OHS Professionals Want a Single OHS System

OHS professionals want single OHS system, survey finds

Eight-eight percent of safety professionals support a single Federal OHS legislative system, a Safety Institute of Australia (SIA) survey has found.

The SIA Safety Report Card research, to be presented fully at its Safety In Action Conference in March next year, also showed the profession was concerned about the likely impact of Federal industrial relations reform on OHS.

Almost half expected the reforms would have a negative impact, while just one in four anticipated an improvement in OHS.

SIA Victoria President, Phil Lovelock, said workplace safety professionals are calling for governments to 'stop playing games' and hasten moves towards consistent OHS laws despite fears about Federal industrial reform.

He said the various State and Territory regimes stymied efforts by employers and safety suppliers alike to improve workplace safety.

'What saves lives in one State will also save lives in another,' he said. 'There's simply no need for the extra red tape that so many sets of codes of practice and regulations bring.'

Lovelock added the research findings underscored the need for a well-resourced national body responsible for the co-ordination of workplace safety progress around the country.

Source: Workplace OHS