From the 1st of July, ACT Workplace Safety inspectors will be able to issue on-the-spot fines of up to $3,600 to companies, and $720 to an individual (such as a sole-trader).

This means where an inspector attending a site could previously only issue a provisional improvement notice and take serious matters to court, PCBUs can now face fines immediately for failing to comply with the WHS Act.

WorkSafe ACT hopes that by implementing these on-the-spot fines PCBUs will no longer take the risk of an inspector finding problems on site.

Some of the safety breaches that could incur these penalties include:

• Failing to notify WorkSafe of a notifiable incident;
• Failure to provide PPE for workers;
• Failing to prepare a safe work method statement (construction);
• Not ensuring work is carried out in accordance to the safe work method statement;
• Not providing training or instruction in the use of equipment or PPE.

You can mitigate incurring fines by reviewing your safety systems and work practices to ensure they align with your legal obligations. If unsure how your systems measure up, give Safety Action a call to arrange a safety audit.