Dr. Woollard questions the government on WorkSafe's role in monitoring air quality and second-hand smoke in Burswood Casino's high-roller room. Minister Kobelke responds that WorkSafe acts on complaints rather than proactively monitoring, placing responsibility on the employer.

AnsweredQoN 560Legislative Assembly
Asked
21 September 2005
Portfolio
Consumer and Employment Protection

QuestionView source ↗

In relation to Burswood Casino’s new high-roller room - (1) What role will WorkSafe play in the monitoring of passive or second-hand smoke levels and how will it ensure that working conditions meet occupational health and safety standards? (2) In relation to airconditioning reports - (a) when was the last report produced; (b) what was the result; and (c) will they be produced in the future; and, if so, how often? (3) How will the government monitor air quality levels in the future to ensure that casino staff are not put at risk? Mr J.C. KOBELKE

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for this question and some notice of it. (1)-(3) WorkSafe is clearly committed to ensuring that workers are protected from all hazards, including, of course, environmental tobacco smoke. WorkSafe does not participate in monitoring in specified workplaces. It will respond when there is a complaint. Dr J.M. Woollard : They are being ignored. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The member may know nothing about safety in the workplace, but I inform her that the 1988 act, which was based on the Robens principles and put in place by the then Labor government, saw a drastic reduction in deaths in the workplace and a huge reduction in lost-time injuries. The Robens approach is not a highly regulatory one. It expects the employer and the employees to centre on safety in the workplace. The inspectorate and WorkSafe will back that up. If complaints come forward, WorkSafe will follow them up to ensure that the standards that are required are met and that the risks are reduced by the various means that are available. The second part of the question referred to the airconditioning reports. The member may understand from what I have said that WorkSafe does not receive those reports. The company has responsibility for these reports to ascertain whether it is meeting its responsibilities for the safety of its employees. If anyone has a complaint, it will be pursued by WorkSafe to ensure that the requirements are met for the safety of those employees.
(1) What role will WorkSafe play in the monitoring of passive or second-hand smoke levels and how will it ensure that working conditions meet occupational health and safety standards? (2) In relation to airconditioning reports - (a) when was the last report produced; (b) what was the result; and (c) will they be produced in the future; and, if so, how often? (3) How will the government monitor air quality levels in the future to ensure that casino staff are not put at risk? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for this question and some notice of it. (1)-(3) WorkSafe is clearly committed to ensuring that workers are protected from all hazards, including, of course, environmental tobacco smoke. WorkSafe does not participate in monitoring in specified workplaces. It will respond when there is a complaint. Dr J.M. Woollard : They are being ignored. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The member may know nothing about safety in the workplace, but I inform her that the 1988 act, which was based on the Robens principles and put in place by the then Labor government, saw a drastic reduction in deaths in the workplace and a huge reduction in lost-time injuries. The Robens approach is not a highly regulatory one. It expects the employer and the employees to centre on safety in the workplace. The inspectorate and WorkSafe will back that up. If complaints come forward, WorkSafe will follow them up to ensure that the standards that are required are met and that the risks are reduced by the various means that are available. The second part of the question referred to the airconditioning reports. The member may understand from what I have said that WorkSafe does not receive those reports. The company has responsibility for these reports to ascertain whether it is meeting its responsibilities for the safety of its employees. If anyone has a complaint, it will be pursued by WorkSafe to ensure that the requirements are met for the safety of those employees.
(2) In relation to airconditioning reports - (a) when was the last report produced; (b) what was the result; and (c) will they be produced in the future; and, if so, how often? (3) How will the government monitor air quality levels in the future to ensure that casino staff are not put at risk? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for this question and some notice of it. (1)-(3) WorkSafe is clearly committed to ensuring that workers are protected from all hazards, including, of course, environmental tobacco smoke. WorkSafe does not participate in monitoring in specified workplaces. It will respond when there is a complaint. Dr J.M. Woollard : They are being ignored. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The member may know nothing about safety in the workplace, but I inform her that the 1988 act, which was based on the Robens principles and put in place by the then Labor government, saw a drastic reduction in deaths in the workplace and a huge reduction in lost-time injuries. The Robens approach is not a highly regulatory one. It expects the employer and the employees to centre on safety in the workplace. The inspectorate and WorkSafe will back that up. If complaints come forward, WorkSafe will follow them up to ensure that the standards that are required are met and that the risks are reduced by the various means that are available. The second part of the question referred to the airconditioning reports. The member may understand from what I have said that WorkSafe does not receive those reports. The company has responsibility for these reports to ascertain whether it is meeting its responsibilities for the safety of its employees. If anyone has a complaint, it will be pursued by WorkSafe to ensure that the requirements are met for the safety of those employees.
(a) when was the last report produced; (b) what was the result; and (c) will they be produced in the future; and, if so, how often? (3) How will the government monitor air quality levels in the future to ensure that casino staff are not put at risk? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for this question and some notice of it. (1)-(3) WorkSafe is clearly committed to ensuring that workers are protected from all hazards, including, of course, environmental tobacco smoke. WorkSafe does not participate in monitoring in specified workplaces. It will respond when there is a complaint. Dr J.M. Woollard : They are being ignored. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The member may know nothing about safety in the workplace, but I inform her that the 1988 act, which was based on the Robens principles and put in place by the then Labor government, saw a drastic reduction in deaths in the workplace and a huge reduction in lost-time injuries. The Robens approach is not a highly regulatory one. It expects the employer and the employees to centre on safety in the workplace. The inspectorate and WorkSafe will back that up. If complaints come forward, WorkSafe will follow them up to ensure that the standards that are required are met and that the risks are reduced by the various means that are available. The second part of the question referred to the airconditioning reports. The member may understand from what I have said that WorkSafe does not receive those reports. The company has responsibility for these reports to ascertain whether it is meeting its responsibilities for the safety of its employees. If anyone has a complaint, it will be pursued by WorkSafe to ensure that the requirements are met for the safety of those employees.
(b) what was the result; and (c) will they be produced in the future; and, if so, how often? (3) How will the government monitor air quality levels in the future to ensure that casino staff are not put at risk? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for this question and some notice of it. (1)-(3) WorkSafe is clearly committed to ensuring that workers are protected from all hazards, including, of course, environmental tobacco smoke. WorkSafe does not participate in monitoring in specified workplaces. It will respond when there is a complaint. Dr J.M. Woollard : They are being ignored. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The member may know nothing about safety in the workplace, but I inform her that the 1988 act, which was based on the Robens principles and put in place by the then Labor government, saw a drastic reduction in deaths in the workplace and a huge reduction in lost-time injuries. The Robens approach is not a highly regulatory one. It expects the employer and the employees to centre on safety in the workplace. The inspectorate and WorkSafe will back that up. If complaints come forward, WorkSafe will follow them up to ensure that the standards that are required are met and that the risks are reduced by the various means that are available. The second part of the question referred to the airconditioning reports. The member may understand from what I have said that WorkSafe does not receive those reports. The company has responsibility for these reports to ascertain whether it is meeting its responsibilities for the safety of its employees. If anyone has a complaint, it will be pursued by WorkSafe to ensure that the requirements are met for the safety of those employees.
(c) will they be produced in the future; and, if so, how often? (3) How will the government monitor air quality levels in the future to ensure that casino staff are not put at risk? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for this question and some notice of it. (1)-(3) WorkSafe is clearly committed to ensuring that workers are protected from all hazards, including, of course, environmental tobacco smoke. WorkSafe does not participate in monitoring in specified workplaces. It will respond when there is a complaint. Dr J.M. Woollard : They are being ignored. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The member may know nothing about safety in the workplace, but I inform her that the 1988 act, which was based on the Robens principles and put in place by the then Labor government, saw a drastic reduction in deaths in the workplace and a huge reduction in lost-time injuries. The Robens approach is not a highly regulatory one. It expects the employer and the employees to centre on safety in the workplace. The inspectorate and WorkSafe will back that up. If complaints come forward, WorkSafe will follow them up to ensure that the standards that are required are met and that the risks are reduced by the various means that are available. The second part of the question referred to the airconditioning reports. The member may understand from what I have said that WorkSafe does not receive those reports. The company has responsibility for these reports to ascertain whether it is meeting its responsibilities for the safety of its employees. If anyone has a complaint, it will be pursued by WorkSafe to ensure that the requirements are met for the safety of those employees.
(3) How will the government monitor air quality levels in the future to ensure that casino staff are not put at risk? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for this question and some notice of it. (1)-(3) WorkSafe is clearly committed to ensuring that workers are protected from all hazards, including, of course, environmental tobacco smoke. WorkSafe does not participate in monitoring in specified workplaces. It will respond when there is a complaint. Dr J.M. Woollard : They are being ignored. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The member may know nothing about safety in the workplace, but I inform her that the 1988 act, which was based on the Robens principles and put in place by the then Labor government, saw a drastic reduction in deaths in the workplace and a huge reduction in lost-time injuries. The Robens approach is not a highly regulatory one. It expects the employer and the employees to centre on safety in the workplace. The inspectorate and WorkSafe will back that up. If complaints come forward, WorkSafe will follow them up to ensure that the standards that are required are met and that the risks are reduced by the various means that are available. The second part of the question referred to the airconditioning reports. The member may understand from what I have said that WorkSafe does not receive those reports. The company has responsibility for these reports to ascertain whether it is meeting its responsibilities for the safety of its employees. If anyone has a complaint, it will be pursued by WorkSafe to ensure that the requirements are met for the safety of those employees.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for this question and some notice of it. (1)-(3) WorkSafe is clearly committed to ensuring that workers are protected from all hazards, including, of course, environmental tobacco smoke. WorkSafe does not participate in monitoring in specified workplaces. It will respond when there is a complaint. Dr J.M. Woollard : They are being ignored. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The member may know nothing about safety in the workplace, but I inform her that the 1988 act, which was based on the Robens principles and put in place by the then Labor government, saw a drastic reduction in deaths in the workplace and a huge reduction in lost-time injuries. The Robens approach is not a highly regulatory one. It expects the employer and the employees to centre on safety in the workplace. The inspectorate and WorkSafe will back that up. If complaints come forward, WorkSafe will follow them up to ensure that the standards that are required are met and that the risks are reduced by the various means that are available. The second part of the question referred to the airconditioning reports. The member may understand from what I have said that WorkSafe does not receive those reports. The company has responsibility for these reports to ascertain whether it is meeting its responsibilities for the safety of its employees. If anyone has a complaint, it will be pursued by WorkSafe to ensure that the requirements are met for the safety of those employees.
I thank the member for this question and some notice of it. (1)-(3) WorkSafe is clearly committed to ensuring that workers are protected from all hazards, including, of course, environmental tobacco smoke. WorkSafe does not participate in monitoring in specified workplaces. It will respond when there is a complaint. Dr J.M. Woollard : They are being ignored. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The member may know nothing about safety in the workplace, but I inform her that the 1988 act, which was based on the Robens principles and put in place by the then Labor government, saw a drastic reduction in deaths in the workplace and a huge reduction in lost-time injuries. The Robens approach is not a highly regulatory one. It expects the employer and the employees to centre on safety in the workplace. The inspectorate and WorkSafe will back that up. If complaints come forward, WorkSafe will follow them up to ensure that the standards that are required are met and that the risks are reduced by the various means that are available. The second part of the question referred to the airconditioning reports. The member may understand from what I have said that WorkSafe does not receive those reports. The company has responsibility for these reports to ascertain whether it is meeting its responsibilities for the safety of its employees. If anyone has a complaint, it will be pursued by WorkSafe to ensure that the requirements are met for the safety of those employees.
(1)-(3) WorkSafe is clearly committed to ensuring that workers are protected from all hazards, including, of course, environmental tobacco smoke. WorkSafe does not participate in monitoring in specified workplaces. It will respond when there is a complaint. Dr J.M. Woollard : They are being ignored. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The member may know nothing about safety in the workplace, but I inform her that the 1988 act, which was based on the Robens principles and put in place by the then Labor government, saw a drastic reduction in deaths in the workplace and a huge reduction in lost-time injuries. The Robens approach is not a highly regulatory one. It expects the employer and the employees to centre on safety in the workplace. The inspectorate and WorkSafe will back that up. If complaints come forward, WorkSafe will follow them up to ensure that the standards that are required are met and that the risks are reduced by the various means that are available. The second part of the question referred to the airconditioning reports. The member may understand from what I have said that WorkSafe does not receive those reports. The company has responsibility for these reports to ascertain whether it is meeting its responsibilities for the safety of its employees. If anyone has a complaint, it will be pursued by WorkSafe to ensure that the requirements are met for the safety of those employees.
Dr J.M. Woollard : They are being ignored. Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The member may know nothing about safety in the workplace, but I inform her that the 1988 act, which was based on the Robens principles and put in place by the then Labor government, saw a drastic reduction in deaths in the workplace and a huge reduction in lost-time injuries. The Robens approach is not a highly regulatory one. It expects the employer and the employees to centre on safety in the workplace. The inspectorate and WorkSafe will back that up. If complaints come forward, WorkSafe will follow them up to ensure that the standards that are required are met and that the risks are reduced by the various means that are available. The second part of the question referred to the airconditioning reports. The member may understand from what I have said that WorkSafe does not receive those reports. The company has responsibility for these reports to ascertain whether it is meeting its responsibilities for the safety of its employees. If anyone has a complaint, it will be pursued by WorkSafe to ensure that the requirements are met for the safety of those employees.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE : The member may know nothing about safety in the workplace, but I inform her that the 1988 act, which was based on the Robens principles and put in place by the then Labor government, saw a drastic reduction in deaths in the workplace and a huge reduction in lost-time injuries. The Robens approach is not a highly regulatory one. It expects the employer and the employees to centre on safety in the workplace. The inspectorate and WorkSafe will back that up. If complaints come forward, WorkSafe will follow them up to ensure that the standards that are required are met and that the risks are reduced by the various means that are available. The second part of the question referred to the airconditioning reports. The member may understand from what I have said that WorkSafe does not receive those reports. The company has responsibility for these reports to ascertain whether it is meeting its responsibilities for the safety of its employees. If anyone has a complaint, it will be pursued by WorkSafe to ensure that the requirements are met for the safety of those employees.
The second part of the question referred to the airconditioning reports. The member may understand from what I have said that WorkSafe does not receive those reports. The company has responsibility for these reports to ascertain whether it is meeting its responsibilities for the safety of its employees. If anyone has a complaint, it will be pursued by WorkSafe to ensure that the requirements are met for the safety of those employees.

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