Free assistance in safety management for WA's small businesses

9/5/05
The Gallop Government's program developed by WorkSafe, to assist Western Australia's small businesses with safety management, has proved to be a big hit.
Consumer and Employment Protection Minister John Kobelke said the ThinkSafe Small Business Assistance Program had attracted significant interest because it was not only free, but well targeted to small businesses which felt they needed help.
"Small business employs almost half of WA's workforce, and research indicates many small businesses are uncertain about how to get started on creating a safe and healthy workplace for their employees," Mr Kobelke said.
"This ThinkSafe program is focused squarely on education - not enforcement - and the consultant's visit is confidential with no aspect of the company's actual safety performance reported back to WorkSafe.
"A lot of WA's small businesses operate in industries with high rates of death, injury and disease, so the new program is a positive step in helping reduce workplace risks."
The Minister said when a company registered for the program, WorkSafe arranged for an independent occupational safety and health consultant to conduct an assessment of the workplace and prepare a simple safety action plan.
"It is primarily directed at those high-risk industry sectors that have significant rates of injury and disease - like agriculture, forestry and fishing, construction, health and community services, manufacturing, storage, wholesale, transport and retail," Mr Kobelke said.
"Since the program began, applications have been received from all over the State - from Esperance to Kununurra.
"I encourage small business employers with fewer than 20 employees to take advantage of this terrific opportunity to improve safety and health management, because of the benefits a safe workplace provides - both in human and financial terms.
"The Gallop Government is committed to creating safer communities and ensuring workplaces are safer and healthier is a key part of the strategy."
To apply for assistance, under the ThinkSafe Small Business Assistance Program, eligible businesses should seek an application form through WorkSafe's Hazard Hotline on 1800 429 273 or download it from the website at http://www.safetyline.wa.gov.au
Minister's Office - 9222 9211