WorkSafe inspectors target Melton small businesses

Small businesses in Melton will be targeted between 2-6 August 2010 as part of WorkSafe Victoria’s Safer Work Zones campaign, which focuses on small business safety.

“This is a chance for small businesses in Melton to sit down with their workers, identify any safety issues and work out what can be done to eliminate them - before they’re visited by inspectors,” Manufacturing and Logistics Director Ross Pilkington said.

“We’d recommend that businesses concentrate on basic safety issues - sort out your housekeeping, make sure electrical equipment is tested and tagged, and check your first aid amenities.”

Workplaces will also be visited by Return to Work inspectors, who will check that workplaces have a return-to-work plan in place for injured workers who are off work for more than 20 days, and are able to provide suitable work.

“In the 2009/10 financial year, WorkSafe issued nearly 2500 legal notices under this campaign,” Pilkington continued. “That being said, we’re not out to get anyone - we’ll be giving businesses we’re planning to visit prior notice that we’re coming and guidance on the sorts of safety issues we’ll be looking for.”

Information packs are distributed to small businesses prior to inspections, to encourage them to make safety improvements, including the '12 ways to make small business safer' publication (also available on WorkSafe Victoria’s website).

In the five years to the end of June 2009, Melton recorded 728 claims as a result of workplace injury or illness. The total cost of these claims came to $14.95 million.