Media Releases
Government Response to OSH Policy Inquiry Tabled Today
Thursday 27 February 1997
The Government response to an inquiry into the administration of the Department of Labour’s Occupational Safety and Health Service’s policy will be tabled in parliament today.
The general finding of the Labour Select Committee was that although the Health and Safety in Employment Act, the legislation OSH administers, posed challenges to the Minister, the Act itself was generally sound.
The response to the Labour Select Committee inquiry addressed two major foci. The first was the jurisdiction boundaries of the Health and Safety in Employment Act between workplace and general public safety issues. This also included the overlap between issues in the transport sector such as between OSH and the Land Transport Safety Authority.
Secondly, the response focused on the dual roles of OSH as the health and safety information providers and educators, and its role of ensuring compliance with the law.
The Minister of Labour, Max Bradford, has welcomed the inquiry process.
"The select committee inquiry has assisted in facilitating debate and identified key areas regarding the focus of the Act and its practical application," Mr Bradford said.
Many submissions were received from a diverse range of sectors, with most focusing on their experience with the Act in practice.
Act compliance for small and medium sized workplaces made up a large number of the submissions.
"Since the inquiry was initiated, OSH has provided more information to businesses to assist in compliance," Mr Bradford said. "In addition, a project is planned to identify barriers and clarify health and safety issues for small and medium sized businesses."
The Minister also conveyed that OSH was already working on the feasibility and implementation of the select committee’s other recommendations.
