Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation) Share this | Hansard source

The Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

Yes. Article 16 of the International Labour Organization Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155) imposes an obligation on employers to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the workplaces, machinery, equipment, processes and chemical and biological substances under their control are safe and without risk to health. In addition, Article 16 requires that employers provide, where necessary, adequate protective clothing and protective equipment to prevent the risk of accidents of adverse health effects.

Australia ratified Convention 155 on 26 March 2004. Australia most recently reported to the International Labour Organization regarding its compliance with Convention 155 on 7 September 2012. In its report Australia advised that all jurisdictions continue to be compliant with the articles of the Convention.