The ACT Government recently announced a major inquiry into health and safety laws in the construction industry.
The inquiry will be supported by ACT WorkSafe Commissioner, Mark McCabe, and will have powers under the Work Safety Act to take submissions, call for papers and question witnesses.
“Since December last year there have been four workplace deaths, three of which have been on construction sites, and this is, put simply, four too many,” said ACT Attorney General, Simon Corbell.
“This inquiry is specifically designed to look at issues of health and safety closely as well as where there can be tighter regulation to better protect workers who work in this high-risk industry.”
The inquiry will consider issues such as:
- compliance with current laws and regulatory regimes
- onsite behavioural or cultural issues
- training requirements or participation rates, and
- powers available to WorkSafe ACT and other regulatory bodies
The government had consulted closely with unions and industry stakeholders in developing the terms of reference, said the Attorney General.
“It is important that we take a wide ranging look at this industry and I am pleased that all groups who represent both employers and employees have cooperated during the formation of this inquiry and I look forward to their contributions to it,” he said.
The inquiry panel will report its findings and recommendations to the Attorney General by 16 November 2012.