WorkCover New South Wales (Australia) recently announced the 47 recipients of the $6.7 million WorkCover Assist Grants Program to help employers, unions and not-for-profit group training organizations prepare for the new national harmonization of work health and safety legislation.
In total 24 employer associations were awarded $3.1 million, 14 employee representatives were awarded $2.1 million, and four not-for-profit group training providers were awarded funding worth $344,552. In addition, four employer associations and one employee representative received high risk focus area grants worth $393,487. (WCxKit)
WorkCover CEO Lisa Hunt said NSW represented around a third of all business activity in Australia and with more than 3.2 million workers in the state, the changes to work health and safety laws would affect a large number of people.
“It is important employers, employees and other stakeholders are ready for its implementation and I’m pleased to announce the 47 recipients of the WorkCover Assist grants,” Hunt said. “There were a significant number of applications for these grants. This demonstrates the interest in the national harmonization legislation and I’m pleased so many have been successful.
Hunt continued, “The harmonization of WHS legislation will reduce compliance costs and regulatory burden for employers and enable workers holding licenses to work across jurisdictions more easily.
“It will provide consistency in safe work standards across Australia and allow the states and territories to share resources and information more freely, leading to even safer workplaces.
“These grants will support not-for-profit group training organizations, employer associations and trade unions implement a range of programs to prepare for the changes.
“These programs will be rolled out across the next 18 months and will fund educational programs that will focus on what the changes will include, and what people need to know to meet the requirements of the new legislation.” (WCxKit)
These will include:
1. Workshops and webinars for the retail industry
2. Training courses, including facts sheets for manufacturing industry apprentices
3. Educational site visits for small businesses like garden nurseries
4. Direct mail-outs, publications and telephone training for stakeholders in the agriculture industry.
Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risks Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. See www.LowerWC.com for more information. Contact:[email protected].
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