WorkCover appoints new head of TestSafe Australia

WorkCover NSW has appointed one of its most highly experienced senior managers to head the authority's reorganised TestSafe Australia facilities at Londonderry and Thornleigh.

"The combined expertise of Londonderry and Thornleigh will deliver a more comprehensive OHS testing, certification, research and accident investigation service," said WorkCover acting chief executive officer, John Watson.

The director of the renamed Laboratory and Testing Services Group is Peter Harley, one of WorkCover's longest-serving and highly-qualified managers.

"The changes will provide NSW commerce and industry, as well as overseas clients, with a one-stop shop for OHS testing," Watson said.

In 2005, TestSafe Australia tested equipment for more than 1000 organisations and issued 475 internationally-recognised certificates, enabling NSW manufacturers to either export products or install equipment safely in hazardous locations.

"The new group will continue to trade commercially as TestSafe Australia, but will operate its occupational health monitoring services from Thornleigh and conduct its full range of fire, explosion, mechanical and electrical testing at Londonderry," said Watson.

"WorkCover is working closely with other public sector safety agencies that wish to access the Londonderry facilities. The NSW Fire Brigades, RTA and the Rural Fire Service have already taken up this opportunity," he said.

"TestSafe Thornleigh plays a crucial role in analysing samples of poisons, corrosives, gases and dusts, such as silica and asbestos, and TestSafe Londonderry is internationally recognised as one of the 10 major accreditation and certification bodies to offer benchmarked test reports and certification in world markets.

"Londonderry has mutual agreements with other test facilities in Japan, Italy and South Africa and receives regular visits from overseas de-legations, such as China and India," said Watson.