Victoria’s building and construction industry has backed calls from the state government for the Commonwealth to delay new model work health and safety laws.

The Master Builders Association of Victoria said, while the drafts of the Work Health and Safety Act and the model regulations are complete, subject to the Victorian government's cost-benefit analysis, the codes of practice and supporting resources are far from ready. The new laws are to take effect Jan. 1.

The new laws are supposed to be largely modelled on the current Victorian OHS Act and Regulations, but employers will need to be aware of a number of new obligations.

Radley de Silva, deputy executive director of the Master Builders Association of Victoria, said implementing the new laws without proper guidelines will be problematic.

“We want to ensure workers and employers are adequately prepared so they are not vulnerable to fines and other repercussions.

“WorkSafe Victoria needs time to run public briefings and communications about the new laws, unions need time to educate delegates and health and safety representatives and industry associations like the Master Builders need time to educate and train their members,” he said.

De Silva stressed timing is an imperative part of the process to ensure the transition to the new laws is smooth, effective and with as little disruption to industry as possible.