❓ A WA parliamentary question raises concerns about the effectiveness of risk assessment systems in WA's agricultural sector compared to the national average. The Minister acknowledges the concern but defends WA's overall standards.
AnsweredQoN 412Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
AGRICULTURAL PLANT DESIGNER, MANUFACTURER, SUPPLIER AND IMPORTER PROGRAM
I refer to the post-implementation report of the agricultural plant designer, manufacturer, supplier and importer program coordinated by the heads of workplace safety authorities’ farm safety working group. Overall, the report indicated that approximately 40 per cent of Western Australian businesses surveyed had ineffective risk assessment systems, which contrasts sharply with the nation’s average compliance rate of 80 per cent. (1) Can the minister confirm that the standard checklist was used to determine risk assessment findings in each state? (2) Can the minister advise why standards in Western Australia have been allowed to drop so far below that of other states? (3) Can the minister advise what action has been taken to improve Western Australia’s poor risk assessment status? Hon SUE ELLERY
I refer to the post-implementation report of the agricultural plant designer, manufacturer, supplier and importer program coordinated by the heads of workplace safety authorities’ farm safety working group. Overall, the report indicated that approximately 40 per cent of Western Australian businesses surveyed had ineffective risk assessment systems, which contrasts sharply with the nation’s average compliance rate of 80 per cent. (1) Can the minister confirm that the standard checklist was used to determine risk assessment findings in each state? (2) Can the minister advise why standards in Western Australia have been allowed to drop so far below that of other states? (3) Can the minister advise what action has been taken to improve Western Australia’s poor risk assessment status? Hon SUE ELLERY
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. WorkSafe advises - (1) Yes. (2) Evidence of a risk assessment process was one of 12 tables in the report. Making a negative generalisation using the results in one table does not reflect the contents of the report overall. The other 11 tables indicate that Western Australia has high standards against the checklist. (3) Consistent with the aim of continually seeking to improve workplace safety, including in the agriculture sector, WorkSafe will continue to engage industry stakeholders, use education and appropriately enforce the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 and its regulations.
(1) Can the minister confirm that the standard checklist was used to determine risk assessment findings in each state? (2) Can the minister advise why standards in Western Australia have been allowed to drop so far below that of other states? (3) Can the minister advise what action has been taken to improve Western Australia’s poor risk assessment status? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. WorkSafe advises - (1) Yes. (2) Evidence of a risk assessment process was one of 12 tables in the report. Making a negative generalisation using the results in one table does not reflect the contents of the report overall. The other 11 tables indicate that Western Australia has high standards against the checklist. (3) Consistent with the aim of continually seeking to improve workplace safety, including in the agriculture sector, WorkSafe will continue to engage industry stakeholders, use education and appropriately enforce the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 and its regulations.
(2) Can the minister advise why standards in Western Australia have been allowed to drop so far below that of other states? (3) Can the minister advise what action has been taken to improve Western Australia’s poor risk assessment status? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. WorkSafe advises - (1) Yes. (2) Evidence of a risk assessment process was one of 12 tables in the report. Making a negative generalisation using the results in one table does not reflect the contents of the report overall. The other 11 tables indicate that Western Australia has high standards against the checklist. (3) Consistent with the aim of continually seeking to improve workplace safety, including in the agriculture sector, WorkSafe will continue to engage industry stakeholders, use education and appropriately enforce the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 and its regulations.
(3) Can the minister advise what action has been taken to improve Western Australia’s poor risk assessment status? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. WorkSafe advises - (1) Yes. (2) Evidence of a risk assessment process was one of 12 tables in the report. Making a negative generalisation using the results in one table does not reflect the contents of the report overall. The other 11 tables indicate that Western Australia has high standards against the checklist. (3) Consistent with the aim of continually seeking to improve workplace safety, including in the agriculture sector, WorkSafe will continue to engage industry stakeholders, use education and appropriately enforce the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 and its regulations.
Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. WorkSafe advises - (1) Yes. (2) Evidence of a risk assessment process was one of 12 tables in the report. Making a negative generalisation using the results in one table does not reflect the contents of the report overall. The other 11 tables indicate that Western Australia has high standards against the checklist. (3) Consistent with the aim of continually seeking to improve workplace safety, including in the agriculture sector, WorkSafe will continue to engage industry stakeholders, use education and appropriately enforce the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 and its regulations.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. WorkSafe advises - (1) Yes. (2) Evidence of a risk assessment process was one of 12 tables in the report. Making a negative generalisation using the results in one table does not reflect the contents of the report overall. The other 11 tables indicate that Western Australia has high standards against the checklist. (3) Consistent with the aim of continually seeking to improve workplace safety, including in the agriculture sector, WorkSafe will continue to engage industry stakeholders, use education and appropriately enforce the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 and its regulations.
(1) Yes. (2) Evidence of a risk assessment process was one of 12 tables in the report. Making a negative generalisation using the results in one table does not reflect the contents of the report overall. The other 11 tables indicate that Western Australia has high standards against the checklist. (3) Consistent with the aim of continually seeking to improve workplace safety, including in the agriculture sector, WorkSafe will continue to engage industry stakeholders, use education and appropriately enforce the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 and its regulations.
(2) Evidence of a risk assessment process was one of 12 tables in the report. Making a negative generalisation using the results in one table does not reflect the contents of the report overall. The other 11 tables indicate that Western Australia has high standards against the checklist. (3) Consistent with the aim of continually seeking to improve workplace safety, including in the agriculture sector, WorkSafe will continue to engage industry stakeholders, use education and appropriately enforce the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 and its regulations.
(3) Consistent with the aim of continually seeking to improve workplace safety, including in the agriculture sector, WorkSafe will continue to engage industry stakeholders, use education and appropriately enforce the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 and its regulations.
(1) Can the minister confirm that the standard checklist was used to determine risk assessment findings in each state? (2) Can the minister advise why standards in Western Australia have been allowed to drop so far below that of other states? (3) Can the minister advise what action has been taken to improve Western Australia’s poor risk assessment status? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. WorkSafe advises - (1) Yes. (2) Evidence of a risk assessment process was one of 12 tables in the report. Making a negative generalisation using the results in one table does not reflect the contents of the report overall. The other 11 tables indicate that Western Australia has high standards against the checklist. (3) Consistent with the aim of continually seeking to improve workplace safety, including in the agriculture sector, WorkSafe will continue to engage industry stakeholders, use education and appropriately enforce the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 and its regulations.
(2) Can the minister advise why standards in Western Australia have been allowed to drop so far below that of other states? (3) Can the minister advise what action has been taken to improve Western Australia’s poor risk assessment status? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. WorkSafe advises - (1) Yes. (2) Evidence of a risk assessment process was one of 12 tables in the report. Making a negative generalisation using the results in one table does not reflect the contents of the report overall. The other 11 tables indicate that Western Australia has high standards against the checklist. (3) Consistent with the aim of continually seeking to improve workplace safety, including in the agriculture sector, WorkSafe will continue to engage industry stakeholders, use education and appropriately enforce the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 and its regulations.
(3) Can the minister advise what action has been taken to improve Western Australia’s poor risk assessment status? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. WorkSafe advises - (1) Yes. (2) Evidence of a risk assessment process was one of 12 tables in the report. Making a negative generalisation using the results in one table does not reflect the contents of the report overall. The other 11 tables indicate that Western Australia has high standards against the checklist. (3) Consistent with the aim of continually seeking to improve workplace safety, including in the agriculture sector, WorkSafe will continue to engage industry stakeholders, use education and appropriately enforce the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 and its regulations.
Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. WorkSafe advises - (1) Yes. (2) Evidence of a risk assessment process was one of 12 tables in the report. Making a negative generalisation using the results in one table does not reflect the contents of the report overall. The other 11 tables indicate that Western Australia has high standards against the checklist. (3) Consistent with the aim of continually seeking to improve workplace safety, including in the agriculture sector, WorkSafe will continue to engage industry stakeholders, use education and appropriately enforce the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 and its regulations.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. WorkSafe advises - (1) Yes. (2) Evidence of a risk assessment process was one of 12 tables in the report. Making a negative generalisation using the results in one table does not reflect the contents of the report overall. The other 11 tables indicate that Western Australia has high standards against the checklist. (3) Consistent with the aim of continually seeking to improve workplace safety, including in the agriculture sector, WorkSafe will continue to engage industry stakeholders, use education and appropriately enforce the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 and its regulations.
(1) Yes. (2) Evidence of a risk assessment process was one of 12 tables in the report. Making a negative generalisation using the results in one table does not reflect the contents of the report overall. The other 11 tables indicate that Western Australia has high standards against the checklist. (3) Consistent with the aim of continually seeking to improve workplace safety, including in the agriculture sector, WorkSafe will continue to engage industry stakeholders, use education and appropriately enforce the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 and its regulations.
(2) Evidence of a risk assessment process was one of 12 tables in the report. Making a negative generalisation using the results in one table does not reflect the contents of the report overall. The other 11 tables indicate that Western Australia has high standards against the checklist. (3) Consistent with the aim of continually seeking to improve workplace safety, including in the agriculture sector, WorkSafe will continue to engage industry stakeholders, use education and appropriately enforce the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 and its regulations.
(3) Consistent with the aim of continually seeking to improve workplace safety, including in the agriculture sector, WorkSafe will continue to engage industry stakeholders, use education and appropriately enforce the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 and its regulations.
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