Workers will be better protected thanks to a new safety plan that aims to reduce injuries and fatalities in the manufacturing sector, Minister for Better Regulation Matt Kean said.
Mr Kean said manufacturing is one of the state’s highest risk industries, and employs more than 240,000 workers.
“The manufacturing sector is one of the state’s most significant industries, producing a wide range of goods and injecting thousands of vital jobs into the economy,” Mr Kean said.
“However, from July 2013 to July 2016 there were almost 41,000 workers compensation claims, and tragically there were 24 fatalities.”
Claims over work-related injuries, diseases and fatalities also cost the compensation system $558 million over the same period.
“The rate of injury remains far too high, and that’s exactly why we’re launching a new safety plan to help protect every worker across this important sector,” Mr Kean said.
Mr Kean said SafeWork NSW would kick start the plan alongside manufacturing businesses, employers, workers, industry associations, and worker representatives.
“Together they will explore ideas and opportunities for simple and practical safety solutions that reduce or eliminate the most common types of injuries,” Mr Kean said.
This will include workgroups to guide industry in managing key risks, developing tools like manuals and fact sheets to make compliance simpler, as well as forklift and machine safety blitz’s to ensure workplaces have proper safeguards in place.
“Our priority is to make sure every worker who heads off to work in the morning, returns home safely to their family each night,” Mr Kean said.
Source: WorkSafe NSW, 9 May 2018
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