Issue Date:  -  Wednesday, 25 August 2004

WorkSafe committed to national OSH targets

WorkSafe is committed to national occupational safety and health (OSH) targets, which aim for a 20% reduction in fatalities and a 40% reduction in injuries and disease between 2002 and 2012.

WorkSafe will work closely with Western Australian industry and its interstate counterparts to ensure that OSH awareness campaigns and enforcement drives are closely aligned.

"The 2004/05 WorkSafe Business Plan will focus on six high risk industries," WorkSafe Commissioner Nina Lyhne said.

"These industries typically have high injury and fatality rates, across Australia. It is important we focus our attention on areas where we will make the biggest difference."

The agriculture/forestry/fishing, construction, transport and storage, manufacturing, wholesale/retail, and health and community services industries have been identified.

Within each, priority areas are: working at heights, new and young workers,

manual handling, hazardous substances, electricity, slips and trips and forklifts.

With technology changing rapidly, hazards are becoming more complex," Commissioner Lyhne said. "The growth in small business and self employment presents additional challenges.

"WorkSafe’s role is to provide both education and enforcement. Both are important and we aim to get the balance right.

"While the focus is on high risk industries we will continue to administer the legislation across all areas covered by the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984.

"By working with our interstate counterparts we can share ideas and solutions and be more effective in reducing incidence and fatality rates across the country, not just in this state.

"Our inspectors will be paying special attention to the priority areas," Commissioner Lyhne warned. "Non-compliance will result in enforcement action."

Statistics show that every 25 minutes a WA worker is injured on the job and needs time off and on average, every 16 days a WA worker dies of injuries sustained while earning a living.