A number of changes to the Work Health and Safety Regulations 2012 (SA) come into effect on 1 January 2021. This includes changes to air monitoring during asbestos removal work, chemical labelling, references to Australian Standards for lasers and pressure equipment and minor updates for diving work.
The WHS Regulations have been amended to make permanent the long-standing requirement in South Australia that an independent licensed asbestos assessor conducts air monitoring for asbestos removal under both Class A and Class B license. The permanent amendment to the regulations is in effect from 1 January 2021 and ensures that the requirement for continuous air monitoring during Class A and Class B asbestos removals.
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Australia has also officially commended the two-year transition from GHS 3 to GHS 7, to end on 31 December 2022. The Work Health and Safety Regulations 2012 (SA) have been amended to give effect to this transition and update references to the GHS. From 1 January 2021, the WHS Regulations also include amendments to reference the current Australian Standards for lasers and pressure equipment. Regulation 223 references AS 2397:2015 Safe use of lasers in the building and construction industry, in place of AS 2397:2003 Safe use of lasers in the building and construction industry.
Schedule 5 Part 1 and Part 2 references AS 4343:2014 Pressure equipment — Hazard levels instead of AS4343:2005 Pressure equipment — Hazard levels. It also references AS1200:2015 Pressure equipment instead of AS1200:2000 Pressure Equipment. The WHS Regulations in South Australia for diving work have also been amended to include updated references to relevant Australian Standards, with a reference to a withdrawn Standard omitted.
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