Safework SA is failing to meet standards and has toxic workplace culture, ICAC report says

Safework SA is failing to meet basic standards, has a toxic workplace culture and is “lost in a sea of overly convoluted, unnecessary and ineffective policies”, the anti-corruption watchdog has found.

Safework SA is failing to meet community standards, is devoid of coherent policies and has a toxic workplace culture, according to the Independent Commission Against Corruption’s final report into the embattled agency.

Commissioner Bruce Lander QC released his final report into the agency on Thursday after launching an evaluation of its operations in May following a series of reports and complaints over a five-year period.

His final report makes 39 recommendations to bring the workplace safety watchdog up to scratch.

In an executive summary of his findings, Mr Lander said Safework SA was “lost in a sea of overly convoluted, unnecessary and ineffective policies”.

“There is a divide between the executive and inspectors,” he stated.

“Practices, policies and procedures that should exist to address real risks of corruption, misconduct and maladministration are missing.

“Staff are largely left to their own devices and oversight is poor.

“It is an organisation that is largely devoid of a suite of coherent, logical and structured

policies.

“The agency has a very poor understanding of its own risks and operates in a

culture described by many staff as ‘toxic’.”

SA Independent Commissioner Against Corruption Bruce Lander. Picture: David Mariuz/AAP

The report noted a deliberate communication barrier between the educator and regulatory arms.

“The effect of the barrier has been to prevent work health and safety risks which have been identified by staff carrying out education and advisory duties from being brought to the attention of inspectors in the regulatory arm of the agency,” Mr Lander said.

“The risks associated with constructing the agency in this way should be obvious.

“Very serious workplace safety risks might be identified but affirmative action

may not be taken. This could lead to catastrophic consequences for workers.”

The inquiry into the embattled agency was in part spurred by Safework SA prosecutors dropping charges against safety inspectors who cleared the Adelaide Show ride from which 8-year-old Adelene Leong was thrown from and killed in September 2014.

Pam Gurner-Hall, the grieving widow of Jorge Castillo-Riffo, a worker killed on the new Royal Adelaide Hospital building site, labelled the Safework SA investigation into the incident as “dismal”.

Pam Gurner-Hall with her partner Jorge Castillo-Riffo, who was killed while using a scissor lifter on the RAH building site. Picture: Calum Robertson

The scope of Mr Lander’s investigation covered powers given to inspectors and investigators as well as the organisations practices, policies and procedures.

Public submissions to the ICAC inquiry warned that investigators were vulnerable to bribes and threats while working solo at job sites.

A former Safework SA official wrote that he had “experienced efforts to influence (his) decisions”, had been offered bribes and felt intimidated on three or four occasions.

In his submission to the evaluation, Public Service Association general secretary Nev Kitchin said Safework SA was facing crippling budget cuts promised by the former Labor Government and expanded upon by the new Marshall Government.

A target of $6.4 million was cited by Mr Kitchin, which would account for 17 per cent of the regulator’s budget.

The proposed cuts came as the evaluation revealed that safety investigator training which had previously taken 12 months had been slashed to five weeks because of resourcing.

During closing statements counsel assisting Mr Lander, Holly Stanley, said Safework SA was “crying out for stability” and “immature” in the face of possible corruption.

She made 25 recommendations including body-worn cameras for inspectors, working in pairs, monitoring of department vehicles and a gifts and benefits register.

Mr Lander was also presented with evidence which alleged sensitive Safework case files had been reopened and new evidence added in the lead up to the inquiry.