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Operational independence for Major Hazards Unit

The Victorian Government has formalised measures to assure the operational independence of the Major Hazards Facilities Unit (MHU) of the Victorian WorkCover Authority (VWA).

Minister for Finance Roger Hallam said new stringent Ministerial Directions will respond to the Longford Royal Commission by enhancing the WorkCover Authority’s ability to monitor major hazardous sites in Victoria.

Ministerial Directions will be complemented by new Regulations that will satisfy the Royal Commission recommendation that the VWA roles as supervisor of workplace safety and provider of accident compensation be "sufficiently independent" to avoid the potential for any conflict of interest.

The Directions will ensure that the Major Hazards Facilities Unit will be independent of the Authority’s compensation activities. The Unit will be administered by a board sub-committee of the VWA with representation from employee and employer groups and will be required to deliver half-yearly and annual reports regarding major hazards activities.

Mr Hallam said that the WorkCover Authority would be approaching key industry leaders to participate in the activities of the Authority board sub-committee.

Mr Hallam said a range of operational arrangements, including manuals and scoping audits had been developed, and that drafting of the Major hazard Facilities Regulations was underway.

(News Release, Office of the Minister for Finance, August 3, 1999)