❓ Hon. Kate Doust questions the Minister for Commerce regarding the classification and investigation of truck driver fatalities, specifically why they are treated as road fatalities rather than workplace fatalities. The Minister clarifies the process of investigation and reporting.
AnsweredQoN 672Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
TRUCK DRIVERS — FATALITIES — WORKSAFE
672. Hon KATE DOUST to the
Minister for Commerce:
I refer the minister
to the fact that truck drivers who get killed on the job are counted as road
fatalities and not workplace fatalities.
(1) Can the minister
please explain why this is the case?
(2) Can the minister
please explain why these workplace incidents are not investigated by WorkSafe?
(3) How many truck drivers have been killed
on the job for the financial year 2013–14 to date?
672. Hon KATE DOUST to the
Minister for Commerce:
I refer the minister
to the fact that truck drivers who get killed on the job are counted as road
fatalities and not workplace fatalities.
(1) Can the minister
please explain why this is the case?
(2) Can the minister
please explain why these workplace incidents are not investigated by WorkSafe?
(3) How many truck drivers have been killed
on the job for the financial year 2013–14 to date?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this
question.
(1)–(2) For road traffic incidents
involving fatalities in Western Australia, the investigating authority is the
major crash unit of Western Australia Police. WorkSafe does not become involved
unless the police decide not to lay charges and formally refer the matter to
WorkSafe after identifying evidence of a potential breach of occupational
safety and health legislation. When referred, the incidents are investigated by
WorkSafe. If breaches of the occupational safety and health laws are identified
by WorkSafe, the incidents are counted in WorkSafe statistics.
(3) As at 24 June 2014, WorkSafe has
recorded three fatalities in 2013–14 in the truck driver occupation
classification. It should be noted that although the occupational category
might be classified as ''truck driver'', a fatality may not
necessarily have occurred when the person was driving a truck.
question.
(1)–(2) For road traffic incidents
involving fatalities in Western Australia, the investigating authority is the
major crash unit of Western Australia Police. WorkSafe does not become involved
unless the police decide not to lay charges and formally refer the matter to
WorkSafe after identifying evidence of a potential breach of occupational
safety and health legislation. When referred, the incidents are investigated by
WorkSafe. If breaches of the occupational safety and health laws are identified
by WorkSafe, the incidents are counted in WorkSafe statistics.
(3) As at 24 June 2014, WorkSafe has
recorded three fatalities in 2013–14 in the truck driver occupation
classification. It should be noted that although the occupational category
might be classified as ''truck driver'', a fatality may not
necessarily have occurred when the person was driving a truck.
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