Western Australian Consolidated Acts

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ACT 1984 - SECT 14

14 .         Functions of Commission

        (1)         The functions of the Commission are —

            (a)         to inquire into and report to the Minister upon any matters referred to it by the Minister; and

            (b)         to make recommendations to the Minister with respect to —

                  (i)         this Act; and

                  (ii)         any law or provision of a law, relating to occupational safety and health that is administered by the Minister and any law or provision of a law relating to occupational safety and health that is prescribed for the purposes of this paragraph; and

                  (iii)         subsidiary legislation, guidelines and codes of practice proposed to be made under or for the purposes of any prescribed law;

                and

            (c)         to examine, review and make recommendations to the Minister in relation to existing and proposed registration or licensing schemes relating to occupational safety and health; and

            (d)         to provide advice to and cooperate with Government departments, public authorities, trade unions, employer organisations and other interested persons in relation to occupational safety and health; and

            (e)         to formulate or recommend standards, specifications or other forms of guidance for the purpose of assisting employers, self employed persons and employees to maintain appropriate standards of occupational safety and health; and

            (f)         to promote education and training in occupational safety and health as widely as possible; and

            (g)         in cooperation with educational authorities or bodies to devise and approve courses in relation to occupational safety and health; and

            (h)         having regard to the criteria laid down by the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission, to advise persons on training in occupational safety and health and to formulate and accredit training courses in occupational safety and health; and

                  (i)         to recommend to the Minister the establishment of public inquiries into any matter relating to occupational safety and health; and

            (j)         to collect, publish and disseminate information on occupational safety and health; and

            (k)         to formulate reporting procedures and monitoring arrangements for identification of workplace hazards, and incidents in which injury or death is likely to occur in an occupational situation; and

            (l)         to commission and sponsor research into occupational safety and health.

        (2)         The Commission may issue for public review and comment any regulations, codes of practice or guidelines with respect to which it proposes under subsection (1)(b) to make any recommendations to the Minister.

        (3)         The Commission shall ensure, as far as is practicable, that any information it provides is in such language and form as are appropriate for the persons to whom the information is directed.

        (4)         The Minister shall within 60 days after receiving from the Commission a recommendation under subsection (1) make reply in writing to the Commission in relation to that recommendation.

        [Section 14 amended by No. 43 of 1987 s. 11; No. 30 of 1995 s. 47.]