Australian Standards

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Australian Standards and Australian/New Zealand Standards (Australian Standards) are developed by an independent organisation called Standards Australia. It prepares and publishes voluntary technical and commercial standards which are sometimes adopted by work health and safety regulations. 

Australian Standards set out specifications and design procedures to ensure products and services consistently perform safely, reliably, and the way they're intended to. Conforming to Australian Standards is mandatory where laws require this.

Australian Standards are developed specifically for Australian workplaces and are likely to contain more relevant information for Australian operating conditions, such as load factors, climatic conditions, licencing requirements etc. than an international standard. However an international standard could be considered in conjunction with the equivalent Australian Standard. An international standard may be a useful, additional source of information for duty holders, particularly where its use achieves the same or better overall level of safety to its Australian Standard equivalent.

Officers of a PCBU have a duty to take reasonable steps to acquire and keep up-to-date knowledge of work health and safety matters. Up-to-date knowledge may include acquiring knowledge of standards that are relevant to the work of their PCBU. 

What if an approved code of practice refers to a standard?

A relevant approved code of practice can be used by anyone who has a duty of care in the circumstances described to determine what they should do to meet that duty. Under the WHS laws, approved codes of practice are admissible in court proceedings to demonstrate what is known about a hazard, risk or risk control and a court may rely on an approved code of practice in determining what is reasonably practicable in relation to a matter.

If an approved code of practice recommends following a specific Standard, then it would be reasonable to consider the specified standard forms part of that approved code of practice. However, following codes of practice is not mandatory. Compliance with the WHS Act and Regulations may be achieved by following another method if it provides an equivalent or higher standard of work health and safety than the code of practice.

Australian Standards referenced in WHS Regulations

Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022

Australian / Joint New Zealand Standard Title WHS Regulation
AS 1200:2015 Pressure equipment Schedule 5 Part 2 and 4
AS/NZS 1269.1:2005 Occupational noise management—Measurement and assessment of noise emission and exposure Regulation 56
AS/NZS 1576.1:2019 Scaffolding — General Requirements

Regulation 142
Regulation 225
AS/NZS 1716:2012 Respiratory protective devices Regulation 184
AS/NZS 1891.1:2007 Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices—Harnesses and ancillary equipment Regulation 221
AS 2030.1:2009 Gas cylinders – General requirements Regulation 5
Schedule 5 Part 1
AS/NZS 2299.1:2015 Occupational diving operations — Standard operational practice

Regulation 5
Regulation 183
Regulation 184
AS 2397:2015 Safe use of lasers in the building and construction industry Regulation 223
AS 2593:2004 Boilers—Safety management and supervision systems

Regulation 5
Regulation 15 
AS 2601-2001 The demolition of structures Regulation 5
Regulation 142
AS/NZS 2815 Training and certification of occupational divers

Schedule 5 Part 1
Schedule 5 Part 2
Regulation 171
AS/NZS 3012:2010 Electrical installations—Construction and demolition sites

Regulation 146
Regulation 163
Regulation 166
AS 3533.1:2009 Amusement rides and devices—Design and construction

Schedule 5 Part 1
Schedule 5 Part 2
AS 3850:2003 Tilt‑up concrete construction Regulation 306
AS 4343:2014 Pressure equipment — Hazard levels Schedule 5 Part 2
AS 4964:2004 Method for the qualitative identification of asbestos in bulk samples Regulation 419
AS/NZS ISO 45001 Occupational health and safety management systems — Requirements with guidance for use Regulation 5

 

Work Health and Safety (Mines) Regulations 2022

Australian / Joint New Zealand Standard Title WHS Regulation
AS/NZS 1200:2015 Pressure equipment Schedule 5 parts 2 and 4
AS/NZS 1299:2009 Electrical equipment for mines and quarries - Explosion-protected three-phase restrained plugs and receptacles for working voltages up to and including 3.3 kV Regulation 641
AS/NZS 1269.1:2005 Occupational noise management — Measurement and assessment of noise immission and exposure Regulation 56
AS/NZS 1576.Parts 1 to 6 Scaffolding — General Requirements

Regulation 142
Regulation 225
AS/NZS 1716:2012 Respiratory protective devices Regulation 184
AS/NZS 1747:2003 Reeling, trailing and feeder cables used for mining - Repair, testing and fitting of accessories Regulation 641
AS/NZS 1802:2018 Electric cables - Reeling and trailing - For underground coal mining Regulation 641
AS/NZS 1891.1:2007 Industrial fall‑arrest systems and devices — Harnesses and ancillary equipment Regulation 221
AS 2030.1:2009 Gas cylinders — General requirements

Schedule 5 Part 1
Regulation 5
AS/NZS 2299.1:2015 Occupational diving operations — Standard operational practice

Regulation 5
Regulation183
Regulation 184
AS 2397:2015 Safe use of lasers in the building and construction industry Regulation 223
AS 2593.2004 Boilers — Safety management and supervision systems Regulation 5
AS 2601:2001 The demolition of structures

Regulation 5
Regulation 142
Regulation 676
AS/NZS 2802:2000 Electric cables—Reeling and trailing— For mining and general use (other than underground coal mining Regulation 641
AS/NZS  2815 Training and certification of occupational divers Regulation 171
AS/NZS 3007:2013 Electrical equipment in mines and quarries - Surface installations and associated processing plant Regulation 641
AS/NZS 3012:2010 Electrical installations — Construction and demolition sites

Regulation 146
Regulation 163
Regulation 166
AS 3850:2003 Tilt-up concrete construction

Regulation 5
Regulation 306
AS 4343:2014 Pressure equipment — Hazard levels

Regulation 718
Schedule 5 Parts 1 2 and 4
AS 4964:2004 Method for the qualitative identification of asbestos in bulk samples Regulation 419

 

Work Health and Safety (Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Operations) Regulations 2022

Australian / Joint New Zealand Standard Title WHS Regulation
AS 2700S:1996 Colour standards for general purposes - Swatches Regulation 2
AS 1940:2017 The storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids Regulation 126
AS/NZS 2299 Occupational diving Regulation 96
AS/NZS 2106 Methods for the determination of the flash point of flammable liquids (closed cup) - Abel closed cup method Regulation 126
AS/NZS 1269.1:2005 Occupational noise management — Measurement and assessment of noise immission and exposure Regulation 116

 

Further information

Interpretive guidelines

Code of practice

Australian Standards

Copies of the Australian Standards are available to purchase from Standards Australia.

 

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