NSW Government invests in workplace safety

As part of the 2020–21 NSW Budget, funding will be invested into enhancing safety and wellbeing in NSW workplaces, and improving the physical and mental health of all workers in the state.

Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation Kevin Anderson said SafeWork NSW’s annual budget of about $162 million includes funds for more than 330 inspectors who will work with businesses to reduce serious injuries and deaths.

“Our focus is to work with businesses proactively to identify workplace risks early and stamp out unsafe practices before an accident happens,” said Anderson.

The Budget will also continue to fund the Centre for Work Health and Safety, which provides research on innovative methods to improve awareness and mitigation of workplace health and safety risks.

Anderson noted that the Centre has a huge pipeline of innovative projects that will ultimately lead to better policymaking and safety environments for NSW workers.

“SafeWork has been proactive in supporting worker safety, reducing serious injuries rates by more than 30% and workplaces deaths by 25% since 2012. We’ve already come a long way in reducing workplace risks in high-risk industries and the recent recruitment of 37 new inspectors will continue boost safety in businesses,” said Anderson.

In 2020, SafeWork inspectors have conducted over 21,000 workplace field interactions, issuing 7084 improvement notices, 1816 prohibition notices and 386 penalties.

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