❓ A WA parliamentary question highlights concerns about WorkSafe inspector presence in the Pilbara, particularly Port Hedland, given significant construction and mining activity. The response indicates limited resources and a risk-based approach to inspections.
AnsweredQoN 1525Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) How many Full Time Equivalent (FTE) WorkSafe Inspectors were available in the Pilbara area as at 7 September 2009 to respond to reports of unsafe workplaces in the region?
(2) How many of those are based in Port Hedland?
(3) Why are FTE WorkSafe Inspectors not based in Port Hedland in order to be able to quickly respond to the unsafe work practices of some companies operating in the region?
(4) With BHP Billiton's seven billion dollar RGP5 underway, extensive residential and commercial developments and constructions progressing, will the Minister consider increasing the number of FTE WorkSafe inspectors to Port Hedland?
(5) Is there a policy set timeframe for an inspector to visit a worksite once a concern about an unsafe practice has been reported to WorkSafe; and
(a) if not, why not; and
(b) if yes, what is the response time?
(6) How many reports of unsafe workplace incidents/environments have been reported to Worksafe in the Port Hedland area from 30 June 2009 to 9 September 2009; and
(a) how many of those have been visited by a WorkSafe inspector;
(b) how many are still yet to be inspected; and
(c) what are the length of wait times experienced in each case?
(7) How many work improvement notices were issued by WorkSafe in the Port Hedland area in the last 12 months?
(2) How many of those are based in Port Hedland?
(3) Why are FTE WorkSafe Inspectors not based in Port Hedland in order to be able to quickly respond to the unsafe work practices of some companies operating in the region?
(4) With BHP Billiton's seven billion dollar RGP5 underway, extensive residential and commercial developments and constructions progressing, will the Minister consider increasing the number of FTE WorkSafe inspectors to Port Hedland?
(5) Is there a policy set timeframe for an inspector to visit a worksite once a concern about an unsafe practice has been reported to WorkSafe; and
(a) if not, why not; and
(b) if yes, what is the response time?
(6) How many reports of unsafe workplace incidents/environments have been reported to Worksafe in the Port Hedland area from 30 June 2009 to 9 September 2009; and
(a) how many of those have been visited by a WorkSafe inspector;
(b) how many are still yet to be inspected; and
(c) what are the length of wait times experienced in each case?
(7) How many work improvement notices were issued by WorkSafe in the Port Hedland area in the last 12 months?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
15 October 2009
Responded by
Minister for Commerce
Response time
29 days
(1) One.
(2) None.
(3) & (4) WorkSafe inspector resources are allocated based on operational need. Port Hedland is serviced by inspectors from Karratha or Perth. There are no plans to locate a WorkSafe inspector in Port Hedland on a permanent basis.
(5) (a)-(b) A WorkSafe response does not involve an inspector visit in all instances. Team managers make a decision about an appropriate response and response timeframe on a case by case basis.
(6) Eight (including South Hedland).
(a) One.
(b) WorkSafe does not visit every site which is the subject of an unsafe work report. A WorkSafe response to a report may also be in the form of a telephone or email investigation.
(c) WorkSafe response times for the eight reports are:
Investigation
Response Time
1
1 business day
2
Same day
3
2 business days
4
24 business days
5
12 business days
6
Same day
7
7 business days
8
Same day
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(2) None.
(3) & (4) WorkSafe inspector resources are allocated based on operational need. Port Hedland is serviced by inspectors from Karratha or Perth. There are no plans to locate a WorkSafe inspector in Port Hedland on a permanent basis.
(5) (a)-(b) A WorkSafe response does not involve an inspector visit in all instances. Team managers make a decision about an appropriate response and response timeframe on a case by case basis.
(6) Eight (including South Hedland).
(a) One.
(b) WorkSafe does not visit every site which is the subject of an unsafe work report. A WorkSafe response to a report may also be in the form of a telephone or email investigation.
(c) WorkSafe response times for the eight reports are:
Investigation
Response Time
1
1 business day
2
Same day
3
2 business days
4
24 business days
5
12 business days
6
Same day
7
7 business days
8
Same day
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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