XN000022-1989-01-25 — Page 2

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 1989

1

PROVISION OF SAFE WORKING ENVIRONMENT INTENDED

*

A BILL WHICH REQUIRES BOTH FACTORY OWNERS AND WORKERS TO THEIR PARTS IN ENSURING SAFETY AND HEALTH AT WORK WHO INTRODUCED THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

PLAY INTO

THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (AMENDMENT} BILL 1989 ALSO SEEKS TO IMPOSE CUSTODIAL PENALTIES FOR CERTAIN OFFENCES CONCERNING INDUSTRIAL SAFETY.

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON RON BRIDGE, SAID: "I HAVE LONG BEEN CONVINCED THAT WE SHOULD LAY ON EMPLOYERS A GENERAL DUTY TO PROVIDE A SAFE WORKING ENVIRONMENT, AND, ON EMPLOYEES, A DUTY TO CO-OPERATE WITH THEIR EMPLOYERS IN SO DOING.

ON SPECIFIC REGULATIONS

"AT PRESENT, WE DEPEND SOLELY GOVERNING INDUSTRIAL SAFETY AND HEALTH IN PARTICULAR INDUSTRIES.'

MR BRIDGE CONSIDERED THIS ARRANGEMENT UNSATISFACTORY, BECAUSE IN THESE DAYS OF RAPID TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE, SOME REGULATIONS QUICKLY BECAME OUT OF THE DATE, REQUIRING FREQUENT AMENDMENTS TO PROVIDE FOR NEW DANGERS.

ON THE OTHER HAND, HE POINTED OUT THE REGULATIONS COULD COVER EVERY ASPECT OF INDUSTRIAL SAFETY AND HEALTH AND TENDED TO TOO SPECIFIC.

REQUIREMENT

NOT BE

MR BRIDGE SAID CLAUSE 4 OF THE BILL WOULD INTRODUCE INTO THE

UNDERTAKINGS FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL

ORDINANCE A

FOR EVERY PROPRIETOR TO TAKE MEASURES SO FAR AS WAS REASONABLY PRACTICABLE

ALL TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND HEALTH AT WORK OF

PERSONS EMPLOYED BY

HIM.

"EVERY EMPLOYEE WHILE AT WORK WILL BE REQUIRED ΤΟ CO-OPERATE WITH THE PROPRIETOR SO FAR AS IS NECESSARY IN IMPLEMENTING SUCH THAT OF MEASURES, AND TO TAKE REASONABLE CARE FOR HIS OWN SAFETY AND OTHER PEOPLE WHO MAY BE AFFECTED BY WHAT HE DOES," HE SAID.

CUSTODIAL ON

PENALTIES, MR BRIDGE SAID MANY LEGISLATIVE EXISTINO COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC HAD CRITICISED THE

THE DETERRENT EFFECT PENALTIES AS INADEQUATE AND HAD SUGGESTED THAT OF THE LAW BE STRENGTHENED BY CUSTODIAL PENALTIES.

"WE THEREFORE PROPOSE IN CLAUSES 4, 5, 6, 7, 10 AND THE OFFENCES WHICH ARE SCHEDULE THAT CUSTODIAL PENALTIES BE IMPOSED FOR LIABLE TO CAUSE FATAL OR SERIOUS ACCIDENTS

RISK TO HEALTH, ARE COMMITTED WILFULLY AND ARE WITHIN THE OFFENDER'S ABILITY TO PREVENT.

OR

"A MAXIMUM OF SIX MONTHS IMPRISONMENT WOULD APPLY TO THOSE MAXIMUM OF OFFENCES WHICH NOW CARRY A MAXIMUM FINE OF $30,000, AND A 12 MONTHS IMPRISONMENT TO THOSE OFFENCES WHICH NOW CARRY A MAXIMUM FINE OF $50,000," HE SAID.

/TO GIVE