What SafeWork NSW Codes of Practice Should You Apply in Your Workplace?

Weekly WHS Article 16th June 2022

Achieving the standards of health, safety and welfare

There are 28 NSW Codes of Practice that give practical guidance in how to achieve the standards of health, safety and welfare required under the WHS Act and the WHS Regulations, and they provide you with effective ways to identify and manage risks.

But which of these 28 codes of practice should be applied in your workplace?

This is an important question because usually a SafeWork NSW Inspector or a Court can accept that what you did in following a code of practice satisfies the requirement that a PCBU do everything reasonably practicable to ensure health and safety regarding the subject covered by that code.

But wait there are another 20 codes that were developed based on older laws before WHS law became applicable in 2011. SafeWork NSW says that these older codes can still be used to help you meet your WHS law requirements.

Where are these Codes?

You can find and download any of the 48 codes from SafeWork NSW’s website at https://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/resource-library/list-of-all-codes-of-practice

Which Codes are relevant to your workplace?

Use SafeWork NSW’s URL to locate and then scan the list of the WHS Codes and the list of Pre-WHS Legislation Codes of Practice. Check off any that have a title that seems relevant to your workplace activities. Proceed from there to make a list of those codes and verify which codes should be applied in your workplace.

The benefits of using Codes of Practice

See our article called, The Benefits of Using WHS Codes of Practice, on our website at https://www.courtenell.com.au/single-post/the-benefits-of-using-whs-codes-of-practice

WHS Codes of Practice

Abrasive blasting

Confined spaces

Construction work

Demolition work

Excavation work

First aid in the workplace

Formwork

Hazardous manual tasks

How to manage and control asbestos in the workplace

How to manage work health and safety risks

How to safely remove asbestos

Labeling of workplace hazardous chemicals

Managing electrical risks

Managing noise and preventing hearing loss at work

Managing psychosocial hazards at work

Managing risks of falls at workplaces

Managing the risk of falls in housing construction

Managing risks of hazardous chemicals in the workplace

Managing the risks of plant in the workplace

Managing the risks of silica from engineered stone in the workplace

Managing risks in stevedoring

Managing risks when new and inexperienced persons interact with horses

Managing the work environment and facilities

Preparation of safety data sheets for hazardous chemicals

Safe design of structures

Spray painting and powder coating

Welding processes

Work health and safety consultation, cooperation and coordination

Pre-WHS Legislation Codes of Practice

Amenity tree industry

Accommodation for rural agricultural work

Cash in transit

Collection of domestic waste

Control of work-related exposure to hepatitis and HIV (blood-borne) viruses

Cutting and drilling concrete and other masonry products

Moving plant on construction sites

Overhead protective structures

Safe handling of timber preservatives and treated timber

Safe use and storage of chemicals in agriculture

Safe use of bulk solids containers

Safe use of pesticides in non-agricultural workplaces

Safe use of synthetic mineral fibres

Safe work on roofs part 1 commercial industrial

Safety aspects in the design of bulk solids containers

Safety in forest harvesting operations