Air-handling and water systems regulation review

Overview

The key focus of this review is to obtain feedback on the most effective option for managing the public health risks associated with commercial air-handling (e.g. cooling towers) and warm water systems in Western Australia (WA).

Cooling towers and warm water systems can be associated with outbreaks of Legionnaires’ Disease or Pontiac Fever, if such systems are not maintained to particular standards.

In WA, this risk is currently managed under the Health (Air-handling and Water Systems) Regulations 1994 (Air-handling Regulations), which requires operators to maintain systems in accordance with specific Australian Standards.

The Air-handling and water systems review discussion paper (PDF 4MB) reviews the current management of this risk to determine the best option for WA in the future.

It is important that you read the discussion paper prior to completing the survey. 

The survey should take approximately 20 minutes to complete.

You do not have to comment on all of the questions, and can focus on those areas that are important to you.  

You can read the survey questions here prior to completing the online survey. 

Why your views matter

With the introduction of the Public Health Act 2016 in WA, the Air-handling Regulations, which are adopted under the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1911, must be reviewed and either repealed or replaced with new regulations in accordance with the new regulatory framework.

The discussion paper identifies four options for consideration for WA:

• Option A: Enable the industry to self-regulate by providing an industry guideline or Code of Practice. 
• Option B: Retain the status quo by making equivalent regulations under the Public Health Act
• Option C: Develop new regulations to manage this public health risk with building requiremetns addressed by the Building Code of Australia
• Option D: Manage this public health risk under Occupational Safety and Health legislation

You also have the opportunity to provide feedback on alternative options that may not have been considered as part of this review. 

What happens next

After analysis of all submissions, a determination of which option to adopt, will be made.

Feedback from this review will also be submitted to the WA Better Regulation Unit, to support the preferred option.   

Stakeholders will be emailed a summary paper. 

Please email publichealthact@health.wa.gov.au if you have any queries.