Various high-risk industries under scrutiny to reduce harm on employees
The Victorian government is intensifying workplace safety inspections across the state's most dangerous industries, as it also targets businesses that employ children during the upcoming school holidays.
WorkSafe Victoria will sharpen its focus on construction, healthcare and social assistance, government, agriculture and transport, the five industries that together accounted for more than 60% of the state's 61 workplace deaths last year and 55% of its 26,323 injury claims.
Construction remains the deadliest sector. Twenty-six workers were killed and more than 10,600 injured over three years, with falls from height continuing to be the leading cause of death on Victorian worksites.
Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC Steve Dimopoulos announced the crackdown during a visit to WorkSafe's Geelong head office last week, where he met newly recruited inspectors funded by the Carroll Labor Government.
"No worker should risk their life just going to work — that's why we're targeting the hazards doing the most damage in the workplaces doing the most harm," Dimopoulos said.
WorkSafe inspectors will target falls, vehicles and machinery, hazardous manual handling, workplace violence and psychosocial risk.
The agency's enforcement powers will also be expanded with the introduction of infringement notices for additional offences, including on-the-spot fines for falls from height.
"Focusing on the industries and hazards causing the greatest harm lets us make the biggest difference. We'll keep backing employers who do the right thing — and acting against those who don't," Dimopoulos said.
Protecting workers under 15 from harm
Meanwhile, Workforce Inspectorate Victoria (WIV) separately announced that it would also conduct inspections of retail and hospitality businesses during the school holidays to ensure children under 15 are being employed lawfully and safely.
Common hazards for young workers in those sectors include burns from cooking equipment, cuts from knives, manual handling injuries and insufficient supervision.
WIV's previous school holiday inspections identified 574 potential breaches of Victoria's child employment laws and led to one prosecution.
Businesses hiring children under 15 are required to hold a child employment licence and comply with conditions governing the type of work, supervision, maximum working hours and rest breaks.
During school holidays, children may work up to six hours per day and 30 hours per week.
Deputy Commissioner of Workforce Inspectorate Victoria Lily Dekic said the inspections were aimed at protecting young workers' first experiences in employment.
"Ensuring children under 15 receive proper supervision and breaks will help them to enjoy their first experience in the workforce," she said.
Dekic added that businesses could access a free licence to employ younger workers, but were expected to honour its conditions.
"We support businesses through the licence process, educate them on their obligations — we prefer to help than prosecute," she said.
Victoria's child employment licences are free, last up to two years, and can cover multiple children under a single application.
