WorkSafe WA machinery repair inspection results released

WorkSafe WA has issued 980 improvement notices to machinery repair workplaces after inspectors raised concerns around hazardous substances, mobile plant and emergency procedure management. Three prohibition notices and 78 verbal directions have also been issued throughout the 128 inspected workplaces.

It comes as part of a proactive program — conducted over the 2018–19 financial year — which aimed to help employers comply with workplace health and safety laws.

Inspected workplaces include those that carry out repairs on agricultural and farm machinery, lawn mowers, outboard motors, pumps and compressors, mining equipment and material handlers in Perth and regional WA. WorkSafe WA Director – Industrial and Regional Chris Kirwin said a spike in work-related injuries prompted the inspections.

“One of the reasons for conducting an inspection program in this sector was an increase over the past five years of more than 80% in the number of injuries that kept employees off work for more than a day, and a whopping 230% increase in the number of injuries that kept employees off work for 60 days or more,” Kirwin said.

Of the notices, 210 were related to hazardous substances, with 105 of those concerning the lack of a hazardous substances register and/or Material Safety Data Sheets. An additional 160 notices were related to mobile plant and vehicle movement, with most relating to mobile plant maintenance and record-keeping.

Kirwin said that “inspectors were also surprised to find more cases than they expected of workers operating mobile plants without being in possession of a High Risk Work Licence”. Another 148 notices were related to emergency procedures, with 57 related to a failure to develop and clearly display evacuation procedures.

During the inspection program, inspectors focused on priority areas including manual tasks, electricity, lockout and tagging, the use of hazardous substances and slips, trips and falls. They also looked closely at more industry-specific issues, such as the use of single-post hoists, pressure vessels and guillotines, and the induction training of new and young workers.

“The number of workers the inspectors came across who were performing high-risk work without the relevant licence was quite alarming,” Kirwin said. “As a result, inspectors will be paying extra attention to High Risk Work Licences in all workplaces they visit, and this sector in particular will be closely monitored. We firmly believe that raising the safety awareness of everyone in the workplace is the best way in which to lessen the risk of work-related injury and illness.”

More information on the inspection program can be found via WorkSafe WA’s website.

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