Role statement - WorkSafe Victoria (Victorian WorkCover Authority)

Conduct inspections and certifications/authorisations/approvals under health and safety and dangerous goods legislation that provides information for current and emerging risks and hazards, where relevant, before, during and after an incident

1.1, 1.4

Continue the safety regulator role including in relation to during emergency and planning events, including promoting compliant occupational health and safety management systems and taking enforcement action where appropriate

1.4, 1.5, 5.4

Investigate, report and analyse information for current and emerging risks and hazards before, during and after incidents involving:

• Workplace-related fatalities, and, life threatening or serious injury 
• transport of dangerous goods and chemicals and high consequence dangerous goods and explosives
• use, storage and handling of dangerous goods and chemicals and high consequence dangerous goods 

1.3, 1.5, 4.4, 8.1, 21.1, 21.2, 21.3, 21.4

Provide people and communities with information about risks, risk mitigation actions, and incidents/events through the development and publishing of guidance notes and alerts on a wide range of occupational health and safety and dangerous goods matters before, during and after an incident

1.4, 1.5, 2.1

Deliver public safety awareness activities where WorkSafe Victoria has jurisdiction under the Equipment (Public Safety) Act 1994 and associated regulations

2.1

Participating agency for the following gas supply disruption mitigation activity: 

• legislative and regulatory framework, including Gas Industry Act 2001, Gas Safety Act 1997 and associated Gas Safety Cases, National Gas Law and National Gas Regulations, critical infrastructure resilience requirements under the EM Act 2013

Table 8: Participating agencies for mitigation

Participating agency for the following hazardous materials (including industrial waste) incident mitigation activities:

• reduction/substitution of HAZMAT use (including inventory minimisation)
• HAZMAT storage design and maintenance (including transport design)
• HAZMAT transport requirements (e.g. prohibitions, material volume and selection, route and timing selection, transport mode, stakeholder engagement (e.g. WorkSafe Victoria, FRV, DTP, CFA, transporter, receiver))
• Dangerous Goods transporter maintenance, training, licensing, inspection etc. (road/rail/marine/pipeline) - management of dangerous goods in transport, storage and handling
• legislation, regulation and enforcement (e.g. Major Hazard Facilities, Dangerous Goods Code preventative requirements), supported by audits and inspection

Table 8: Participating agencies for mitigation

16.5

Participating agency for the following maritime emergency (non-search and rescue) mitigation activity: 

• legislation and enforcement (e.g. compulsory marine pilotage/exempt masters, Harbour master directions, safety duty (so far as is reasonably practicable) obligations of port manager, port operator, vessel operators, offshore facility operators etc.)

Table 8: Participating agencies for mitigation

Participating agency for the following mine, quarry and petroleum (exploration or production site) emergency mitigation activity: 

• legislation, regulation and enforcement of legislation including, but not limited to, the Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act 1990 and regulations (licensing and approvals process for operators of mines, quarries and coal mines), EM Act 2013, EM (Critical Infrastructure Resilience) Regulations 2015, Country Fire Authority Act 1958 and Regulations 2014, Energy Safe Victoria Act 2005, and Petroleum Act 1998

Table 8: Participating agencies for mitigation

Provide technical support to other agencies in the area of plant, construction, chemicals, dangerous goods, high consequence dangerous goods, explosives (other than ordinance and explosives or firearms at crime scenes), mines, prescribed mines, quarries, on-shore petroleum sites and geothermal or on-shore exploration sites and in relation to occupational health and safety matters regarding extent of damage, immediate threats, and loss of life that these matters may present. Where required, participate in any established coordination networks to support operational response  

3.2, 11.1

Investigate the cause of workplace and work-related incidents including incidents in public places involving registered, licensed and prescribed equipment and at major public events where such equipment is involved in an incident including amusement structures and amusement rides. This may include collecting, collating and/or analysing information for current and emerging risks and hazards before, during and after an incident, and providing consistent and meaningful impact assessment data through a coordinated process to decision makers

4.4, 11.1, 11.3

Engage with the lead coordinating agency to provide WorkCover insurance advice, information and communication  

3.2, 4.5

Lead Response Support Agency (RSA) for the functional area of WorkSafe

Table 10: Support agencies for response

Highlight employers in impacted areas who may require support with interim financial relief from premium payments and/or provision of information and advice or assisting their workers with submitting claims  

4.5, 4.6, 17.1, 17.2, 17.3, 20.5

Highlight injured workers in impacted areas who are currently in receipt of weekly benefits or other supports (notably with legal proceedings)  and facilitate other means of obtaining support if necessary

4.5, 17.5, 20.5

Ensure injured workers impacted by the emergency event are identified during the claims process to expedite provision of required supports and a timely response to their claim

15.2, 17.5, 20.5

Coordinate and collaborate with WorkSafe aAgents, WorkSafe Victoria Claims and Recovery Support CaRS team,   self-insurers and service providers as required, including by working in communities at a local level, to ensure continuity of service to the Victorian community and to strengthen community resilience

3.2, 6.4

Recovery Support Agency (RecSA) to BRV to coordinate approved state-led or supported clean-up. WorkSafe can provide occupational health and safety advice of a general nature.

This advice may direct duty holders to the relevant provisions of any legislation administered by WorkSafe, and to any guidance material published by WorkSafe with respect to particular obligations.

However, WorkSafe cannot provide advice on how legislation should be applied in any specific circumstance, and the advice provided by WorkSafe does not constitute legal advice. Duty holders should seek their own independent advice on how the requirements of WorkSafe-administered legislation should be applied.

Table 17: Recovery coordination: Built environment