WorkSafe Tasmania does not investigate most incidents

Half of all workplace fatalities do not result in a WorkSafe investigation, figures released under Right to Information laws reveal.

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ALMOST half of Tasmania’s workplace fatalities did not result in a WorkSafe investigation, figures released under Right to Information laws reveal.

The statistics show WorkSafe conducted formal investigations into 21 of 38 workplace fatalities, 64 investigations into 858 cases of serious injury and 28 investigations into 1642 reports of dangerous incidents.

And the government workplace safety body failed to investigate or even visit the workplace in the majority of reports of safety incidents or hazards.

The figures, provided in response to a request from the Greens, indicate there were 2568 “notifiable incidents” recorded between 2014 and May this year.

WorkSafe attended a workplace on only 807 occasions as a result, and conducted 115 formal investigations.

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Notes provided with the figures said WorkSafe trigged reports depending on remoteness and severity, the likelihood of a site visit yielding useful information, the time elapsed since the incident, and the number of staff available.

Some incidents were followed up with phone calls or emails, or requests for CCTV footage, it said.

A 2018 review of WorkSafe’s field inspection staff revealed a 25 per cent shortfall in personnel and inadequate resourcing for effective inspections.

Greens MP Rosalie Woodruff said 64 per cent of all notifiable incidents recorded by WorkSafe since 2014 did not result in an inspector attending a workplace or a formal investigation being conducted.

Greens MP Rosalie Woodruff said 64 per cent of all notifiable incidents recorded by WorkSafe since 2014 did not result in an investigation. Picture: Zak Simmonds

“Most Tasmanians would assume that if an official report about a serious worker health and safety issue is made to the workplace regulator, it would result in a site visit and an investigation,” she said.

“It is incredibly concerning this trend of an under-resourced WorkSafe not being able to fulfil its legal responsibility has continued.”

A spokesman for Justice Minister Elise Archer, whose portfolio includes WorkSafe, said there were a wide range of incidents notified to WorkSafe Tasmania, not all of which require workplace attendance by an inspector.

“Workplace safety is first and foremost the responsibility of businesses and undertakings, and the people who work in them. They have the primary responsibility to investigate and remediate the causes of serious incidents,” the spokesman said.

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