The Building Services Board has fined a South West builder $5,000 for negligent conduct after he was named on a building permit to construct a house in Yarloop, but allowed an unregistered third party to do the work. Michael Kenneth Cheeseman (BC101905, BP14081), a registered building contractor and building practitioner from Boyanup, was listed on the building permit and contract for the $83,000...

In accordance with AS/NZS 1596:2014: The storage and handling of LP Gas, electrical connections should have a minimum 1.5 metre exclusion zone from gas cylinders (figure 1). Ignition sources are to be kept clear of this exclusion zone. Ignitions sources include, but are not limited to, electrical appliances or equipment, switchboards, switches, junction boxes, Telstra Network Termination Devices...

There has been an increase in the number of Notice of Defects (NOD) issued to gas fitters who are installing and commissioning instantaneous/continuous flow gas water heaters which have been installed in locations and/or conditions that do not meet the requirements of AS/NZS 5601.1 Clause 6.3.12 and 6.3.13. Clause 6.3.12 and 6.3.13 reference the local OHS requirements, which has raised questions...

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...

Private Sector Labour Relations industrial inspectors have helped employees to recover over $370,000 in unpaid entitlements in the last financial year. Over $300,000 was recovered for employees who lodged a complaint with Private Sector Labour Relations, and nearly $70,000 was recovered as a result of proactive compliance campaigns in targeted industries. Find out more about proactive compliance...

With Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard Hotel comparison websites offer to take the hassle out of searching for best value accommodation but instead of saving you money they could leave you out of pocket. One man who recently came to Consumer Protection had paid $137 above the quoted room rate using an American-based comparison site to book a hotel stay in Mandurah – charges,...

A property manager has been reprimanded and fined $1,500 by the State Administrative Tribunal for operating without a current certificate of registration. Shamela Rima Neilson was working for an Attadale real estate agency when her real estate sales representative registration expired in March 2017, but continued to carry out duties as a property manager in breach of the Real Estate and Business...

With Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard Are you paying extra for bills you receive in the mail? Service providers may be charging you a fee to cover the costs of printing and posting your bill – but there may be a way you can avoid the charge. The easiest way is to switch to online billing and receive your bills by email or via the company’s app or website but that is not going...

The review of laws regulating the retirement village sector in WA moves to a new chapter with Consumer Protection embarking on an extensive consultation process with the industry and community before recommending any further changes. The first paper of the second-stage review of the Retirement Villages Act (RV Act), which is now open for consultation, will focus on improving the definition of a...

On 30 July 2019, the McGowan Government announced a three-stage plan to improve the bush fire policy framework, including the Map of Bush Fire Prone Areas (the Map). The improvements will reduce the number of residential buildings required to comply with the bush fire construction requirements of the Building Code of Australia (BCA). Stage One will see a new edition of the Map come into effect on...

People who receive paper bills in the mail should check to see if it is costing them extra, and if it is, look into how to avoid the extra charge. Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard said consumers may not realise that many bills they receive in the post could cost them an extra fee. “The fee could be a couple of dollars for some service providers but, for those receiving multiple...

The Private Sector Labour Relations Division of the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety is currently undertaking a campaign to promote compliance with state employment laws by beauty salon businesses in the state industrial relations system. The campaign is aimed at businesses operating solely as beauty salons and does not include businesses that are hair and beauty salons or nail...