Announcements

Showing 51 - 75 of 194 results

City of Armadale fine increased after WorkSafe appeal

The City of Armadale has had a fine increased by $80,000 over a 2014 incident in which a member of the public was seriously injured when struck by a front-end loader at a waste disposal site. The City was fined $30,000 (plus costs) in April 2018 over the incident after being charged with failing to provide and maintain a safe workplace. WorkSafe appealed the penalty in a Single Judge Appeal and...
WorkSafe
Media release
03 Apr 2020

Draft Occupational Diving – Code of Practice

The Commission for Occupational Safety and Health seeks your views and comments on the draft Code of Practice – Occupational Diving in Western Australia . The draft code provides guidance for occupational divers in Western Australia on the management of occupational safety and health issues relevant to preparing for and performing tasks while submerged in a fluid using artificially-supplied...
WorkSafe
Media release
27 Mar 2020

WorkSafe investigates death of worker near Esperance

WorkSafe is investigating the work-related death of a 25-year-old worker at Condingup (east of Esperance) yesterday. The man was believed to have been working on the roof of a shed when he and another worker fell. The other worker was injured in the fall. Inspectors travelled to the site this morning and will interview witnesses and investigate the circumstances. WorkSafe thoroughly investigates...
WorkSafe
Media release
12 Mar 2020

Coronavirus - What can be done to reduce risks from a viral outbreak such as COVID 19

Under OSH legislation, employers are required to provide and maintain, as far as is practicable, a working environment in which their workers are not exposed to health risks. This includes situations where employees and contractors may be at risk of contracting viruses such as the COVID-19 coronavirus. Employers need to keep up to date with the latest health warnings from the Australian and WA...
WorkSafe
Alert
10 Mar 2020

Progress of the Work Health and Safety Bill 2019

On Thursday 20 February, the Work Health and Safety Bill 2019 passed through the Legislative Assembly of the Western Australian Parliament. The Hon Bill Johnston MLA, Minister for Mines and Petroleum and Industrial Relations said: “I am pleased that the Work Health and Safety Bill has now passed the Legislative Assembly. “The McGowan Government recognises the importance of these reforms and hopes...
WorkSafe
Department News
25 Feb 2020

Cyclone contingency plans should be in place

With the season’s first cyclone having formed off the North-West coast, businesses throughout the State have been reminded to ensure that contingency plans have been established and are in operation. WorkSafe WA Director Chris Kirwin said today it was crucial that everyone on both sea and land knew what to do when there was a cyclone in the area. “Under workplace safety and health laws, employers...
WorkSafe
Media release
07 Jan 2020

Reminder that children face hazards in workplaces

Employers have been reminded to take steps to keep children away from hazardous workplaces during the coming school holidays. WorkSafe WA Commissioner Darren Kavanagh said today many workplaces contained hazards that could result in injury, and some even contained potentially deadly hazards. “Workplaces such as factories and construction sites are not suitable locations for children and, sadly,...
WorkSafe
Media release
19 Dec 2019

Reminder to stay safe in lead-up to festive season

WorkSafe has issued a reminder to workers to stay focused on safety and health in the lead-up to the festive season. WorkSafe WA Commissioner Darren Kavanagh said today both employers and workers needed to pay particular attention to staying safe before and after Christmas. “As we head towards the end of the year and the festive season, it’s timely to remind both employers and workers of the need...
WorkSafe
Media release
13 Dec 2019

New workplace safety laws tabled in Parliament

The State Government today tabled the Work Health and Safety (WHS) Bill in Parliament, paving the way for more modern workplace safety laws that apply to all industries. For more information Media statement - Hon Bill Johnston MLA Work Health and Safety Bill 2019
WorkSafe
Alert
27 Nov 2019

WorkSafe prosecutes building company involved in backpacker death

WorkSafe has initiated prosecution action against the building company that employed a labour hire backpacker who died as a result of a fall in 2016. WorkSafe’s investigation was conducted as a result of that death, and while no charges have been laid in relation to the incident, other breaches were identified during the course of the investigation and this prosecution is the result. Hanssen Pty...
WorkSafe
Media release
07 Nov 2019

WorkSafe investigates death of worker at Wootatting

WorkSafe is investigating the work-related death of a 63-year-old truck driver at a workplace in Wootatting (near York) yesterday. The man was believed to have been performing repair or maintenance work on a truck in a workshop when he was caught between the wheel arch and the tyre. Inspectors travelled to the site last night and will continue to closely examine the circumstances of the incident...
WorkSafe
Media release
06 Nov 2019

Child care centre program reveals problems with hazardous substances

A proactive inspection program looking at safety issues in WA’s child care centres has revealed a widespread lack of risk assessment and training in hazardous substances. The program, which included both government and private childcare centres in metropolitan and regional areas of the State, was undertaken because child care was a relatively new work area and had not been closely examined for...
WorkSafe
Media release
05 Nov 2019

WorkSafe looks at safety issues in tower cranes on construction sites

WorkSafe is conducting a proactive inspection program to look at safety issues relating to tower cranes in service at WA construction sites. The program will continue until the end of the 2019/20 financial year, and will include tower cranes on construction sites in both metropolitan and regional areas of the State. WorkSafe Director Sally North said today an inspection program was being...
WorkSafe
Media release
31 Oct 2019

Warning on vehicle movement after Coronial Inquest

WorkSafe has issued a reminder on the safe movement of vehicles on worksites after the results of a Coronial Inquest into the death of a postal worker in 2015 were released. WorkSafe WA Commissioner Darren Kavanagh said today employers needed to ensure safe systems of work were developed and implemented in workplaces where vehicles and workers were present in the same area. “Wherever vehicles and...
WorkSafe
Media release
23 Oct 2019

Building company fined $47,500 over tilt-up panel collapse in city

A building company has been fined $47,500 (and ordered to pay $1519 in costs) over an incident in which a 3.88-tonne tilt-up panel fell from a building under construction onto a neighbouring car park. Hanssen Pty. Ltd. was found guilty of failing to ensure that work was directly supervised by a person who had completed an approved course for managers and supervisors on a site where tilt-up work...
WorkSafe
Media release
15 Oct 2019

Warning to guard against heat stress at work

WorkSafe has issued a warning to guard against the effects of extreme temperatures in work environments following a forecast of above-average temperatures this summer. The Bureau of Meteorology last week issued their summer outlook, forecasting daytime temperatures that are very likely to be above average across Australia. WorkSafe WA Commissioner Darren Kavanagh today reminded employers and...
WorkSafe
Media release
08 Oct 2019

WorkSafe inspection program looks at high-risk pressure vessels

WorkSafe will conduct a proactive inspection program to look at safety issues with some of the highest risk pressure vessels in workplaces in WA. The program will continue throughout the 2019/20 financial year, and will focus on some of the State’s highest risk pressure vessels in both metropolitan and regional areas. WorkSafe Director Sally North said the inspection program was being conducted...
WorkSafe
Media release
04 Sep 2019

Inspection program looks at safety of workers in schools

WorkSafe is conducting a proactive inspection program to look at safety and health issues for workers in WA primary and secondary schools. The program will continue until the end of the 2019/20 financial year, and will include both private and public schools in metropolitan and regional areas of the State. It will expand on a previous inspection program looking at hazards facing cleaners and...
WorkSafe
Media release
03 Sep 2019

Management company fined $45,000 for misuse of substation

The company that managed Morley Galleria Shopping Centre when two men were killed and two severely injured in an explosion in 2015 has been fined $45,000.
WorkSafe
Media release
27 Aug 2019

WorkSafe inspection program looks at commercial kitchen safety

WorkSafe will conduct a proactive inspection program to look at safety standards and issues in commercial kitchens in various WA workplaces. The program will continue throughout the 2019/20 financial year, and will focus on kitchens located in a range of workplaces including cafés, food courts and accommodation premises in metropolitan and regional areas of the State. WorkSafe Director Sally...
WorkSafe
Media release
16 Aug 2019

Inspection program in primary schools reveals concerns with hazardous substances

A proactive inspection program looking at safety issues in WA primary schools has raised concerns over failure to comply with workplace safety laws on hazardous substances. During the inspection program, inspectors looked at safety issues for workers such as cleaners, handypersons and gardeners, and also focused on the management of violence and aggression. WorkSafe Director Sally North said the...
WorkSafe
Media release
15 Aug 2019

Construction company fined $38,000 in Ballantine fall case

A construction company has been fined $38,000 (and ordered to pay $8054 in costs) over the incident in 2017 in which 17-year-old Wesley Ballantine died after he fell through a void in the roof of an internal atrium at the old GPO building in Forrest Place, Perth. Valmont (WA) Pty Ltd pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that persons who were not their employees were not exposed to hazards, and was...
WorkSafe
Media release
02 Aug 2019

Inspection program on service stations yields mixed results

A proactive inspection program looking at safety issues in fuel retailing outlets across WA has found high levels of awareness in some areas, but also some areas of concern. The program, which included service stations selling all brands of fuel in metropolitan and regional areas of the State, was undertaken because workers were seen to be at risk on a number of fronts. WorkSafe Acting Director...
WorkSafe
Media release
22 Jul 2019

WorkSafe looks at safety issues for commercial vehicle drivers

WorkSafe is conducting a proactive inspection program to look at safety issues for commercial vehicle drivers. The program will continue until the end of the 2019/20 financial year, and will be conducted at road train assembly areas in metropolitan and regional areas of the State. WorkSafe Director Chris Kirwin said today the inspection program was being undertaken as an alternative to larger-...
WorkSafe
Media release
12 Jul 2019

Inspection program in scientific testing workplaces has encouraging results

A proactive inspection program undertaken by WorkSafe to look at safety in workplaces where scientific testing takes place has returned encouraging results for the sector. The program involved WorkSafe inspectors visiting workplaces in Perth and regional areas of the State where non-destructive scientific testing including radiographic, ultrasonic, magnetic particle, liquid penetrant,...
WorkSafe
Media release
11 Jul 2019

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