Safe Work Australia (SWA) is a step closer to harmonising the country’s occupational health and safety laws with the release of 15 draft codes of practice.

The drafts, which are now open for public consultation, include a broad range of topics from first aid to preventing and responding to workplace bullying.

SWA Chairman Tom Phillips says the codes will help support the new model for health and safety legislation, which is intended to replace the current mix of state and territory laws.

“The new workplace health and safety laws will ensure organisations can comply with one set of laws regardless of the number of states and territories in which they operate,” he said.

“This will ease the burden on business-owners operating across the country.”

Consultation will be open until November 18 for the first six codes of practice. They are first aid in the workplace; managing risks in construction work; preventing falls in housing construction; managing electrical risks at the workplace; managing hazardous chemicals; and managing risks of plant in the workplace.

Mr Phillips says this is now the opportunity for businesses, industry and individuals to have their say about workplace health and safety in Australia.

Following the consultation period, an Australia-wide set of occupational health and safety laws will be implemented by January 1.