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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-03-28 Daily Xml
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SAFEWORK SA

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (14:58): My questions are to the Minister for Industrial Relations. Will the minister please advise how SafeWork SA has assisted in ensuring the safety of workers and members of the community at Adelaide's recent major events, particularly the Clipsal 500?

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (14:58): I thank the honourable member for her question. I like nothing better than talking about keeping workers safe, which is something we do very well. We are certainly in the thick of a major events season in Adelaide, and what a buzz these events create in our city. However, these events would not be the success they are without the valued efforts of a group of dedicated workers and volunteers and the participation of the good people of South Australia. Their safety is therefore an important consideration in the coordination and management of these events.

Since January, SafeWork SA has been busy reviewing safety provisions for the general public, on-site workers, contractors and volunteers at major events such as the Schützenfest, Santos Tour Down Under, the Big Day Out, the Garden of Unearthly Delights at the Adelaide Fringe Festival, WOMADelaide and, of course, the Clipsal 500. There is no denying that safety is paramount at all our major events, and SafeWork SA inspectors ensure a consistent approach to compliance with occupational health and safety and dangerous substances laws.

SafeWork SA inspectors provide advice and assistance to event organisers and occupational health and safety to ensure compliance with the relevant legislation. It is no coincidence that there has been a reduction of injuries in workplaces of 38 per cent since 2002. By the way, 2002 is not just a coincidental date: it is the date Labor came into office.

We take pride in the fact that we have increased resources to SafeWork SA. It provides a very good service to employers, working with employers to keep our workplaces safe, and leads the country in terms of keeping down workplace injuries. Hopefully, with the passing of the Work Health and Safety Bill we will be able to improve on that record.

We have just witnessed another exciting spectacle of motor racing on the streets of Adelaide with the Clipsal 500. SafeWork SA worked with event organisers, the South Australian Motor Sport Board and emergency services groups to ensure that detailed management plans were in place to effectively address occupational health and safety and public safety risks throughout the duration of the event.

Over the past three months SafeWork SA inspectors have monitored the construction of the temporary structures, grandstand seating and various scaffolding around the track. This also involved monitoring the extensive use of high risk plant and sighting compliance records from the certifying engineers before the commencement of the event. With the Clipsal 500 finished for another year, SafeWork SA inspectors are now monitoring the dismantling of the enormous quantity of infrastructure.

To ensure that improvements in safety continue each year, a debrief session will be arranged shortly so that organisers can continue to meet their commitment to safety. I congratulate the work of the SafeWork SA inspectors during Adelaide's major events season. Their role has made a significant contribution to the health and safety of all involved—workers and members of the community.

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