WorkSafe can be prompted to do industry inspections based on lost time injury increases. They may choose to undertake a proactive inspection program, making unannounced inspections to identify improvements required.
WorkSafe Director, Joe Attard, said ‘The inspectors will work with the aid of a checklist to ensure consistency, and if they come across breaches of the workplace safety laws, they will take enforcement action”.
What can happen if you fail the inspection or if an employee seriously injures themselves at work?
In June 2013, A Great Northern Hotel (GNH) employee in Kempsey, NSW was enjoying a drink on his day off, when he decided to clean the beer lines. He subsequently sustained serious facial injuries after pouring caustic cleaning fluid into a funnel, which decompressed a keg coupling that allowed gas to discharge and force the cleaning fluid back into his face.
GNH Directors David Richards and Scott Facey were found to breach the NSW WHS Act, failing to ensure the health and safety of their workers including:
As a result of the breach, Richards and Facey agreed to spend a whopping $72,000 upgrading their cleaning systems with an enforced undertaking – the first of its kind in NSW!
Through their enforced undertaking, the Great Northern Hotel in Kempsey and other hotels owned by the directors now include: staff inductions, PPE, hazardous chemical registers, manual safety data sheets, contracted WHS consultants and a WHS management system.
Recovery Partners Work Health and Safety Program:
Building a culture of safety is a vital aspect of eliminating workplace injuries. With the right communication in place, your entire workforce will become more aware of hazards and risks and realise the importance of a safe workplace. Recovery Partners’ Work Health and Safety Program helps employers minimise injury and reduce costs.
Our team of experienced WHS consultants keep up to date with changing legislation so you don’t have to while ensuring your due diligence requirements are met.
If you’d like a confidential discussion on your organisation’s WHS plan then give us a call on 1300 OHS RTW or drop us an email at admin@rrp.com.au
Alternatively, click here if you'd like to download a free Safety Reporting checklist for your workplace!