Changes to OHS regulations will be coming into effect on July 1. These will effect engineered stone, telehandler high-risk work licenses and updated incident notification requirements.
From 1 July 2024, the following changes will come into effect to help improve health and safety and reduce workplace harm for Victorian workers.
Victorian engineered stone ban: New regulations to come into effect
New regulations will strictly prohibit the manufacturing, supply, processing, and installation of engineered stone benchtops, panels, and slabs in Victoria.
These changes to the regulations aim to address health and safety concerns related to crystalline silica exposure.
The regulations come into effect immediately from 1 July 2024, with no transition period in Victoria.
From the date of the change, working with engineered stone products that are not benchtops, slabs or panels will still be permitted. Exceptions under which work with banned engineered stone products is permitted includes:
- research and analysis
- sample collection and identification
- removal, repair, and modification of already installed existing engineered stone benchtops, panels and slabs and disposal.
There will no longer be a requirement to hold an engineered stone licence and any permitted processes involving engineered stone will be classified as high-risk crystalline silica work.
Frequently asked questions - Engineered stone ban can be found on the WorkSafe website.
For detailed guidance and the regulations please visit the WorkSafe crystalline silica information website from 1 July 2024.
The Occupational Health and Safety Amendment for Engineered Stone will be available on the Victorian Legislation website 1 July 2024.
Introduction of a non-slewing telehandler high-risk work licence
The new Victorian non-slewing telehandler high risk work licence (TV licence), for telehandlers with a rated capacity of more than three tonnes, will be available from 1 July 2024.
People who operate a non-slewing telehandler of this capacity are currently required to hold a mobile crane high risk work licence (CN, C2, C6, C1 or C0). From the date of the changes, people can continue to undertake mobile crane licence training and apply for a mobile crane licence or choose to do specific training to learn about the risks of operating a non-slewing telehandler and apply for the new TV licence. Mobile crane licences will continue to be valid to operate a non-slewing telehandler.
A copy of the Occupational Health and Safety Amendment (Telehandlers) Regulations 2024, which give effect to the new TV licence, is available on the Victorian Legislation website.
Updated incident notification requirements for plant and equipment
Under Occupational Health and Safety laws, duty holders are required to notify WorkSafe about fatalities, serious injuries or health and safety incidents that happen in a workplace.
From 1 July 2024, under amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 more types of plant will trigger notification if there is an incident and under the Equipment (Public Safety) regulations 2017 the nature of incidents that trigger reporting has been revised. The changes create consistency between the two regulations
More types of plant and equipment, particularly those known to pose a higher risk, will require notification if involved in an incident. Examples of included plant and equipment include amusement structures, tractors, forklifts, excavators and mining equipment, lifting, conveying or suspending plant (such as escalators, lifts, moving walkways, vertical transport and material conveyors) and scaffolds used in construction and other contexts.
Visit the WorkSafe website for detailed information and frequently asked questions about the new requirements for plant and equipment incident notification.