Did you know that from the start of next year, workers in WA will have lower health and safety standards than the rest of Australia?

From 1 January 2012 new uniform occupational health and safety laws will take effect in every state and territory. Everywhere except WA, that is.

The Barnett Government will NOT be adopting all of the nationally harmonised health and safety laws.

It seems the Barnett Government believes a life in WA is worth less than anywhere else in the country.

In WA, on average one worker is killed every 17 days. And every 30 minutes there is a serious injury at work.

We need the strongest safety laws possible to protect people while they work. As more and more workers move into new skill areas in WA, strong workplace laws are even more necessary.

This is how WA workers will be left behind:

1. Maximum penalties for serious breaches of workplace health and safety laws in WA will be less than those in every other state. Under the harmonised laws, the maximum penalty which can apply to an employer will increase to $3 million, while in WA the most an employer can be fined will be about half that amount.

2. The family or the union of someone killed at work should be able to initiate prosecution if they believe the employer contributed to the worker’s death. Similarly, the Department of Public Prosecutions should be able to review the case if they think an employer has breached OSH law. Under Barnett’s laws, if WorkSafe choose to not pursue an employer, then that’s it, case closed.

3. If there is a safety breach at a worksite, union representatives will not be able to gain entry to that workplace without giving 24 hours’ notice. This robs workers of important advice when they need it most.

4. WA will be the only state where properly trained Health and Safety Representatives will not be able to direct work to stop when they see a serious and imminent safety problem.

5. Protection against discrimination for raising health and safety issues with your employer will be significantly weaker in WA than in every other state.

Demand that the Barnett Government adopts nationally harmonised health and safety laws. Sign the petition to the WA parliament which calls on the WA Government to do the right thing by WA workers, and adopt the strongest health and safety laws possible.