WorkSafe Victoria has released details of the first of 2009’s targeted workplace safety campaigns.
Between February and June, the workplace safety authority will visit workplaces and check on the management of common safety issues in Ararat, Footscray, Frankston/Cranbourne, Maryborough, Scoresby and Morwell.
WorkSafe claims previous inspection programs have shown that despite having advanced warning, many workplaces fail to get their acts together, and thus received safety improvement notices.
According to the authority, everyone needs to take responsibility for safety, and a ‘she’ll be right’ attitude can result in catastrophe.
Just because a workplace has not yet had an accident does not mean it is safe.
Inspectors will offer help and advice on how to resolve safety issues, but if they spot hazards, they will issue safety improvement notices or prohibition notices.
Twenty-two Victorians died in traumatic work-related incidents in 2008. Around 29,000 people were seriously hurt last financial year.