Kavanagh calls time as WorkSafe Commissioner

Darren Kavanagh will step down as WorkSafe Commissioner, three months earlier than his five-year term was due to end.

A WorkSafe spokesperson said Mr Kavanagh made the decision not to seek another tenure in the role after significant deliberation.

The spokesperson confirmed his last day in office was September 15 before he took leave to spend time with his family.

Mr Kavanagh informed staff at the Department of Mines, Industry, Regulation, and Safety of his departure in an internal email and thanked them for their hard work and support.

He also reflected on his nearly five years serving as WorkSafe Commissioner.

“The Commissioner role has been the most challenging and rewarding role of my career,” Mr Kavanagh said.

“To have been appointed as independent Commissioner and presented with the opportunity to participate in fundamental and enduring changes to the Western Australian health and safety landscape has been an incredible experience.

“As many of you know, I have been fortunate to have recently spent time travelling with my family.

“That time is something I have valued greatly, and I intend to continue to find as much time as possible to continue to enjoy being with my family as a priority.”

Mr Kavanagh was appointed as WorkSafe Commissioner in December 2018, and has been administering the Work Health and Safety Act and related regulations throughout the past 12 months.

He additionally launched a recent inquiry into the agricultural industry following a series of fatal incidents in the sector.

The report and eight recommendations were tabled in April.

Mr Kavanagh has significant experience working for both state and federal governments in occupational, health and safety sectors, starting with a stint at the Commission for Occupational Safety and Health in the mid-2000s.

Appointed to the Federal Department of Defence in 2008, he held a variety of roles through to 2018, including assistant director of estate management and planning, risk and compliance manager, and work health and safety manager.

Mr Kavanagh served as a board member at Safe Work Australia.