WorkSafe is targeting takeaway food outlets in its latest proactive workplace health and safety inspection program.
WorkSafe said the program involved inspectors visiting fast food outlets in Perth and regional areas of the State throughout the 2021-22 financial year.
Acting Director for WorkSafe, Carla van Ijzendoorn said the inspection program had been prompted by continued significant numbers of lost-time injuries in the sector, along with the fact that young workers were most often injured.
“Currently the sector is averaging 153 lost-time injuries per year, with 122 of these keeping employees off work for five or more days,” Ms van Ijzendoorn said.
“Of these, an average of 35 injuries per year are classified as severe, keeping the injured worker away from work for 60 days or more.”
She said young workers predominated in the takeaway sector and the majority of injuries (around one third of all injuries) were sustained by workers in the 15-to-19 age group.
“WorkSafe has concerns about the continuing high number of injuries occurring through slips, trips and falls, along with burns, manual task injuries and cuts,” Ms van Ijzendoorn said.
“Burns from hot food and liquids are of particular concern — especially from retrieving food and liquids from microwave ovens above shoulder height — as are burns from the unsafe disposal of oil while it is still hot.”
Ms van Ijzendoorn said it was crucial that workers in the takeaway industry knew proper first aid for burn injuries and this should be part of a worker’s induction and training program.
“These proactive inspection programs predominantly focus on providing employers with the information they require to fulfil their responsibilities under the workplace safety laws,” she said.
“Inspectors work with the aid of a checklist to ensure consistency and these checklists are available on WorkSafe’s website so employers can check on what will be expected if they are visited by an inspector,” Ms van Ijzendoorn said.
