Safe Towns & Safer Work Zones Inspection Campaign Begins

The Safe Towns and Safer Work Zones inspection campaigns will target basic safety issues when it begins this month.

The inspection campaigns are aimed at combating the high number of serious injuries and work related deaths. Inspectors will visit Seaford, Bacchus Marsh, Heidelberg, Portland, Williamstown, Bayswater and Sale focussing on small businesses, particularly those in industrial estates.

The WorkSafe teams will provide information and guidance on making workplaces safer. WorkSafe does not issue fines, but where necessary formal directions in the form of Improvement Notices and Prohibition Notices are issued if the problem can’t be dealt with immediately.

WorkSafe’s acting Executive Director Stan Krpan said now was the ideal time to review safety standards as the start of the year was relatively quiet for many businesses.

“Sit down with the workforce, go through the potential safety issues and work out what can be done to eliminate them. Once that’s done, put a plan together and get to work putting it into effect,” Mr Krpan said.

Mr Krpan said WorkSafe wanted employers and workers to make a new year resolution to stop at least one risky or outright dangerous work practice.

WorkSafe notices
Improvement Notices are a formal direction to make a safety improvement within an agreed period. Prohibition Notices are issued when there is an immediate risk to health and safety. Receiving a Prohibition Notice means a machine or work practice must cease.

Make your workplace safer
To get started making your workplace safer, visit the WorkSafe website where you can find hundreds of publications covering OH&S guidelines and regulations for entire industries and specific tasks. Alternately you can contact WorkSafe on 1800 136 089 for information and support.

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