WorkSafe ACT inspectors visited 45 childcare centres in recent months as part of a proactive campaign to improve worker safety at the centres.
Work Health and Safety Commissioner, Jacqueline Agius said that between 2 November last year and 31 March this year, WorkSafe inspectors issued 179 improvement notices and two prohibition notices to childcare centres for work health and safety breaches.
“When our inspectors visited these centres, they found a range of work health and safety issues which put workers at risk,” Ms Agius said.
“Trending issues included not having procedures to safely store chemicals (such as cleaning products), no safety data sheets about hazardous chemicals and not regularly testing and tagging electrical equipment,” she said.
“We also found it concerning that a number of centres didn’t have procedures in place to handle situations of occupational violence.”
Ms Agius said that by having processes in place to manage occupational violence, employers could help prevent or minimise the risks of violence and aggression towards staff members.
“Employers are reminded they have a duty to protect their staff, and one way they can do this, is by assessing workplace risks and implementing safe systems of work,” the Commissioner said.
“Everyone has the right to work in a safe and healthy workplace,” she said.
