New laws to improve workplace health and safety for Canberra’s construction workers are to come into effect from 1 January 2019.
Minister for Workplace Safety and Industrial Relations, Rachel Stephen-Smith said the changes to the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 would result in better consultation on workplace safety matters between employers and workers in the construction industry.
“The amendments follow research into the ACT construction industry’s safety culture, which identified inconsistent practices across the industry with many workers reporting that consultation was a one-way communication channel from their employers,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.
“We want to make sure that all workers, no matter which level they are or job they hold, feel they have the support in place to speak up when they see a hazard or a risk so that everyone is safer at work.”
She said the changes included mandatory measures such as consultation with workers and unions when establishing work groups; the election and training of Health and Safety Representatives; and the election of Health and Safety Committees and training for members.
“The ACT Government knows that a workplace where workers are supported by union representatives is a safer workplace, and will continue to support initiatives that strengthen unions’ critical role in workplace health and safety,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.
“These changes are just one part of a multi-faceted approach to improve worker safety in the ACT construction industry, including the independent review into work health and safety oversight and the development of a construction safety strategy by the tripartite work safety council.”
