
After many years of ANMF lobbying both WorkSafe Victoria and the Victorian government, the Branch welcomes WorkSafe’s announcement that they are undertaking a pilot program of health industry-specific inspectors.
Even though the hazards in the health environment are theoretically the same as those in other workplaces (hazardous manual handling, occupational violence, chemical management etc), the specifics associated with hospitals, aged care and other healthcare environments mean that the controls available are different and specific.
There is also the ongoing tension between patient and staff safety which can lead to confusion when employers assert that there is nothing else that can be done.
For these reasons and more, it is important for the safety of our members to have WorkSafe inspectors who are familiar with a healthcare environment attend when there are safety concerns.
ANMF expects that these inspectors will primarily undertake the proactive visits and projects in our members’ workplaces, as well as responding to service requests and incidents. They will either be from a health background themselves, or be familiar with the health environment, and will undergo specific training to ensure that they make all appropriate enquiries.
The Branch’s hope is that this leads to more comprehensive improved inspections and health and safety, and to more healthcare employers being held accountable where they fail to implement actions that keep their workers, and our members, safe.
The pilot will be evaluated, and is being undertaken in a number of other industry sectors also, such as corrections.
Members are reminded that if a WorkSafe inspector is onsite, the relevant HSR should be invited to speak with them and be involved in the discussions, as well as receiving a copy of the entry report and any notices issued by the inspector following the visit. Don’t forget: HSRs are always entitled to request assistance from ANMF.