DEMIRS has published its consultation draft Code of Practice for Psychosocial Hazards relating to FIFO workers in the resources and construction industry. The Code of Practice may have material impacts on the practices and safe systems of work for WA resources industry.

The Department is seeking submissions on the draft Code of Practice by 24 October 2024.

The Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WA) commenced in March 2022 and equally applies WHS duties to physical and mental health and safety.

Codes of Practice approved under the WHS are important because:

1. They are useful educational guidelines to assist the health and safety of workers.
2. Demonstrating compliance with an approved code is admissible evidence in a defence against prosecution under the WHS Act.
3. As a result, the approved codes provide useful insight into the Regulator’s view of best practice, minimum standards, and its enforcement attitude.

There is already an approved Code of Practice for Psychosocial Hazards in the Workplace applying to workplaces generally.

The FIFO Code of Practice may take on increased significance in light of the WA Parliamentary inquiry into mental health impacts of FIFO work arrangements, and the Enough is Enough Report which arose from the inquiry into sexual harassment against women in the FIFO mining industry.