SafeWork NSW has launched an Australian-first toolkit to improve safety for labour hire workers as part of SafeWork Month this month.
Director of Compliance and Dispute Resolution at SafeWork, Tony Williams said the Labour Hire Toolkit would help reduce the rates of serious injuries and incidents by providing businesses with a baseline of Work Health and Safety (WHS) expectations related to the use of labour hire workers.
“Workers in labour hire are estimated to represent more than three per cent of the NSW workforce and, while it is critical businesses have the opportunity for flexibility, it is imperative all precautions are taken on safety,” Mr Williams said.
“Labour hire workers can find themselves working in different businesses where known hazards are variable,” he said.
“They are also are likely to be more reluctant to speak out due to fear of not securing further work.”
Mr Williams said labour hire workers were typically found in health and aged care, construction, agriculture and manufacturing.
The SafeWork Director said the Toolkit included a self-assessment checklist for labour hire businesses; a checklist to ensure the suitability of the host business; and an induction checklist for aged-care agency workers.
He said the Toolkit had been translated into four languages to ensure workers from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds had access to the information.
“SafeWork NSW is undertaking a number of programs throughout SafeWork Month, which will include a Mentally Healthy Workplaces Ambassador forum, and inspectors in regional NSW visiting manufacturers and suppliers of agriculture equipment and machinery,” he said.
“SafeWork NSW is not an organisation who only appear at your workplace after an incident.
“Our inspectors undertake around 34,000 workplace visits to NSW businesses every year to help improve workplace safety,” Mr Williams said.
SafeWork’s new Labour Hire Toolkit can be accessed at this PS News link.
