❓ Hon Kate Doust questions the Commerce portfolio regarding WorkSafe inspector shortages and their potential impact on various operational aspects. The Minister's response generally downplays the impact of vacancies.
AnsweredQoN 967Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the ongoing shortage of WorkSafe Inspectors, and I ask: (a) how many inspectors leave the department annually; (b) what efforts are being made to fill/recruit vacant positions; (c) what is being done to maintain the Inspectorate at the optimum staffing level; (d) will ongoing WorkSafe vacancies mean that the directorates will not be able to: (i) complete their anticipated project work; (ii) progress identified industry sectors and hazards for attention; and (iii) conduct proposed intervention programs; and (e) what impact will the current level of vacancies have on the capacity of WorkSafe directorates to: (i) carry out proactive projects; (ii) respond to employee and public notification of workplace occupational health and safety issues; and (iii) monitor workplace compliance with issued enforcement actions?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
6 May 2014
Responded by
Minister for Commerce
Response time
47 days
(a) The number of inspectors leaving the Department varies from year to year due to a variety of reasons, which includes retirement and leaving Government.
(b) & (c) WorkSafe undertakes regular recruitment activities to fill vacancies and has put in place a number of strategies to retain inspectors.
(d) It is not anticipated that inspector vacancies will:
(i) impact project work;
(ii) affect work on industry sectors or hazards; or
(iii) impact the conduct of proposed intervention programs.
(e) (i) Future projects are determined on the basis of expected resource levels and consequently no impact is envisaged.
(ii) The level of employee and public notifications is outside of WorkSafe's control and varies from time to time. However, based on historic trends it is not anticipated that the current level of vacancies will impact WorkSafe's capacity to respond.
(iii) It is not expected to have any impact on WorkSafe's monitoring of compliance with issued enforcement actions.
(b) & (c) WorkSafe undertakes regular recruitment activities to fill vacancies and has put in place a number of strategies to retain inspectors.
(d) It is not anticipated that inspector vacancies will:
(i) impact project work;
(ii) affect work on industry sectors or hazards; or
(iii) impact the conduct of proposed intervention programs.
(e) (i) Future projects are determined on the basis of expected resource levels and consequently no impact is envisaged.
(ii) The level of employee and public notifications is outside of WorkSafe's control and varies from time to time. However, based on historic trends it is not anticipated that the current level of vacancies will impact WorkSafe's capacity to respond.
(iii) It is not expected to have any impact on WorkSafe's monitoring of compliance with issued enforcement actions.
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