Key points

• Several new and updated workplace exposure standards (WES) and Codes of Practice are now in effect. All employers must take appropriate action where necessary.

• On 18 January 2024, Safe Work Australia published the revised Workplace Exposure Standards for airborne contaminants (WES list) along with specific information on the change to the WES for welding fumes (not otherwise classified).

• The updated model Code of Practice: Managing the risks of plant in the workplace was updated in December 2023 for immediate implementation.

• Safe Work Australia has published a model Code of Practice: Sexual and gender-based harassment to help employers meet your WHS obligations.

What has changed?

The Work Health & Safety Minister’s meeting in December 2023 brought together all states to agree to consistent approaches regarding several key WHS issues.

Following the meeting, several new and updated workplace exposure standards (WES) and Codes of Practice have been released and are now in effect. All business owners and managers need to be aware of these changes and take appropriate action where necessary.

NOTE: We are updating our member-only Work Health & Safety Manual to address the changes in workplace exposure standards for welding, and to clarify the requirements relating to hearing testing. We will notify AMCA members when the updated manual is available.

Welding fumes: immediate reduction of workplace exposure standards

A two-thirds majority of state Work Health & Safety ministers have approved the immediate reduction of the workplace exposure standard (WES) for welding fumes (not otherwise classified) to an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) of 1 mg/m3.

On 18 January 2024, Safe Work Australia published the revised Workplace Exposure Standards for airborne contaminants (WES list), along with specific information on the change to the WES forwelding fumes (not otherwise classified).

Updated model Code of Practice published: Managing the risks of plant in the workplace

Following two-thirds majority approval by state Work Health & Safety ministers, the updated model Code of Practice: Managing the risks of plant in the workplace was updated in December 2023 for immediate implementation, and is available on the Safe Work Australia website.

Important sections of the Code of Practice for AMCA members:

• Section 5: Plant Registration – refer to the previous AMCA safety alert in May 2023 relating to pressure vessel design registration.

• Section 6: Keeping Records

New model Code of Practice: Sexual and gender-based harassment published

Safe Work Australia has published a model Code of Practice: Sexual and gender-based harassment.

The model code will help you meet your WHS obligations. It provides practical guidance for persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) on how to eliminate or minimise the risk of sexual and gender-based harassment at work so far as is reasonably practicable.

PCBUs must take a proactive, consultative and preventative approach to sexual and gender-based harassment whether it comes from colleagues, customers or the public, online or in person. You must identify and assess the risks, eliminate or minimise them so far as is reasonably practicable, and review your control measures to make sure they're working as planned. Managing the risks may mean changing the layout of your workplace, redesigning the work or the way you do it – training and policies alone are not effective or reliable controls.

You must consult your workers on the risks of sexual and gender-based harassment as well as other psychosocial hazards.

The model code should be read and applied alongside the Code of Practice: Managing psychosocial hazards at work. Sexual and gender-based harassment often occurs with other psychosocial hazards and PCBUs must consider the interaction between these hazards when managing risks to the health and safety of workers and others.

Next steps

NOTE: We are updating our member-only Work Health & Safety Manual to address the changes in workplace exposure standards for welding, and to clarify the requirements relating to hearing testing. We will notify AMCA members when the updated manual is available.

Resources

• Workplace Exposure Standards for airborne contaminants (WES list)

• Updated model Code of Practice: Managing the risks of plant in the workplace 

• Model Code of Practice: Sexual and gender-based harassment 

• Code of Practice: Managing psychosocial hazards at work