergency Management Act on various topics e.g...
Covid-19 safety information
06 Apr 2020

COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Frequently asked questions

This page contains frequently asked questions on COVID-19. Is social distancing required at work? Social distancing must be followed at work as far as practicable, based on principles published by the Department of Health . Risk assessments should be conducted and suitable control strategies...
COVID 19 - Coronavirus
03 Apr 2020

Vaping - Frequently asked questions

This page contains frequently asked questions about vaping. Is vaping hazardous? Yes, vaping can be hazardous. The nature of the hazard will depend upon factors such as the liquid used in the e-cigarette and the health status of the individual. In 2019, there were 2290 cases of lung injury...
Smoking
14 Feb 2020

Regional Services Review Consultation Paper September 2019

Status: CLOSED, Submissions closed at 5pm on 28 October 2019 Background In late 2018, the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) commenced a Regional Services Review to improve service delivery to our regional customers. DMIRS staff and State and Local Government stakeholders...
Consultations
24 Sep 2019

Pages

Publications

Safety bulletin - 01/2021 - Hazards associated with the use of e-cigarette devices

READWATCH
On 11 January 2021, the Department received a report of an incident at a mine site where an electronic cigarette (vape) battery spontaneously ignited in a worker’s pocket while he was travelling in a...
WorkSafe
Bulletin
23 Feb 2021

Industry Bulletin 135 – Temporary Structures

READ
The purpose of this bulletin is to draw to the attention of permit authorities, building surveyors and those involved with temporary structures, the Building Act 2011 (the Building Act) provisions for temporary structures that are buildings or incidental structures.
Building and Energy
Bulletin
19 Feb 2021

Building legislation review schedule

READ
This schedule lists the dates when building related legislation administered by Building and Energy is scheduled to be reviewed and the current status of those reviews
Building and Energy
Fact sheet
12 Feb 2021

Industry Bulletin 134 – Improving compliance of wet areas

READ
The purpose of this bulletin is to provide information and guidance for builders, wet area installers, architects/building designers and building surveyors to achieve compliance of wet areas.
Building and Energy
Bulletin
18 Jan 2021

Information sheet - Respiratory protective equipment - Fit testing requirements

READWATCH
Employers are required to ensure that where fitted respirators are required to protect health, these are correctly fitted. Examples of fitted respirators (also called respiratory protective equipment...
WorkSafe
Information
15 Jan 2021

Licence Reform program

READ
The Digital DMIRS Strategy seeks to improve the department’s operations and service delivery through the effective use of technology. Some goals of the strategy are to modernise digital systems and...
Corporate
Information
23 Dec 2020

Compliance and enforcement policy 2015

READ
The Building and Energy’s Building Compliance (B&E Building Compliance) compliance and enforcement policy: The B&E Building Compliance will effectively monitor and enforce compliance with the building service Acts through risk-based, intelligence-led activities founded on the principles set out in this policy.
Building and Energy
Policies
15 Dec 2020

General Inspection (Snapshot) Report Four – Wind classification compliance for WA houses

READ
As part of its risk-based audit program, the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety – Building and Energy Division (Building and Energy) conducts general inspections to assess how well...
Building and Energy
Reports
09 Nov 2020

Consultation paper – Registration of builders (and related occupations) reforms

READ
This Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement is part of the first steps towards meeting the McGowan Government’s commitment to implement Recommendations 1, 2 and 6 of the report Building Confidence...
Building and Energy
Discussion paper
27 Oct 2020

Industry Bulletin 132 – Building Amendment Regulations (No. 5) 2020: NCC 2019 Amendment 1

READ
The Amendment Regulations amend regulation 31A of the Building Regulations 2012 to simplify its transitional provisions by reducing the number of adoption dates for different editions of the Building...
Building and Energy
Bulletin
27 Oct 2020

Pages

Announcements

Negligence finding for building surveyor and company – Richard Ruhen and Jescar Pty Ltd

A South West building surveying company and its supervisor have been fined a total of $3,500 for negligence after their certification of a Roleystone building project failed to meet the required standards. The Building Services Board found that Eaton-based building surveying contractor Jescar Pty Ltd (BSC14) and building surveying practitioner Richard Ruhen (BSP279) were negligent in carrying out...
Building and Energy
Media release
19 Feb 2021

Building surveyor fined for misleading classification – Daniel Ross Smee

The Building Services Board has fined a building surveyor $1,000 for misleading the Shire of Toodyay by knowingly signing a certificate with the wrong building classification. Daniel Ross Smee (BSP293) provided a certificate of building compliance (CBC) in March 2019 for additions and alterations to a Julimar property, including a bedroom, games room and sunroom. The Board was told that Mr Smee’s...
Building and Energy
Media release
18 Feb 2021

Amendments to assist early detection of silicosis

Amendments to the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996, relating to health surveillance for workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica will come into effect on 15 April 2021. The amendments will require employers to provide a low-dose HRCT scan, supervised by an appointed medical practitioner, instead of the previously required chest X-ray. Western Australia is the first...
WorkSafe
Alert
18 Jan 2021

Summer safety advice from Building and Energy

Western Australia’s building and energy safety regulator is sharing top tips for a safe summer when using gas barbecues and camping appliances, pools, party lights, lithium-ion batteries, roof spaces and items attached to pillars. Gas barbecues “A barbecue is a great Australian tradition, but gas barbecues can be dangerous if they are not correctly used or maintained,” Building and Energy A/...
Building and Energy
Media release
13 Jan 2021

Former builder reprimanded following fraud conviction – Liam Glenn Howard of Howzat Constructions

Mr Howard was jailed for fraud regarding invoices to the North Metropolitan Health Service His conviction led to recent action under WA building registration laws State Administrative Tribunal issued a reprimand and an order to pay costs A former builder has faced disciplinary action under WA’s building registration laws after being convicted of fraud over misuse of North Metropolitan Health...
Building and Energy
Media release
07 Jan 2021

Regulators’ reminder of portable pool dangers

Building and Energy and Consumer Protection have joined forces to warn parents and retailers about the risks and rules when using and selling portable pools this summer. Building and Energy oversees WA’s swimming pool safety barrier standards, which are enforced by local governments, while Consumer Protection regulates product safety. On average, one child a year drowns in a portable pool in...
Building and Energy / Consumer Protection
Media release
21 Dec 2020

Asbestos removal and demolition operator misleading consumers over licences (David Michael Scofield)

WA consumers are being warned about an asbestos and demolition operator who is misleading the community, by falsely claiming to hold valid WorkSafe licences which have expired or were once held by companies that have since been liquidated. David Michael Scofield of Applecross, is the registrant of the website www.actionasbestos.com.au which contains a reference to “Class 2 Demolition Licence No...
Building and Energy / Consumer Protection
Media release
04 Dec 2020

Have your say on building industry registration

WA’s building regulator is seeking public comment on proposals to review registration requirements for building practitioners and contractors. The consultation is part of Building and Energy’s broad review of the compliance and enforcement framework for the WA building industry. The main aim of the initiatives is to improve confidence in the building sector and respond to a major national report...
Building and Energy
Media release
26 Nov 2020

Non-compliant building work costs supervisor – Christopher John Joseph Brereton

The supervisor of a house construction in Shelley has been fined $5,000 after several areas, including the roof and ceiling, failed to comply with approved plans or building standards. The Building Services Board found that Christopher John Joseph Brereton (BP102223) breached WA’s building registration laws by failing to properly manage and supervise a building service. Mr Brereton was a co-...
Building and Energy
Media release
12 Nov 2020

Builder and supervisor fined for unauthorised work at hotel – Jaxon Construction Pty Ltd and Christopher Christou

South Perth building company Jaxon Construction Pty Ltd (BC12208) has been fined $5,000 for negligence after carrying out unauthorised building works that deviated from the approved plans for a Perth hotel development. The Building Services Board also issued a $2,500 fine to the builder’s nominated supervisor, Christopher Christou (BP/BC6285), for failing to properly manage and supervise the...
Building and Energy
Media release
10 Nov 2020

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Builders’ registration
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Building and Energy
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Building approval forms
Find a form or form template to use when making an application to a permit authority or local government authority.
Building and Energy

Notifications

Building service provider - Change of contact information
Builders, building surveyors, and painters can notify the department about changes to contact information.
Building and Energy
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