Five New Compliance Codes – What’s Changed?

This is a summary of the five new Compliance Codes developed by WorkSafe Victoria and released in March 2018. It highlights the changes from previous compliance codes.  Basically, with the exception of Hazardous Manual Handling, it seems to be “steady as she goes” with minor revisions and the continued support of audiometric testing and the use of personal noise dosimeters or personal noise exposure meters for noise exposure assessments.  WorkSafe says that the new compliance codes have been updated to reflect the OHS Regulations 2017 and Equipment (Public Safety) Regulations 2017 as well as modern work practices.

The 5 new compliance codes are:

• Confined Spaces - previously the Confined Spaces Compliance Code, 2008
• Facilities in Construction - previously the Building and Construction Workplaces Code of Practice, 1990) 
• Hazardous Manual Handling - previously the Manual Handling Code of Practice, 2000
• Noise - a new code based off Your health and safety guide to noise, 2007, and the Guide for assessing and fixing noise problems and work, 2005
• Plant - previously the Plant Code of Practice, 1995

Key Changes– ALL COMPLIANCE CODES

• Amendments have been made to clearly reflect the law on consultation
• Further references to the ‘duty to consult’ have been added, including adding a breakout box on consultation to sections such as risk control 
• The language in codes has been amended as follows: 
  • must –a legal requirement that has to be complied with 
  • need(s) to –a recommended course of action in accordance with duties and obligations under OHS legislation 
  • should – a recommended optional course of action 
• Improved accessibility and readability and plain English accurately reflecting the OHS Act and Regulations
• More diagrams and a common style and format adopted across all codes

Changes To CONFINED SPACES

• Minor changes have been made to improve the flow of information and clarity of requirements
• Better alignment to the OHS Regulations
• The majority of the changes are to: generic hazard identification, fire and explosion (Part 3.1), respiratory protective equipment and entrance and exit size to enable rescue (Part 3.4) 
• Appendix E – Further information - referenced standards have been removed 

Changes To FACILITIES IN CONSTRUCTION 

• Alignment has occurred with existing Victorian guidance titled Evacuation lighting on construction sites to state that ‘The entry and exit to facilities needs to be safe and where natural lighting is insufficient, artificial lighting needs to be provided (this may include evacuation lighting and illuminated exit signage)' 

Changes To HAZARDOUS MANUAL HANDLING

• Musculoskeletal disease (MSD) has been expanded to include ‘chronic musculoskeletal pain’
• A paragraph has been added to Part 3 Assessing the risks gives context for how risk assessment relates to duties under the legislation 
• The phrase ‘determining a risk of MSD’ replaces ‘risk assessment’
• Added references state that duty holders should consider the physical attributes of persons undertaking the work when determining appropriate risk controls 
• A breakout box now  clarifies that there is research to show psychosocial factors contribute to the risk of MSD cross referenced to Appendix F - Useful resources for controlling the risk of MSD for further information
• The “weight limits” section has been amended, to better describe the effort required to lift different weights in different postures 
• The front cover has been  changed and captions added to each image within the code 
• Appendix B - Hazardous manual handling identification sheet has been modified to be more user-friendly 
• Appendix D - Risk assessment and control worksheet has been amended to include more examples of environmental factors which may increase risk of MSD
• Appendix F - Useful resources for controlling the risk of MSD now includes further references and is numbered for ease of reference
• Minor wording amendments or reordering of content for clarity

Changes To NOISE

• The reference to the use of smartphones when conducting noise determinations has been removed from the code
• A definition of ‘decibel’ has been added and the reference to recreational pursuits has been removed
• When determining exposure to noise the worst case scenario needs to be measured
• Suitably qualified personnel capable of performing a noise exposure assessment includes occupational health and safety consultants, occupational hygienists and acoustical consultants
• The code promotes the use of dosimetry to measure personal sound exposure for mobile employees and in areas difficult or unsafe to use hand held sound level meters
• The Ready reckoner tables provide guidance for calculating combined exposures at varying exposure levels

Changes To PLANT 

• Minor changes: updated illustrations, further checklists and templates, further or revised information to assist duty holders, provide clarity and/or consistency with other codes
   

More details on the changes can be found on the WorkSafe Victoria website