❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice addresses WorkSafe's handling of safety complaints and inspections at Curtin University, particularly following a workplace fatality on 13 October 2020. The response details the number of complaints, dates received, actions taken, and inspections conducted, revealing multiple verbal directions issued to construction companies.
AnsweredQoN 1118Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
WORKSAFE — CURTIN
UNIVERSITY — FATALITY
1118. Hon PETER COLLIER to the minister representing the
Minister for Industrial Relations:
I refer to the workplace accident
at Curtin University on 13 October 2020.
(1) In the past
12 months, how many safety complaints has WorkSafe received about Curtin
University?
(2) On what dates were the complaints received?
(3) What action did WorkSafe take regarding each complaint?
(4) How many
inspections has WorkSafe conducted at the site in the past 12 months, and what
action was taken in each case?
UNIVERSITY — FATALITY
1118. Hon PETER COLLIER to the minister representing the
Minister for Industrial Relations:
I refer to the workplace accident
at Curtin University on 13 October 2020.
(1) In the past
12 months, how many safety complaints has WorkSafe received about Curtin
University?
(2) On what dates were the complaints received?
(3) What action did WorkSafe take regarding each complaint?
(4) How many
inspections has WorkSafe conducted at the site in the past 12 months, and what
action was taken in each case?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question. The following
information has been provided by the Minister for Industrial Relations.
(1)–(2)
One, on 20 March 2020, which did not concern any building project at Curtin
University. However, if the provisions of the Work Health and Safety Bill 2019
concerning a person conducting a business or undertaking were to be applied, in
answering the minister's question, there would be a second one from 13 October
2020.
(3) In respect
of the complaint received on 20 March 2020 from a Curtin University worker,
WorkSafe examined the complaint in line with
the criteria for investigation and determined that no action was required . In respect of the second complaint, were the
provisions of the PCBUs to be applied, WorkSafe immediately attended the
scene and is currently investigating the incident as a matter of priority to
determine what occurred and whether relevant duty holders have met their
obligations under the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984.
(4) WorkSafe
has conducted seven inspections at the Curtin University campus over the past
12 months. During five of the seven inspections, verbal directions were issued
regarding identified breaches of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984
and its accompanying regulations, which were required to be immediately fixed
and inspected prior to the WorkSafe inspector leaving the site.
The
actions taken in each case are as follows. On 17 December 2019, a WorkSafe
inspector issued three verbal directions to Probuild Constructions
(Aust) Pty Ltd. On 18 February 2020, a WorkSafe inspector issued three verbal
directions to Lendlease Building Contractors Pty Ltd. On 6 March 2020, a WorkSafe inspector conducted an inspection and
did not identify any breaches of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 by Curtin University.
Accordingly, no enforcement action was undertaken. On 15 June 2020, a WorkSafe
inspector issued seven verbal directions to Lendlease Building Contractors Pty Ltd. On 19 June 2020, a WorkSafe inspector
conducted an inspection and did not identify any breaches of the
Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 by Probuild Australia. Accordingly, no
enforcement action was undertaken. On 19 August 2020, a WorkSafe inspector
issued nine verbal directions to Probuild Constructions (Aust) Pty Ltd. On 22
September 2020, a WorkSafe inspector issued 12 verbal directions to Probuild
Constructions (Aust) Pty Ltd.
In addition, were the provisions
concerning PCBUs to be applied in answering the member's question, on
13 October, WorkSafe took possession of the site to undertake its inspection
activities for the purposes of an investigation in relation to multiple duty
holders.
information has been provided by the Minister for Industrial Relations.
(1)–(2)
One, on 20 March 2020, which did not concern any building project at Curtin
University. However, if the provisions of the Work Health and Safety Bill 2019
concerning a person conducting a business or undertaking were to be applied, in
answering the minister's question, there would be a second one from 13 October
2020.
(3) In respect
of the complaint received on 20 March 2020 from a Curtin University worker,
WorkSafe examined the complaint in line with
the criteria for investigation and determined that no action was required . In respect of the second complaint, were the
provisions of the PCBUs to be applied, WorkSafe immediately attended the
scene and is currently investigating the incident as a matter of priority to
determine what occurred and whether relevant duty holders have met their
obligations under the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984.
(4) WorkSafe
has conducted seven inspections at the Curtin University campus over the past
12 months. During five of the seven inspections, verbal directions were issued
regarding identified breaches of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984
and its accompanying regulations, which were required to be immediately fixed
and inspected prior to the WorkSafe inspector leaving the site.
The
actions taken in each case are as follows. On 17 December 2019, a WorkSafe
inspector issued three verbal directions to Probuild Constructions
(Aust) Pty Ltd. On 18 February 2020, a WorkSafe inspector issued three verbal
directions to Lendlease Building Contractors Pty Ltd. On 6 March 2020, a WorkSafe inspector conducted an inspection and
did not identify any breaches of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 by Curtin University.
Accordingly, no enforcement action was undertaken. On 15 June 2020, a WorkSafe
inspector issued seven verbal directions to Lendlease Building Contractors Pty Ltd. On 19 June 2020, a WorkSafe inspector
conducted an inspection and did not identify any breaches of the
Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 by Probuild Australia. Accordingly, no
enforcement action was undertaken. On 19 August 2020, a WorkSafe inspector
issued nine verbal directions to Probuild Constructions (Aust) Pty Ltd. On 22
September 2020, a WorkSafe inspector issued 12 verbal directions to Probuild
Constructions (Aust) Pty Ltd.
In addition, were the provisions
concerning PCBUs to be applied in answering the member's question, on
13 October, WorkSafe took possession of the site to undertake its inspection
activities for the purposes of an investigation in relation to multiple duty
holders.
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