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...
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...
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...
An activity involving the use of fuel gas to produce theatrical or other special effects is regulated under the Gas Standards Act 1972 and Gas Standards (Gasfitting and Consumer Gas Installations) Regulations 1999 (GSR1999). These appliances are prescribed as Type B appliances and the activity of...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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
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...
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...
This application is for: Renewing the inc. ID requirment for Electrical Workers, Electrical Contractors, In-house Installing Work and Gasfitting Permits.
This guideline has been developed to assist appliance designers, gas fitters and Type B inspectors in the design and approval of gas fuelled theatrical or other special effects to ensure compliance...
The department's mental health and wellbeing inspectors have developed a series of resources on workplace mental health and wellbeing. The concepts presented may assist workplaces to discuss, consult...
The Western Australian occupational safety and health laws require employers to take care of the safety and health of their workers and others at the workplace. This includes: providing and...
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...
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 want to remind gas fitters about the importance of installing new gas appliances according to the manufacturer’s installation instructions, as required by Regulation 20 (1)(b) of the Gas Standards (Gasfitting and Consumers Gas Installations) Regulations 1999 .
In recent years, concerns have been raised regarding incidents resulting from leaked gas due to a known weakness in the current Type 21 ‘POL’ cylinder valve. After considerable consultation, Standards Australia have published AS/NSZ 5601.1:2013 Amendment 4 and AS/NSZ 5601.2:2020 which include a change from the current Type 21 ‘POL’ connection on a LPG cylinder to a new safer leisure cylinder connection (LCC27). The standards refer to this as the Type 27 connection.
The ACCC has issued a media release urging consumers to check their caravans and recreational vehicles (RVs) for dangerous Surburban branded water heaters which may emit carbon monoxide. A recall was issued in November 2019 for Surburban recreational vehicle water heaters due to their safety hazards. If you have an affected water heater, do not use it in gas mode under any circumstances. For...
WA’s energy safety regulator is reminding campers that outdoor gas appliances must only be used in the open air to avoid potentially lethal exposure to carbon monoxide. Building and Energy’s warning comes as West Australians gear up for a summer in the great outdoors with portable gas-fuelled equipment such as barbecues, cookers, heaters and fridges. “Outdoor use means the open air,” WA Director...
Asbestos Awareness Week 2020 runs from 23-29 November 2020. Please take this opportunity to ensure your workplace asbestos management systems are up to date, and that workers are aware of these systems. And remember – buildings built before 1990 are likely to contain materials with asbestos content. Follow the links for more information: Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency Industry checklist...
The Work Health and Safety Bill 2019 was passed by Parliament on 3 November 2020 and is awaiting royal assent. When assented, the WHS Act will not be operational until regulations are complete. Work to develop the regulations is presently underway and will continue in 2021. The new Work Health and Safety Act 2019 (WHS Act) will replace the current Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984, and...
Background Recently, there has been several reported incidents relating to the failure of LP Gas installation regulators where the downstream piping, apparatus and appliances were exposed to dangerously high pressures.
LP Gas regulator without over pressure protection, by Gas
LP Gas regulator without over pressure protection Fig 1: Example of a 33 year old LP Gas installation regulator that does not incorporate over...
Building and Energy continues to receive requests from gas fitters and builders for variations in order to comply with the requirements of outdoor gas water heaters installed at heights above 2.5m. The requests are often due to the gas fitter receiving a Notice of Defect (NOD) for non-compliance from an installation inspector. Before installing an outdoor gas appliance refer to the relevant...
To renew your gasfitting permit you will need: your permit number, your email address or mobile phone number that is currently recorded with Building and Energy and your credit card (Visa or Mastercard) so that you can make your payment.
To pay your gasfitting permit you will need: your permit number, your email address or mobile phone number that is currently recorded with Energy Safety and your credit card (Visa or Mastercard) so that you can make your payment.
