WorkSafe has launched a proactive initiative to ensure engineers who conduct design verification of plant are meeting legislative requirements under the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WHS Act) and Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022.
During the 2024-25 and 2025-26 financial years, WorkSafe inspectors will conduct a review of work undertaken by design verifiers. The Inspectors will also liaise with the design verifiers and engineering consultancies that carry out design verification services.
Under the WHS Act, if a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) provides a WHS service to another PCBU, they have duties as a WHS service provider. This includes design verifiers.
This initiative reflects our commitment to fostering a culture of safety and compliance across industries in Western Australia. By focusing on the duties of plant design verifiers, we aim to reduce risks, prevent workplace incidents, and ensure safer work environments for all workers.
WHS service providers have regulatory obligations to ensure the design verifier has acquired their competency through training, qualification or experience and has the knowledge and skills to design the item of plant or verify the design. Failure to comply with these requirements can lead to enforcement actions.