On Friday, 25th November 2011, WorkCover NSW and NSW Public Works signed an interagency agreement to improve consistency in workplace health and safety standards across more than a billion dollars of public assets.
According to the media release, WorkCover CEO Lisa Hunt said the agreement would have wide ranging benefits due to the large amount of work carried out by NSW Public Works, and ensure greater consistency and cooperation in safety standards
“NSW Public Works is they key agency that oversees procurement, designs, construction and maintenance of more than $1 billion worth of State public infrastructure, service and facilities for the NSW community each year,” Hunt said.
“WorkCover NSW administers the Work Health and Safety legislation and Worker’s Compensation Scheme which aims to ensure the safety of about three million workers in NSW, spread across more than 265,000 businesses.
“Through this agreement, WorkCover will assist NSW Public Works maintain consistency across their main constructions and maintenance projects,” she said.
Hunt goes on to say that in the event of an injury, it is important that workers are offered consistent, high level support through the Worker’s Compensation Scheme and helped back to work as soon as possible.
NSW Public Works Deputy General, Brian Baker said the agreement demonstrated a joint commitment by both agencies to achieve safe workplaces.
“This agreement will improve work health and safety, injury management, return to work and workers compensation in the government construction sector – which will undoubtedly impact upon the construction sector as a whole,” said Baker.
“Both agencies are 100 percent committed to this agreement, and see it as a critical link to improving work health and safety in the construction industry.”