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ARTICLE · 15 JUNE 2020

Updates to NSW WHS laws: A brief overview

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The WHS Amendment Bill 2020 has introduced various changes and increased penalties to NSW work health and safety laws.

AustraliaEmployment and HR
Michael Byrnes
Michael Byrnes
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Michael Byrnes Partner and Emily Capener Solicitor, provide an overview of the Work Health and Safety Amendment (Review) Bill 2020 (the Amendment Bill) which on 4 June 2020, the NSW Parliament passed.

WHS Laws: A Brief Overview

On 4 June 2020, NSW Parliament passed the Work Health and Safety Amendment (Review) Bill 2020 (the Amendment Bill) which introduced various changes to WHS laws under the NSW Work Health and Safety Act 2001 (the Act). These changes, the most significant of which are briefly outlined in this article, will take effect once the Amendment Bill receives assent.

Expansion of Category 1 Offence - Gross Negligence

First, the Amended Bill has expanded Category 1 offences (the most serious category) under the Act to include Persons Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) who engage in conduct with gross negligence. This is in addition to the current test, which requires proof that a PCBU had been reckless as to the risk of an individual of

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Michael Byrnes, Partner
Phone: + 61 2 9233 5544
Email: [email protected]

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

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