Page 3271 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 21 August 2018
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Young workers and apprentices have been identified as an area of particular concern in terms of safety. WorkSafe ACT has been undertaking a dedicated campaign on apprentices and young workers, which has included on-site inspections and engaging with this part of the workforce. As part of this campaign, a new inspector position at WorkSafe ACT has also been established to specifically focus on apprentices.
Young workers and apprentices are vulnerable in the workplace because they are more likely to be unfamiliar with their rights at work. It can be intimidating for someone who is new to the workplace and eager to keep their job to raise a safety concern. The government is focusing on how we can best inform young workers about their rights and empower them to raise safety issues at work.
The 2018-19 budget allocated $470,000 over the next four years to establish a young workers advice service. This service will assist young workers with understanding their rights and protections at work by providing a free, anonymous way to obtain territory-specific advice from a trusted source. When young workers and apprentices get the support they need, they are better equipped and more confident about speaking up about the safety of themselves and others at work.
I am pleased to reiterate that, as part of our multifaceted approach to improving workplace safety, the government has commissioned an independent review of the territory’s work health and safety compliance infrastructure, policies and procedures. The review is considering WorkSafe ACT’s compliance framework, governance structure, organisational structure, and its collection, use and analysis of data. This will help us to ensure that the territory is obtaining the maximum benefits from its investment in work health and safety regulatory activities.
I am aware that the independent review team has consulted widely with key stakeholders in compiling its report, which I am expecting to receive in September. As the Assembly knows, this government values stakeholder input. The Work Safety Council, a tripartite ministerial advisory body with an equal number of employee and employer representatives, continues to advise me on work safety and workers compensation developments and initiatives. This year it has had a particular focus on apprentices and young workers, occupational violence and construction safety. As part of this focus, subject-specific subcommittees have been established to give these areas the attention they need.
The apprentice and young workers safety advisory subcommittee recently provided me with a report which suggests ways to improve health and safety outcomes for young workers. The construction safety advisory subcommittee has considered legislative reforms and has also drafted a safety strategy to improve the industry through to 2022. The occupational violence advisory subcommittee is working to empower health and safety representatives in hospitals and schools to work with employers to ensure adequate safety systems are in place. These are some of the ways in which the government continues to take into account the views of stakeholders in addressing both ongoing and emerging issues in work health and safety.
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