[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The McGowan Government have announced they will invest $12.9 million in new initiatives, to enhance workplace health and safety.

As part of this initiative an additional 24 full time equivalent staff, including 21 additional inspectors, will be employed by WorkSafe. This will bring the total number of inspectors to 120 to conduct more safety inspections, enforce workplace safety and provide more education and awareness support.

A new worker safety campaign called Better Worker Safety, which aims to put safety at front of mind and improve workplace safety and health outcomes in Western Australia, will also be developed as part of the McGowan Government’s increased workplace safety initiatives.

To strengthen Western Australia’s workplace safety laws, the McGowan Government will introduce a new Work Health and Safety Bill that will modernise workplace safety laws, better protect workers and hold those responsible for any workplace deaths.

This is a result of significant public concern and from recommendations of two recent Federal reviews – the Boland review and the recent Senate Standing Committee on Education and Employment report.

One of the main features of the legislation is the introduction of two new offences of industrial manslaughter:

• Industrial manslaughter class one: the most serious offence, this includes a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment for an individual conducting or undertaking a business.
• Industrial manslaughter class two: this includes a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment for negligent behaviour.

The new offences will also carry a fine of up to $10 million for a body corporate.

In a joint statement, Premier Mark McGowan and Industrial Relations Minister Bill Johnston said the new Bill would modernise workplace safety laws, better protect workers, and hold those responsible for any workplace deaths to account. Work health and safety laws haven’t been updated since 1984 and are long overdue for change.

Premier Mark McGowan said “The death of one worker is one too many, it’s time we introduce industrial manslaughter laws to make sure Western Australians are protected at work.

“Prison time sends a powerful message, but we don’t want it to come to that.

Source: Govt of WA, 24 August 2019[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]