SafeWork’s SA priorities and the Merritt review/ Working with the new Advisory Committee Presented by Glenn Farrell, Executive Director, SafeWork SA

1. Looking ahead
SafeWork SA
Glenn Farrell – WHS Regulator
AIHS Symposium 2023

2. Pre-election commitments
Every worker has the right to be safe at
work, yet we see too many avoidable
injuries and deaths in workplaces
Everybody should get home safe from a
day’s work and Labor will introduce
industrial manslaughter laws with a
focus on avoiding preventable deaths
Undertake a root and branch review of SafeWork SA to
improve workplace safety and ensure a genuine voice for
workers in complaint and resolution processes

3. This Government wants
to ensure SafeWork SA
is a workplace safety
regulator that has trust
and respect of
businesses, workers and
the broader community
Message from the Minister

4. Merritt review
TOR
Effectiveness of SafeWork SA’s
compliance and enforcement function
Implementation of recommendations
from previous reviews / audits
Appropriate measures for families of
deceased workers to have a genuine voice
Engagement of SafeWork SA and other
Government agencies to monitor and improve WHS
4 weeks of consultation
29 written submissions
55 separate meetings

5. Promote & work more collaboratively
Streamline inspector processes
Summary of
recommendations
Establish Advisory Committee
Develop a new HSR strategy
Transition advisory service
Increase proactive visits and enforcement
Various amendments to WHS Act

6. SafeWork SA Advisory
Committee

7. SafeWork SA
Advisory
Committee
Provide advice and recommendations on
WHS to SafeWork SA and the Minister
Consider and advise on ways to
improve consultation / collaboration
across those represented by the
committee
Consider and advise on compliance /
education campaigns for targeted injuries /
industries
Functions

8. Data and intelligence
collecting

9. Targets Fatalities by traumatic injury by 30%
Rate of serious injuries and respitory decease by 20%
Rate of permanent impairment by 15%
Overall incidence to below 3.5%
New cases of accelerated silicosis
PCBU awareness on harmful substance protection
Build capability for psychosocial hazards

10. Embed good WHS practice in all work,
across all industries, cohorts, and hazards
Collaborate collectively and cooperatively to
respond to WHS challenges
Innovate and deepen knowledge of WHS
to broaden understanding
Enablers

11. Information and
awareness
National
coordination
Data and intelligence
gathering
Health and safety
leadership
Compliance and
enforcement
Actions

12. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR ATTENTION