Edition 47, July 2007

WA restaurants and cafes score badly on workplace safety

A WorkSafe WA inspection program in the state's restaurant and cafe industry has revealed a generally low level of compliance with occupational safety and health laws.

Statistics show a high level of injuries in the industry.  The inspections program's goal was to gauge which workplace factors and tasks were the major contributors.

The industry was informed of the inspections before they occurred, and restaurants and cafes were provided with literature advising them of the key issues being examined. Inspectors then visited a sample group of 95 workplaces and conducted inspections based on a pre-prepared checklist, ensuring a consistent approach for all workplaces.

Slip and trip hazards were common, as were very serious hazards involving unguarded machinery. About one-third of the workplaces inspected had slip and trip hazards, and more than a quarter had unguarded machinery.

Slips and trips can easily result in broken bones, muscle strains or long-term injuries such as back and neck damage, while unguarded machines (mainly food preparation mixers) present a significant hazard if part of a worker's body or clothing is caught in the moving parts.

An average of more than six notices each were issued to the 95 workplaces visited, with 14 workplaces receiving more than 10. In total, 579 improvement notices and one prohibition notice were issued, with the most common subjects being electricity and the provision of residual current detectors, hazardous substances such as cleaning agents, slip and trip hazards and machinery guarding.

The program also aimed to promote industry awareness of common safety issues, take enforcement action where necessary and to develop guidance material for the industry on the common causes of injury.

For more information phone WorkSafe WA on 08 9327 8777 or visit www.worksafe.wa.gov.au

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