South Australian Parliament has passed groundbreaking reforms to the Work Health and Safety Act, which will significantly improve your rights when it comes to workplace safety.
These changes are the result of multiple expert reviews and campaigning by the union movement.
It will give unions greater powers to address safety issues, will help hold employers to account and ensure all workers can come home safely.
These changes will take effect later in 2024.
Stronger model for Health and Safety Disputes
These reforms will introduce a WHS dispute arbitration model, meaning unions and workers will have the power to raise safety disputes in the South Australian Employment Tribunal (SAET).
It will mean that practical orders can be made to resolve safety issues.
Holding Employers to Account
Employers who refuse to fix safety issues after being ordered by the SAET could have to pay penalties for this. They will no longer have the ability to insure against having to pay a penalty too. This will help deter employers from ignoring safety concerns.
More Accountability
Currently, SafeWork SA doesn’t have to disclose what action has been taken on safety issues.
Under the reforms, more details will be made available to workers, victims and their families regarding safety issues, giving them peace of mind.
Safe Work SA Advisory Committee Established
As part of these reforms, an advisory committee will be established to give workers, employers and unions a say on SafeWork SA’s actions. It will help give a voice to those impacted by these decisions.
Feeling unsafe at work isn’t normal.
Your employer is required by law to take all reasonable measures to keep you safe.