Comcare's Regulation Policy
Our 2015 Plan has redefined Comcare as a more integrated, preventative and proactive regulator—understanding workplaces in the scheme and ensuring appropriate systems are in place.
In the past we have published an OHS Enforcement Policy. We now include enforcement within a broader policy encompassing our approach to regulation under both the SRC Act and the OHS Act—adding balance and visibility to all our regulatory effort. We have also revised our Regulation Policy to reflect the principles in the National Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Compliance and Enforcement Policy (national policy)—agreed to by all Australian work health and safety jurisdictions and Comcare's 2015 Strategic Plan.
The revised regulation policy should be read together with the annual Work Health and Safety Plan and will be supplemented by other documents including new rehabilitation guidelines.
Key changes to the policy include:
(a) a wider range of compliance assistance and monitoring services with a focus on prevention and on ensuring that appropriate systems are in place to assist injured workers return to health and to an early and sustained return to work
(b) updated information in relation to enforceable undertakings to reflect that there has been a significant increase in the number of enforceable undertakings accepted by Comcare and lessons learned
(c) building an inspectorate capability to facilitate co-operative compliance activities and reflect developments in the model work health and safety legislation
(d) include information about Comcare’s regulatory approach.
The revised regulation policy is consistent with Comcare’s Work Health and Safety Plan 2010-11 and implements the prevention components of Comcare’s 2015 Strategic Plan by focusing our efforts on identified health and safety related priorities.
Access the policy:
| Effective date 28 March 2011 -OHS 50 (March 2011) Disclaimer This publication is intended to provide a summary and general overview of Comcare and the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission’s approach to workplace health and safety regulation. It is not intended to be a comprehensive outline of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1991 or Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 and is not a substitute for independent professional advice. © Commonwealth of Australia 2010 This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior permission from Comcare. |