Government Response to the Report of the Labour Committee on Presented to the House of Representatives in accordance with Standing Order 251

The Health and Safety in Employment Act (HSE Act) came into effect in April 1993. Since then, employers, employees, and the Occupational Safety and Health Service of the Department of Labour (OSH), as the administering agency, have been going through an adjustment process in applying the performance-based (non-prescriptive) provisions of the legislation. The Labour Select Committee has made a number of recommendations dealing with issues that have arisen from that experience. The Government's response (as set out in this document) provides background comment in relation to each of these recommendations and what action is being taken, or will be taken to address the identified issues.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Summary of comments and proposed action in response to recommendations
Small businesses
Provisional Improvement Notices
Employee rights and responsibilities
Information review
OSH’s dual delivery roles
Asbestos
Electricity and gas
Place of work
Aircrew
Appendix 1: Status of the recommendations of the Asbestos Advisory Committee
Appendix 2: Other organisations with a statutory role relating to occupational safety and health