Minister details Government action on workplace safety and health

29/8/03
Employment Protection Minister John Kobelke has confirmed that a specialist WorkSafe inspector has been flown to Western Australia's North-West, to assist mine safety experts investigating the death of a 28-year-old man at Cape Lambert yesterday.
Mr Kobelke said the worker was killed on a demolition site at Robe River Associates processing facility.
"The Gallop Government takes occupational safety and health very seriously, and one workplace fatality is one fatality too many," he said.
"The incident that claimed the man's life is being investigated by the Government's district mining engineer and another mines safety expert, assisted by a senior WorkSafe inspector with expertise in demolition projects."
The Minister said the Government would appoint 20 additional WorkSafe inspectors over the next three years, at a cost of $6.6million, and eight of those extra inspectors would be employed this year.
Four of the new inspectors would be assigned to the Building and Construction Industry.
"WorkSafe gives special attention to the building and construction industry, with approximately 25 per cent of its inspectors allocated to the industry despite the fact it employs less than 10 per cent of the State's workforce," Mr Kobelke said.
"I have also conducted specialist reviews of crane operations and the tilt-up construction industry that will lead to improved regulation and training.
"Following the tragic incident at Myaree last September that claimed the life of Mr Des Kelsh, I was concerned about the registration of the company that employed him.
"I referred the issue of the suitability of that company, to hold a builders licence, to the Builders' Registration Board.
"As a result, a hearing has been under way this week into Devcon and its director, Sven Tobiassen."
Mr Kobelke said the Builders' Registration Board was an independent body and he had no power to intervene in its inquiries.
"WorkSafe is giving consideration to prosecutions, under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, flowing from the fatal incident at Myaree," the Minister said.
Minister's Office - 9222 9211