The new international standard for occupational health and safety systems, ISO 45001, is expected to be published this week, but ‘proceed with caution’ is the advice coming from PIAA.

The Printing Industries Association of Australia (PIAA) is supportive of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s recommendation for businesses to wait for a decision from Standards Australia’s Technical Committee on Occupational Health & Safety Management before moving to adopt the new international standard ISO 45001, occupational health and safety management systems.

“The printing and packaging industries are certainly concerned about the scope of this new standard”, says Paul Mitchell, National Workplace Relations Manager for PIAA.

“Australia has one of the most stringent existing occupational health and safety frameworks. Any additional burden on business or further hoops to jump through over and above what is reasonable, should be met with caution. At the end of the day the new international standard should complement existing law, not complicate it”, Mitchell says.

PIAA is supportive of the view that Standards Australia’s Technical Committee is the best body to determine how the new international standard will fit into the Australian regulatory landscape, if at all.

“We appeal for engagement with industry and employers to best understand how to straddle an increase in regulation with genuine business efficacy concerns”, Mitchell says.