A NEW regulation to harmonise work health and safety legislation governing the New South Wales petroleum and mining sectors commenced this week.

Under the Work Health and Safety (Mines and Petroleum) Legislation Amendment (Harmonisation) Act 2015, which came into force on 1 February, the Work Health and Safety (Mines) Act 2013 was extended to cover onshore petroleum sites.

As explained in a Regulation made by NSW Governor David Hurley, the Act was also renamed the Work Health and Safety (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Act 2013.

An explanatory note listed the objects of the regulation to:

• require an operator of a mine or petroleum site to provide the regulator with a report following the decommissioning of a well;
• exempt certain hoists used at small gemstone mines from the requirement to be design registered;
• require shotfiring apparatus that is used at an underground coal mine to be overhauled or repaired only by persons holding specified accreditation;
• omit a provision that prescribed qualifications for inspectors; and
• permit the use or disclosure of information or access to documents for the purposes of the administration or enforcement of certain Acts.

NSW Minister for Industry, Resources and Energy, Anthony Roberts previously said the harmonisation raises the standards of work health and safety for onshore petroleum operations in an approach that reduces both red tape and regulatory burden on the industry.

The petroleum sector used to be subject to the broad requirements of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 with specific regulation relying on a 1992 schedule described by the minister as ‘dated’ and ‘lacking regulatory oversight’.

For information on work health and safety regulation or issues in your state, contact your local AREEA office.