The ACT's track record in workplace health and safety has not been good and despite progress in recent years, there is still room for improvement, the territory's new work safety commissioner says.
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Greg Jones, who is Access Canberra's construction, environment and workplace protection director of regulator compliance and was ACT Gambling and Racing Commission chief executive for more than a decade, was named the territory's new commissioner on Tuesday.
He takes over from Mark McCabe who retired in April.
"The ACT's record over a number of years has not been particularly good. It's certainly improving at the moment and what I plan on doing is making sure we continue to improve our safety record and reduce the number of significant incidents or injuries," he said.
"Part of that is to ensure the Getting Home Safely report, which was released in 2012, is continued to be implement and we're making some progress on that already."
The report was commissioned by the ACT government after a string of accidents and deaths in the construction industry.
Mr Jones said he was looking forward to the challenge and responsibility of working with industry and union bodies to continue improving workplace safety in the ACT.
In his new role, Mr Jones' "greatest focus" would be on high-risk areas in the construction industry such as working at heights or electrical safety, asbestos and ensuring the Mr Fluffy demolition program continued to be done in a safe and controlled manner, he said.
His appointment was welcomed by Unions ACT. Secretary Alex White said the Getting Home Safely report remained a major priority for unions.
There are more than 3000 serious private-sector workplace injuries on average in the ACT each year and Canberra remained the most dangerous jurisdiction in Australia for construction workers, Mr White said.
"There is clearly a lot for Mr Jones to do to continue the work of compliance and enforcement and unions are keen to work collaboratively with the commissioner and employers to improve safety at work," he said.
Workplace Safety and Industrial Relations Minister Mick Gentleman said Mr Jones would play a pivotal roles in setting the strategic direction for workplace safety in the ACT.
His key priorities included strengthening the government's work health and safety compliance and education program and making progress on a risk-based approach to regulation to ensure attention is focused on the areas of greatest harm to the community.
Master Builders ACT executive director Kirk Coningham welcomed Mr Jones' plans to "champion the cultural shift at WorkSafe ACT".
"We look forward to working with Greg to ensure every single person on site is empowered and accountable for safety," he said.
