If the new Bill is passed penalties will be substantial, especially for smaller businesses: AU$5 million for manslaughter or AU$2 million for causing serious injury. Company directors and senior managers may also face corresponding charges; penalties for manslaughter would be up to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to AU$180,000, or both. In the case of negligently causing serious injury, the proposed maximum penalties are two years, AU$120,000, or both.
NZ-based INTAZ is hoping to cash in on the proposed amendments, having developed software that allows organisations to take a proactive approach to occupational health and safety, and is touting its service for small to medium sized enterprises at as little as AU$15 per employee per month.
The system simplifies the capture of safety-related data, and identifies trends that are outside the norm. According to Dianne McIntyre, solution development manager and the founder of INTAZ, in one example it highlighted that a particular car was involved in three accidents. Investigation revealed its chassis had been buckled in the first accident, and that unrepaired fault had contributed to the others.
"They [small businesses] effectively get a professional health and safety manager at a price they can afford," according to Rob Clark, general manager of INTAZ Australia.
Larger companies can license the software in the normal way.
The software includes a library of workplace hazards containing material drawn from around the world, and a CD-ROM based on the library was recently sent free of charge to 56,000 employers by the New Zealand's Accident Compensation Corporation in conjunction with INTAZ.
INTAZ's existing clients vary in size from five to 10,000 employees, mainly in the engineering, utilities, pharmaceutical, construction and retail industries, and in the light of the proposed legislative changes and the current advertising campaign by the Victorian Workcover Authority, it is hoping more organisations will be reviewing their safety practices.
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