Work health and safety consultation, cooperation and coordination Code of Practice 2021 changes
Following the 2018 review of the model work health and safety (WHS) laws, Safe Work Australia (SWA) has been working with SWA members to implement the recommendations.
Recommendations 6, 7a and 11 required changes to the Model Code of Practice: Work Health and Safety Consultation Cooperation and Coordination. SWA published the revised code of practice in March 2022 after consulting with SWA members.
Queensland has now updated the Work health and safety consultation, co-operation and co-ordination Code of Practice 2021 (PDF, 0.54 MB) to reflect the model code of practice. The changes are not substantive policy changes. Changes include adding examples and clarifications to assist industry.
A table of key changes is below:
| Section | Change |
|---|---|
1.1 Who has duties in relation to work health and safety consultation, cooperation and coordination? | Example added for a:
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2.3 Making changes affecting work health and safety | Example added for a:
|
3.5 To what extent should you consult | Example added for a:
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4. How to consult with workers | Clarification added that a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) may establish a health and safety committee (HSC) on their own initiative. |
4.1 What kind of consultation is best for your workplace? | Clarification that consultation arrangements take into account the complexity, frequency and urgency of issues that require consultation. |
4.1 What kind of consultation is best for your workplace? | Example added of:
|
4.1 What kind of consultation is best for your workplace? | Example added for a farm employing seasonal workers. |
4.3 Consulting using health and safety representatives (HSRs) and HSCs | Example added for a medium-sized steel fabrication business. |
Appendix B - Examples of consultation arrangements | Example added of consultation in a workplace with HSRs—small business. |