CONSUMER and Employment Protection Minister John Kobelke (pictured) says bosses and companies in Western Australia committed to improving workplace safety and health will have nothing to fear from proposed reforms to WA’s Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act.
Mr Kobelke made the comments in response to industry concerns about the Government’s proposed changes to WA’s OSH Act, due before parliament by June this year.
Of particular concern to WA business is the Gallop Government’s stated position to toughen penalties for OSH offences, which include imprisonment options for employers and increased fines.
Mr Kobelke told WA Business News the proposed reforms, which follow a substantial review of OSH in 2002, will bring OSH penalties broadly into line with other Australian States and are aimed at making bosses or companies more aware of providing safe working conditions.
“It is unacceptable that when workers have been killed or badly hurt, through a failure of the duty of care, employers in this State have generally received relatively minor penalties,” Mr Kobelke said.
“The changes to the penalty regime are being introduced in response to our concern – as a community and a Government – that some penalties which have been imposed for OSH offences, particularly those involving loss of life or serious injury, have not been appropriately dealt with.”
Mr Kobelke said there was increasing evidence that better OSH practices improved company bottom lines – with lower workers’ compensation premiums, less absenteeism and reduced staff turnover.
The State Government is committed to creating safer communities and making workplaces safer and healthier is a crucial part of our strategy, he said.
The Gallop Government’s draft legislation changes will be released for consultation soon and follow the 2002 review of Occupational Health and Safety, conducted by former Industrial Relations Commissioner Robert Laing
Mr Kobelke said Mr Laing’s review received submissions from all the major OSH stakeholders, and the Government had adopted most of his 107 recommendations.