24/3/05
Free and confidential occupational safety and health assistance is now available to small businesses thanks to the Gallop Government's commitment to reduce injuries in the Western Australian small business sector.
Available to businesses with less than 20 employees in high-risk industries, the ThinkSafe Small Business Assistance program is an independent and confidential service and does not report on business safety performance to WorkSafe.
The program provides small businesses with a three-hour session with a qualified occupational safety and health professional free of charge.
Consumer and Employment Protection Minister John Kobelke said today that the program aimed to provide expert advice where it was needed most.
"Research has shown that many small businesses are uncertain about how to get started on creating and maintaining a safe workplace, and they could be tempted to take risks due to economic pressure," Mr Kobelke said.
"The research also indicates that small business would be more comfortable receiving advice and information directly from independent professionals and not from Government agencies.
"As a result the Gallop Government has responded by offering this independent assistance program, and I strongly encourage eligible businesses to participate."
Small business employs almost half of the State's workforce, with many operating in industries with high rates of workplace injury, disease and death. It is these high-risk industries that the program would benefit most.
"WorkSafe is working closely with industry associations, accountancy firms and other organisations which provide services to small business so these independent agencies can provide free advice directly to small business," the Minister said.
"The program has proved popular in its first couple of weeks, with applications received from all over Western Australia.
"I would like to stress that the program's focus is on education, not enforcement, so the consultant's visit is confidential and no aspect of the company's actual safety performance is reported to WorkSafe.
"The injury and death toll throughout the small business sector is unacceptably high, and we see this new program as a positive step in assisting small business to reduce the risk of injuries."
The new five-year program builds on the successful ThinkSafe campaign that ran in WA for 10 years.
ThinkSafe was previously an annual mass-media campaign with a broad target, but the new program is targeted where it is needed most, with direct contact with small business.
It is primarily directed at high-risk industry sectors that have significant rates of injury and disease - agriculture, forestry and fishing, construction, health and community services, manufacturing, retail and wholesale and transport and storage.
When a company registers for the program, WorkSafe arranges for an independent occupational safety and health consultant to conduct an assessment of the workplace and prepare a simple safety action plan.
For further information or to apply for assistance telephone 1800 429 273 for an application form or go online at http://www.safetyline.wa.gov.au
Minister's office: 9222 9211
