Basic safety issues will be targeted in this year’s Safe Towns and Safer Work Zones inspection campaigns which begin next month.

To combat the high number of serious injuries and work-related deaths (30 statewide in 2009), teams of inspectors will visit Seaford, Bacchus Marsh, Heidelberg, Portland, Williamstown, Bayswater and Sale (dates and local figures below).

Small businesses, particularly those in industrial estates, will be the focus of the WorkSafe teams which will provide information and guidance on making the workplace safer.

WorkSafe does not issue fines, but where necessary formal directions in the form of Improvement Notices and Prohibition Notices are issued if the problem can’t be dealt with on-the-spot.

WorkSafe’s acting Executive Director, Stan Krpan, said as the start of the year was relatively quiet for many businesses, now was the ideal time to review safety standards.

“Sit down with the workforce, go through the potential safety issues and work out what can be done to eliminate them. Once that’s done, put a plan together and get to work putting it into effect.”

“It’s in everyone’s interest to do this sooner rather than later. Don’t adopt a ‘she’ll be right’ attitude or wait until a WorkSafe inspector arrives.”

Mr Krpan said WorkSafe wanted employers and workers to make a new year resolution to stop at least one risky or outright dangerous work practice.

“They may commit to always using fall protection when working at height; they’ll commit to consultation, guarding machines, or better plan work so safety shortcuts aren’t taken.”

“It might mean breaking the (dangerous) habit of a lifetime, but it’s a resolution for every board, company director, employer, supervisor and worker to make.”

WorkSafe Notices are formal directions

Improvement Notices are a formal direction to make a safety improvement within an agreed period. Prohibition Notices are issued when there is an immediate risk to health and safety. Receiving a Prohibition Notice means a machine or work practice must cease.

Both notices require sign-off from a WorkSafe inspector before they are lifted and that is generally the end of the matter. Breaching notices often results in prosecution.

Need help?

WorkSafe has hundreds of publications on its web site covering entire industries and specific tasks. Start at Making your workplace safer. WorkSafe’s free and confidential telephone advisory service (1800 136 089) can provide information and support.

Small businesses can take advantage of a visit from a free and independent safety consultant by calling the advisory service or go to www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/smallbusiness or contact major employer associations and the Victorian Farmers Federation.

To get started on improving, WorkSafe encourages small businesses to take advantage of its free and independent three-hour consultancy (details at www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/smallbusiness) or the WorkSafe publication ‘12 ways to make small business safer’.

Safe Towns and Safer Work Zones program: January to June 2010

Seaford 8-12 February

Bacchus Marsh 22-26 February

Heidelberg 1-5 March

Portland 22-26 March

Williamstown 19-23 April

Bayswater 3-7 May

Sale 17-21 May

How big a problem is this locally

City / Shire of …. Number of claims Treatment and rehabilitation costs

Frankston (Seaford) 2562 $38.92m

Moorabool (Bacchus Marsh) 374 $6.48m

Banyule (Heidelberg) 2175 $35.39m

Glenelg (Portland) 614 $15.91m

Hobsons Bay (Williamstown) 4859 $82.52m

Knox (Bayswater) 5430 $84.71m

Wellington (Sale) 945 $17.03m

* The figures above cover medical and related treatment costs of businesses in the above local government areas over the past five financial years to the end of June 2009. Covers people who are employees and are off work for 10 days or more and/or have treatment costs in excess of $550. Does not cover self-employed people. Figures vary widely due to the industrial/commercial/residential/population mix as well as size of the local government area.