South Australia’s primary work health and safety (WHS) body, SafeWork SA, has ramped up compliance notices at the state’s workplaces.
The regulator increased actions on all forms of noncompliance over the 2023–2024 financial year (FY24) across a range of industries, including mining.
A breakdown of the notices issued to SA businesses in comparison with the previous year is as follows:
- 6021 statutory notices issued – up 57 per cent and the highest in 10 years
- 6813 work site inspections – up 33 per cent
- 4456 improvement notices – up 67 per cent
- 995 prohibition notices – up 63 per cent
High-risk practices were particularly under the watchdog’s eye, with 317 notices issued around respirable crystalline silica and 315 notices issued around vehicle hoists.
“Our performance during the 2023–2024 financial year is defined by achievement,” SafeWork SA executive director Glenn Farrell said.
“We clamped down on businesses with a poor compliance history, increased the number of workplace inspections, ran educational activities and expanded staff training.
“I’m proud of our work to introduce new legislation, including to address the rapidly emerging issue of psychological injuries.
“We will build on our successes to create a safer future for all South Australia’s workers.”
The regulator revealed the top three reasons for issuing a prohibition notices in FY24:
- Managing risks of falls – 424
- Maintenance of plant – 229
- Inadequate machine guarding – 58
SafeWork SA came down hard on serious offenders across the financial year, successfully prosecuting seven businesses which resulted in fines totalling $858,000.
Five business agreed to an enforceable undertaking as a legally binding alternative to prosecution which saw them provide a total of $1.9 million towards safety education, training and support across industries.
More than 280 educational and advisory activities were undertaken to help businesses reduce risks and included site visits, regional events, presentations on psychosocial hazards and mock courts.
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