Page 4010 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 30 November 2022
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leave schemes to ensure that more workers receive fair entitlements as they move jobs in their profession. Work to investigate how to expand the schemes to more industries is another example of how, under this government, the ACT leads the nation on strong workplace relation reforms and equalising access to employment entitlements.
The government has commenced a review of long service leave entitlements under the Long Service Leave (Portable Schemes) Act 2009, with a view to identifying other industry sectors for inclusion and ensuring that the portable schemes framework and design approach remain fit for purpose. The government has undertaken a public consultation on the scope of a proposed expansion, and is committed to making use of all legislative, policy and procedural tools at its disposal to improve workplace labour conditions and establish clear benchmarks of equity for all workers. Last week’s bill is the start of that work.
This government has committed to reforms that ensure our work health and safety legislation continues to effectively protect the health, safety and wellbeing of workers. We have continued to pursue regulatory reform where it is needed to address new and emerging hazards. A current area of focus is on building stronger regulations to protect workers from exposure to silica dust. Silicosis is a serious, debilitating and preventable occupational disease caused by exposure to respirable crystalline silica, commonly referred to as “silica dust”. It is found in materials widely used across the community, such as concrete, bricks, tiles, mortar and engineered stone. Activities such as cutting, grinding, sanding and drilling releases silica dust.
Strengthening work health and safety laws to specifically address silica dust exposure to protect workers is a national and local priority as we learn more about the harm it does and how silicosis appears to be a growing, but preventable, occupational disease. The National Dust Disease Taskforce report calls on governments to strengthen work health and safety laws to deal with the risks of silica dust exposure, stating that it is no longer acceptable to maintain the status quo. In the ACT, silica dust reforms are part of the reform agenda outlined in the Parliamentary and Governing Agreement for the Tenth Legislative Assembly. They align with the ACT government’s 2020 election commitment to strengthen workplace relations to protect tradespeople from exposure to silica dust. The government is progressing reforms that ensure effective controls are in place in workplaces across the ACT to manage the risks of silica dust exposure, and ensure that those working with products that contain crystalline silica have undergone the accredited awareness training.
The government has also pursued reforms in how workplaces ensure the psychosocial health and safety of their workers. Psychosocial health and safety is the combined influence of psychological and social factors on physical and mental wellness at work. It includes factors such as how work is managed to support wellbeing, relationships and work, and responses to bullying and harassment.
Just over a year ago, WorkSafe ACT launched the inaugural Strategy for Managing Work-Related Psychosocial Hazards. It guides action to build employer awareness and capability in identifying and managing psychosocial hazards, ensuring that incidents are reported, and that there is a regulatory action where it is needed. Importantly, this work places psychosocial hazards on an equal playing field with risks to physical health and safety. Key areas of focus are work-related violence and
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