Performance Benchmarking of Australian Business Regulation: Occupational Health and Safety
Draft research report
This draft report was released on 27 January 2010. You were invited to examine this report and make written submissions to the Productivity Commission by Monday 22 February 2010.
See also
Download the draft report
Download the draft report by chapters
- Preliminaries (PDF - 1328 Kb)
Cover, Copyright, Opportunity for further comment, Terms of reference and Contents - Overview - including key points (PDF - 249 Kb)
- Chapter 1 About the study (PDF - 220 Kb)
1.1 Origins of this study
1.2 Harmonisation of OHS regulation already underway
1.3 Purpose and scope of the study
1.4 Conduct of the study
1.5 Report outline - Chapter 2 Regulatory framework and objectives (PDF - 322 Kb)
2.1 How is OHS regulated in Australia?
2.2 The OHS acts and their objectives
2.3 Key provisions under the OHS Acts
2.4 OHS Regulations
2.5 National standards, codes of practice and guidance notes
2.6 OHS Regulators - Chapter 3 Outcomes of OHS (PDF - 318 Kb)
3.1 Work-related injury and illness
3.2 A snapshot of OHS outcomes data
3.3 OHS outcomes over time
3.4 Outcomes and regulation - Chapter 4 Approach to benchmarking OHS regulation (PDF - 285 Kb)
4.1 What is benchmarking?
4.2 Insights from international benchmarking studies
4.3 What can be benchmarked?
4.4 Main complaints raised
4.5 Criteria for selecting areas to benchmark - Chapter 5 Regulator characteristics and enforcement practices (PDF - 299 Kb)
5.1 Role of a regulator
5.2 Methodology
5.3 OHS regulators in Australia
5.4 Regulator resourcing
5.5 Enforcing OHS regulations
5.6 Encouraging business compliance - Chapter 6 Accountability of regulators (PDF - 219 Kb)
6.1 Appeal provisions — core OHS regulators
6.2 Transparency
6.3 Providing and seeking feedback
6.4 Transparency and accountability of mining-specific OHS regulators - Chapter 7 Risk, duty of care and advice (PDF - 311 Kb)
7.1 Awareness of regulatory requirements
7.2 Risk management and record keeping
7.3 Duty of care
7.4 Duty to be informed on OHS matters
7.5 Direct liability - Chapter 8 OHS training requirements (PDF - 241 Kb)
8.1 Regulatory provisions for OHS training
8.2 Costs faced by SMEs operating in multiple jurisdictions
8.3 Use of OHS Training by SMEs
8.4 Costs associated with internal and external OHS training
8.5 Industry example of OHS training – requirement for construction safety awareness training - Chapter 9 Worker consultation, participation and representation (PDF - 318 Kb)
9.1 Health and safety representatives
9.2 Health and safety committees
9.3 The overall costs of HSR and HSC requirements
9.4 Trade union involvement in the workplace on OHS matters - Chapter 10 Regulating hazardous substances (PDF - 311 Kb)
10.1 Take up of national standards and codes of practice
10.2 Material Safety Data Sheets — case study
10.3 Hazardous substances — duplication with dangerous goods regulation
10.4 Regulating occupational health and safety concerns relating to asbestos - Chapter 11 Psychosocial hazards (PDF - 243 Kb)
11.1 Workplace bullying, stress and harassment
11.2 Differences in regulatory treatment of bullying and their impact - Chapter 12 Other hazards and activities (PDF - 327 Kb)
12.1 Prevention of falls
12.2 Manual Handling
12.3 Licensing for high risk work - Chapter 13 Duplication (PDF - 257 Kb)
13.1 The costs associated with differences in OHS regulations
13.2 Comcare and state and territory OHS regimes
13.3 Interactions between general OHS and industry specific OHS Acts: mining
13.4 Other differences in mining OHS regulatory regimes - Chapter 14 Comments from jurisdictions (PDF - 174 Kb)
- Appendix A Conduct of the benchmarking study (PDF - 1324 Kb)
- Appendix B Approach to gathering information (PDF - 280 Kb)
- Appendix C Workers' compensation premiums (PDF - 191 Kb)
- Appendix D Reporting requirements compiled by a leading national retailer (PDF - 177 Kb)
- References (PDF - 221 Kb)
Just briefly...
Make a submission
Printed copies
Available on request from Christine Underwood.
Phone: 02 6240 3262
Email: ohs@pc.gov.au