WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1986
4
REGULATIONS INITIALLY APPLY ONLY TO CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
*****
THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (SAFETY OFFICERS AND SAFETY SUPERVISORS) REGULATIONS 1986 WOULD INITIALLY APPLY ONLY TO THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY BUT COULD BE EXTENDED TO OTHER INDUSTRIES IF NECESSARY, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON RON BRIDGE SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MOVING A RESOLUTION THAT THE REGULATIONS BE APPROVED, MR BRIDGE SAID A PRINCIPAL CONTRACTOR OR A SPECIALIST CONTRACTOR WOULD BE REQUIRED TO EMPLOY ONE REGISTERED SAFETY OFFICER FULL-TIME IF HE EMPLOYED 200 OR MORE PEOPLE ON A CONSTRUCTION SITE OR SITES, AND TO EMPLOY ONE SAFETY SUPERVISOR ON EACH CONSTRUCTION SITE ON WHICH HE EMPLOYED 20 OR MORE WORKERS.
J
A SAFETY OFFICER, HELPED BY A SAFETY SUPERVISOR WHERE APPROPRIATE, WOULD ASSIST THE PROPRIETOR IN PROMOTING THE SAFETY AND HEALTH OF THOSE EMPLOYED.
HIS DUTIES WOULD INCLUDE INSPECTING PLANTS AND EQUIPMENT TO IDENTIFY SAFETY RISKS, ADVISING ON PREVENTIVE MEASURES, MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS ON ACCIDENT PREVENTION AND INVESTIGATING ACCIDENTS AND DANGEROUS OCCURRENCES.
AS FOR THE SAFETY SUPERVISOR, HIS DUTIES WOULD BE TO ADVISE ON SAFETY STANDARDS FOR WORKERS, SUPERVISE THE OBSERVANCE OF SUCH STANDARDS AND PROMOTE SAFETY AT WORK.
UNDER THE REGULATIONS, THE PROPRIETOR HAD TO ENSURE THAT HIS SAFETY OFFICER AND SAFETY SUPERVISOR CARRIED OUT THEIR DUTIES PROPERLY, AND TO PROVIDE THEM WITH NECESSARY ASSISTANCE AND FACILITIES, MR BRIDGE SAID.
+A PROPRIETOR WHO FAIL TO EMPLOY A SAFETY OFFICER IS LIABLE TO A FINE OF $20 000.
IF HE FAILS TO EMPLOY A SAFETY SUPERVISOR OR CONTRAVENES OTHER PROVISIONS OF THE REGULATIONS, HE IS LIABLE TO A FINE OF $10 000, + HE SAID.
MR BRIDGE SAID THE REGULATIONS ALSO REQUIRED THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR TO MAINTAIN A REGISTER OF SAFETY OFFICERS, AND AT THE SAME TIME EMPOWERED HIM TO REGISTER A SAFETY OFFICER AND, IN CERTAIN CASES, TO SUSPEND OR CANCEL SUCH REGISTRATION.
IN EXERCISING THESE DUTIES, THE COMMISSIONER WOULD BE ADVISED BY A SAFETY OFFICERS ADVISORY COMMITTEE, APPOINTED BY HIM, ON THE QUALIFICATIONS AND SUITABILITY OF A PERSON FOR REGISTRATION AS A SAFETY OFFICER AND ON THE SUSPENSION OR CANCELLATION OF REGISTRATION.
MR BRIDGE