Sale workplaces disappoint on safety

08 June 2010

Businesses in Sale need to make more of an effort with workplace safety, WorkSafe Victoria said today.

Inspectors visiting small businesses in Sale between May 17 and 21 found little done to address workplace safety since WorkSafe’s previous targeted visits to the area.

“Sale disappointed us on safety – rather than taking the initiative and making improvements after being told inspectors would be visiting, we found little evidence that any effort had been made,” Acting Executive Director Stan Krpan said.

WorkSafe inspectors visited 58 workplaces over five days, and issued 150 improvement notices. Improvement notices are legal notices requiring a workplace to remedy safety breaches within a set timeframe.

Notices were issued for breaches including poor housekeeping, electrical issues like damaged appliances, inadequate guarding on machinery, lack of planning around fall prevention, and poorly maintained emergency response equipment.

Inspectors also identified breaches of the Accident Compensation Act which included employers failing to have a Return to Work plan in place. A Return to Work plan outlines how injured workers can return to work in a safe and sustainable way – whether it’s through reduced hours in their regular job, or on modified or alternative duties.

“The bottom line is that we visited 58 workplaces and issued 150 improvement notices – this is more notices than we should need to be issuing.

“Some of the issues were easily remedied – like electrical equipment in flammable zones - but others will require more work – like guarding machinery.

“These figures should send a clear message to Sale workplaces that they’re behind the game on safety.

“Our inspectors will be back in Sale for follow-up visits in July. We’re looking forward to seeing improvements - and hope that workplaces will continue the momentum around safety,” he said.