WorkSafe ACT has been given greater powers to protect those required to work at heights with on-the-spot fines of up to $3,600 added to its workplace safety arsenal.
Minister for Workplace Safety and Industrial Relations, Rachel Stephen-Smith said working at height carried significant risks as any fall, even from a relatively low height, could have catastrophic consequences.
“So far in the 2017–18 year, there have been 72 workers compensation claims in the ACT for falls from height,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.
“There have also been many more instances of near misses where appropriate safety protections have not been in place.”
She said this is simply unacceptable and the ACT Government has acted to provide the regulator with greater powers to enforce safety requirements and prevent these injuries.
Attorney-General, Gordon Ramsay said that due to the serious injuries that could occur when working at height, stronger regulatory action, including prosecution, would be used where appropriate.
“This will send a clear message to industry that safety must remain the key priority at all times,” Mr Ramsay said.
“Employers who don’t comply with their obligations in relation to providing a safe workplace by preventing falls will commit an offence under the Work Health and Safety Regulation.”
He said the new infringements were an important supplement to the Work Safety Commissioner’s other regulatory actions of issuing improvement/prohibition notices or court action.
