New WA workplace laws commenced 31 March 2024
The Western Australia Work Health and Safety laws commenced on 31 March 2022, at which time the government introduced a 12-month transition period to allow time for industry to:
- consider and review their industry operations under the new workplace laws,
- seek assistance and implement any changes to their safety management systems,
- train their employees and trial the new arrangements.
The 12 months is now up and the transitional arrangements ceased on 30 March 2024, so businesses need to ensure they are familiar with, and operating within, the new laws.
For example, an employer conducting a business is now required to conduct audiometric testing for workers frequently exposed to excessive noise.
From 31 March 2024, regulation 58 of the Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022 requires employers to provide audiometric testing for workers who are frequently required to use personal protective equipment (hearing protection) to protect them from the risk of noise induced hearing loss, where their exposure to noise in the workplace exceeds the exposure standard.
Accordingly, a Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) must provide audiometric testing for a worker within three months of the worker commencing work, where hearing protection is required and regularly follow up at least every two years.