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House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2016-07-05 Daily Xml
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South Australian Wine Industry, Work Safety

The Hon. A. PICCOLO (Light) (14:45): My question is to the Minister for Industrial Relations. How is the government improving work safety in the South Australian wine industry?

The SPEAKER: As the duty member for Schubert, I have a great interest in this.

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Justice Reform, Minister for Planning, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Child Protection Reform, Minister for the Public Sector, Minister for Consumer and Business Services, Minister for the City of Adelaide) (14:46): I thank the honourable member for his question. We all know he has these regions very close to his electorate and has a keen interest in these matters. Of course, I know the minister for primary industries is very interested in this topic as well. He, of course, represents many of these people.

South Australian wine is world renowned. The industry exports more than 750 million litres to 100 countries, generating around $1.79 billion in revenue. About 3,500 people work in this industry performing a myriad of tasks such as operating large equipment (often on hillsides and uneven terrain), pushing and lifting heavy bins, tubs, barrels, pumps, hoses and mixers, using pruning shears and picking knives, working with hazardous chemicals and entering confined spaces.

I am sure members will appreciate that, with much of the work being of a physical nature, it is important to manage workplace hazards through safe systems of work to avoid accidents and injuries. This is why SafeWork SA has teamed up with the wine grapegrowers' association and the South Australian Wine Industry Association to provide advice to employers and workers on strategies to achieve better safety outcomes in their workplace. Of particular focus are the smaller scale or boutique wineries that may not have the dedicated work health and safety officers like large-scale operations.

To help small wineries manage their work health and safety, SafeWork SA has been meeting and talking with business owners and providing them with practical advice and support on staffing induction and training, hazard reporting, emergency procedures and evacuation plans with drills, as well as firefighting equipment checks, the safe use of forklifts and requirements for operators to hold valid licences, and also simple safety procedures for people working alone.

To date, SafeWork SA has visited more than 80 boutique wineries across the Adelaide Hills, Barossa, Clare and Coonawarra regions. SafeWork SA has also presented at events organised by the industry, sharing information and simple solutions to improve safety for everyone working in the state's wine industry.

I wish to commend the wineries and grapegrowers for their commitment to safety as they continue to produce world renowned and award-winning wines.

The SPEAKER: The member for Morphett; he is still here despite his misconduct in the chamber.

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