Transitional provisions
When the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (the WHS Act) came into effect on 1 January 2012, transitional provisions and delayed commencement of certain provisions were included to provide a smooth transition to new requirements.
Transitional provisions for the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011
Provisions that commence 1 January 2017
| Key points | Commencement or transitional arrangement |
|---|---|
| High risk work (HRW) - Section 726(2) | |
Reach stacker - new licence category for high risk work. | A person holding a non-slewing mobile crane licence will be able to continue HRW for the reach stacker class until 31 December 2016. From 1 January 2017, the RS HRW licence class must be held for the operation of a reach stacker. |
| Asbestos - Sections 471, 472, 483 and 484 | |
Globally Harmonised System (GHS) labelling of containers and asbestos waste. | Introductory period for GHS - until 31 December 2016 (s.781). |
| Hazardous chemicals - Section 781 | |
Replaces the Australian Dangerous Goods (ADG) Code with the Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) as part of the transition process to a single labelling system in Australia. | Current chemical classification and labelling provisions and GHS system will operate concurrently until 31 December 2016, after which classification and labelling will be required only in accordance with GHS (s.781). |