Specialty Technical Publishers (STP) and Specialty Technical Consultants (STC) Publish Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) Audit Protocol for New South Wales, Australia
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 2, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Specialty Technical Publishers (STP) and Specialty Technical Consultants (STC) Publish Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) Audit Protocol for New South Wales, Australia
Latest EHS Regulations Updates Assist Companies to Achieve EHS Compliance
Specialty Technical Publishers (STP) and Specialty Technical Consultants (STC) announce the availability of the newly updated International Audit Protocol Consortium (IAPC) EHS audit protocol for New South Wales, Australia. Leading companies around the world use IAPC EHS audit protocols to understand the scope of their EHS regulatory obligations and rapidly collect, share, archive, and export audit findings in a cost effective manner. IAPC EHS audit protocols are now prepared by STC in partnership with STP and continue to focus on those national (plus, in some cases, regional or provincial) EHS requirements that have site-specific application for manufacturing operations. As a leading EHS management consulting firm with a global network of experienced EHS teaming partners, STC has indepth knowledge and technical expertise of local/regional EHS requirements.
STP and STC maintain leading-edge EHS audit protocols for more than 50 jurisdictions. The protocol documents are written in English and are available in MS Word, Adobe Acrobat and Excel formats, as well as through STP's web-based portal or can be integrated into an existing company platform. Using the protocols' custom templates and advanced functionality features, auditors can easily track audit findings and manage data over time to improve compliance, risk management and safety performance. In addition, STP's formatting is compatible with leading risk management and sustainability platform providers.
Highlights of selected legislation covered in the newly developed protocol include:
-- Amendments were made to the "Protection of the Environment Operations
(Underground Petroleum Storage Systems) Regulation 2014" to provide for
the Environment Protection Authority to continue to be the appropriate
regulatory authority for any matter arising under the "Protection of the
Environment Operations (Underground Petroleum Storage Systems)
Regulation 2014" until 1 September 2019 when regulatory responsibility
will be transferred to local councils.
-- Beginning September 1, 2017, the "Sydney Water Regulation 2017" remakes,
with various changes, the provisions of the "Sydney Water Regulation
2011." This Regulation includes provision with respect to the
performance of certain plumbing or drainage work that affects Sydney
Water Corporation (the Corporation), including the requirement for a
permit to do that work and the remedying of defective work, and the
imposition of restrictions on the use of water.
-- The "Water Management (General) Regulation 2018" repealed and replaced
the "Water Management (General) Regulation 2011" effective 24 August
2018. This Regulation makes provision with respect to the following
matters arising under the "Water Management Act 2000:" water access
licenses; water use approvals, water supply approvals, controlled
activity approvals and aquifer interference approvals; irrigation
corporations' areas of operations; management plans; fees and charges.
-- The "Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017" regulation remakes, with no
significant changes, the "Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011," which
was repealed on 1 September 2017. This Regulation prescribes matters
under the "Work Health and Safety Act 2011" to give effect to the
operation of that Act. The provisions of this Regulation are
substantially uniform with the "Model Work Health and Safety Regulations
2011" prepared by Safe Work Australia.
-- The "Gas and Electricity (Consumer Safety) Act 2017" repealed and
replaced the "Electricity (Consumer Safety) Act 2004" and the "Gas
Supply (Consumer Safety) Regulation 2012." This Act provides the main
framework for regulation of consumer safety in relation to gas
appliances and electrical articles, and gas and electrical installations
and related work. This action consolidates the provisions of the Act and
the primary provisions of the Regulation into one piece of legislation.
-- The "Gas and Electricity (Consumer Safety) Regulation 2018" replaced the
"Electricity (Consumer Safety) Regulation 2015" effective 1 September
2018. This Regulation substantially reproduces provisions in the
"Electricity (Consumer Safety) Regulation 2015" and certain provisions
in the "Gas Supply (Consumer Safety) Regulation 2012" and, where
relevant, consolidates provisions to relate to both energy sources.
-- Amendments were made to the "Environmental Planning and Assessment
Regulation 2000" effective 1 October 2017, that require the Secretary of
the Department of Finance, Services and Innovation to recognize persons
as competent fire safety practitioners (who are qualified, under the
amended provisions, to prepare alternative solution reports and endorse
plans and specifications).
-- The "Dangerous Goods (Road and Rail Transport) Regulation 2014" was
amended to exempt the transport of dangerous goods by mobile processing
units for the purpose of manufacturing explosives, to make amendments
consequent on the replacement of edition 7.5 with edition 7.6 of the
Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road and Rail,
and to extend certain provisions relating to transport operations to the
transport of empty dangerous goods packaging.
-- The National Transport Commission issued Edition 7.6 of the "Australian
Dangerous Goods Code" on 1 July 2018. From 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019,
businesses involved in transporting dangerous goods can choose to comply
with either Edition 7.5 or Edition 7.6. From 1 July 2019, businesses
must comply with Edition 7.6. The new edition extends the limited
quantity requirements to personal care products and household cleaning
products; updates the way that batteries, particularly lithium
batteries, are transported; changes the classification of ammonium
nitrate-based fertilizers and the classification criteria for
explosives; adds a new section regarding articles that contain dangerous
goods not otherwise specified, makes changes to the packing
requirements; extends placarding requirements to include bulk
containers; and adopts new packaging design standards for multiple
different types of containers.
-- The "Coastal Management Act 2016," which commenced on 3 April 2018,
repealed and replaced the "Coastal Protection Act 1979" and the "Coastal
Protection Regulation 2011." The Act is designed to manage the coastal
environment of New South Wales in a manner consistent with the
principles of ecologically sustainable development. The 2016 Act
established a new, simplified regulatory framework and redefines the
coastal zone from a single zone with similar characteristics throughout
the State to four distinct coastal management areas with unique
features.
-- The "Protection of the Environment Operations Legislation Amendment
(Waste) Regulation 2018" amended the "Protection of the Environment
Operations Act 1997," the "Protection of the Environment Operations
(Waste) Regulation 2014" and the "Protection of the Environment
Operations (General) Regulation 2009." The regulation introduced
amendments to better manage construction and demolition waste,
landfills, and asbestos waste, and includes new prohibitions on exhuming
waste at current or former landfills and updated requirements relating
to the transportation or disposal of asbestos waste.
-- The "Protection of the Environment Operations (Noise Control) Regulation
2017" repeals and remakes, with minor amendments, the provisions of the
"Protection of the Environment Operations (Noise Control) Regulation
2008."
-- NSW Health has amended the "Public Health Regulation 2012" to require a
performance based (or risk management) approach to managing cooling
water systems. This approach allows each system to be managed according
to its risk of Legionella contamination. From 10 August 2018, building
occupiers are required to ensure that key safeguards in place for their
cooling water systems, including a risk assessment of Legionella
contamination, a Risk Management Plan, and sampling and testing
requirements.
-- The national "Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management
Act 1989" and the "Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas
Management Regulations 1995" were updated following a review of the
Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Program. The
major change was the introduction of a phase-down of hydrofluorocarbon
(HFC) imports from 1 January 2018 that will enable Australia to meet the
HFC phase-down obligations of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal
Protocol, starting in 2019. Other changes include the addition of new
efficiency measures announced in the review, including streamlining of
licensing provisions, waiving uneconomic levy debts, and reduced
reporting frequency. Legislative amendments planned for 2019 will
implement further measures including strengthened compliance and
enforcement powers and additional program efficiency measures.
-- The national "Product Emissions Standards Act 2017" commenced on 15
September 2017, establishing a national framework to address the adverse
impacts of air pollution from certain products on human and
environmental health. The provisions of this Act are implemented by the
"Product Emissions Standards Rules 2017." The Act and Rules prescribe
emissions-controlled products, which are marine-propulsion engines and
certain nonroad engines (new spark-ignition engines with a maximum power
of 19 kilowatts, or 25.5 horsepower). Only products that meet prescribed
emissions standards, or have an exemption, are allowed imported into or
supplied in Australia.
-- The 2016 version of the "National Construction Code Series Volume One -
Building Code of Australia" was amended out-of-cycle prior to the next
scheduled update in 2019. Amendment 1 to the 2016 edition of NCC Volume
One, was adopted by the Commonwealth, States and Territories on 12 March
2018. This amendment introduced a new verification method for limiting
fire spread via external wall assemblies, references the revised 2017
edition of AS 2118.1 (Automatic Fire Sprinkler Systems - General
systems), clarifies provisions for the use of external wall claddings
and attachments, and revises the evidence of suitability provisions. The
2019 edition of the NCC was adopted by all States and the Northern
Territory as of 1 May 2019.
For more information on all International EHS audit protocols offered by STP and STC click here.
About Specialty Technical Publishers
Specialty Technical Publishers (STP) produces technical resource guides covering environmental, health & safety, transportation, accounting, business practices, standards and law, offering comprehensive guidance on key compliance and regulatory issues. STP is a division of Glacier Media Inc., a Canadian information communications company that provides primary and essential information in print, electronic and online media. Glacier's Business and Professional Information Group publishes directories, technical manuals, research and development materials, medical education, electronic databases, investment information and specialty websites.
About Specialty Technical Consultants
Specialty Technical Consultants, Inc. (STC) is a specialized management consulting firm working to enhance environmental health and safety (EHS) performance. Through its consulting services, STC partners with clients to strengthen management systems' design and implementation, and identifies needs and implements solutions to meet business objectives. Services provided include: EHS compliance support; risk assessment; EHS auditing; corporate responsibility and sustainability; EHS management systems development and implementation; EHS regulatory information tools; and EHS training.
STC is certified as a Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) by the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) and the Supplier Clearinghouse for the California Public Utilities Commission, and as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program.
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