WorkSafe Inspectors Target Small Businesses

WorkSafe Victoria has launched a blitz on Victorian small businesses, urging them to conduct thorough safety checks in advance of WorkSafe inspector visits in the coming year.

Businesses in 14 nominated suburbs and towns will be inspected over a five-day period as part of WorkSafe’s Safe Towns and Safer Work Zones campaign.

WorkSafe’s Strategic Programs Director Trevor Martin said the campaign aimed to encourage small businesses to identify and fix basic health and safety issues.

“We’re not out to get anyone,” Mr Martin said. “We’ll be giving businesses prior notice that we’re coming and guidance on the sorts of safety issues we’ll be looking for.

“That being said, inspectors won’t be soft on safety. Over the last 12 months, nearly 2500 legal notices have been issued by inspectors under this campaign, so businesses can expect us to be tough on enforcement,” he said.

Inspectors will also check that workplaces have a return-to-work plan in place for injured workers who are off work for more than 20 days, and that they are able to provide suitable work.

While WorkSafe does not issue fines, it can issue formal directions requiring safety improvement work to be carried out, and prohibition notices preventing work if there is an immediate risk to someone’s health and safety.

“We see the same kind of hazards over and over again – things like inspection and testing of electrical equipment, first aid facilities, and guarding on machinery. Basic housekeeping is also an issue that workplaces fall short on,” Mr Martin said.

“Often when something goes wrong, it goes wrong quickly and with disastrous consequences. This is why we want small businesses to take a step back and look at common workplace health and safety hazards.

He encouraged business operators to sit down with their workforce to identify potential safety issues and what could be done to eliminate them.

Over the next financial year, inspectors will visit small businesses in Braeside, Melton, Mansfield, Moorabbin, Mildura, Campbellfield, North Geelong, Camperdown and Cobden, Preston, Daylesford and Hepburn, Hoppers Crossing, Clayton, Bairnsdale, Doveton and Hallam.

Of these locations, Campbellfield has had the highest number of claims in the past five financial years, with 8217 claims costing $164.95m in treatment and rehabilitation costs. Clayton had the next highest number of claims (6720), costing $105.99m.

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