11:54 pm, Saturday 25 February, 2012

Bendigo businesses can expect a visit from a safety inspector beginning Monday as part of WorkSafe’s week-long blitz.

Around 200 businesses will be visited by a WorkSafe inspector as part of the Safe Towns campaign which involves a team of inspectors visiting a regional area to check on health and safety compliance and return to work laws.

According to WorkSafe’s operations General Manager, Lisa Sturzenegger, inspectors will check on businesses which have never been visited before as well as those with previous injury claims.

“It’s in everyone’s interest to make changes sooner rather than later. Don’t wait until a WorkSafe inspector arrives, or a serious incident to address health and safety matters,” said Ms Sturzenegger.

WorkSafe data reveals that almost 2370 injuries were reported from the Bendigo region over the past five financial years. Treatment and rehabilitation costs exceeded $41 million. More than half of these claims came from the health care and social assistance, manufacturing and construction industries.

”We constantly come across cases where companies are fined thousands of dollars for not addressing safety matters such as allowing workers to operate faulty machinery, not properly separating forklifts from pedestrians and other  poor management of safety issues.”

“Getting on top of health and safety issues in the workplace is good for business, good for morale and ensures workers return home safely at the end of the day.”

“We also find that 60 per cent of all Victorian workplace injuries are a result of dangerous manual handling practices. Businesses may not even be aware that their existing work methods put a strain on their workers.”

“We encourage businesses to look at their workplaces from a fresh perspective and to find new ways to address basic issues.”

WorkSafe inspectors will also visit South Geelong/Breakwater, Ballarat and Traralgon in the months to come.

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12:34 pm, Thursday 9 February, 2012

WorkSafe will host a breakfast for small business operators in Bendigo on 16 February to give them the information they need to improve safety. This is done in preparation for WorkSafe targeted inspections from February 27 to March 2.

WorkSafe’s Manufacturing, Logistics and Agriculture Program Director, Ross Pilkington said that inspections will be relatively quick and no enforcement activity is necessary if employers have addressed safety issues before an inspector arrives.

“Unfortunately many people don’t take the opportunity to deal with these unsafe conditions, and as a result end up with a longer visit.”

Mr Pilkington said WorkSafe inspectors will see to it that employers understand health and safety requirements as well as their obligation in assisting injured workers to return to work.

“During the 2011 SafeTowns campaign, WorkSafe visited 1546 workplaces and issued 2118 improvement notices for health and safety and accident compensation breaches.

“We want to see an improvement on those numbers in 2012. By giving people advance warning, we shouldn’t see people adopting a ‘she’ll be right’ attitude or waiting until a WorkSafe inspector walks in.”

Bendigo business operators can refer to WorkSafe’s publication 12 ways to make small business safer as a starting point for their safety improvement catch-up work. Help is also available from WorkSafe’s Advisory service (1800 136 0890). Small businesses may avail a free, three-hour consultancy service from an independent safety specialist to help them deal with safety concerns.

You can book a place at the free WorkSafe breakfast by sending an email to Vicki Naughton through vicki_naughton@worksafe.vic.gov.au by February 13. More information is available on WorkSafe’s website (www.worksafe.vic.gov.au).

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