WorkSafe ACT has joined forces with its NSW counterpart for a cross border operation aimed at improving work health and safety (WHS) in Queanbeyan, Canberra and the surrounding areas.
The ACT’s Acting WHS Commissioner, Amanda Grey said the WorkSafe ACT and SafeWork NSW were conducting workplace inspections this week (3–7 April) to ensure a consistent regulatory approach for businesses working in both jurisdictions.
“Working across the border is a daily activity for many workers and businesses in this region,” Acting Commissioner Grey said.
“We really want to break down barriers and remove confusion for these businesses by having a consistent approach to safety regulation,” she said.
“Working alongside the NSW regulator is vital to achieving this outcome.”
Ms Grey said that while there may be some minor differences in how each regulator did things, “we are all here for the same reason, to make sure all workplaces and workers are safe”.
“When our Inspectors collaborate with other jurisdictions it helps broaden their knowledge which ultimately results in positive safety outcomes for the ACT community,” the Acting Commissioner said.
Acting WHS Regional Director at SafeWork NSW, Kane Scott said the inspectors would mainly focus on falls risks in the construction, manufacturing and warehousing industries.
“Inspectors will be ensuring work health and safety compliance is at the forefront of all business operations,” Acting Regional Director Scott said.
“These compliance programs are part of an ongoing effort to promote sustained behavioural change,” he said.
“Workplace falls in manufacturing cost NSW businesses more than $15 million a year in claims while falls in construction continues to be the leading cause of traumatic injuries and fatalities in NSW”.
