The NSW Government today launched a project to help small, independently-owned service stations in regional NSW do business safer and more efficiently.
The Regional Service Station Project is a Commerce Regulation initiative involving SafeWork NSW, NSW Fair Trading and the State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA).
The project involves SafeWork NSW inspectors visiting 150 service stations in regional NSW to assist them with safety and workers compensation, as well as obtaining fuel pricing information.
The collaborative project is in response to recent SafeWork research that found small, independently-owned service stations in regional NSW lacked understanding of work health and safety in relation to storage, handling and use of dangerous goods, as well as safety and emergency plans.
SafeWork NSW Group Director, Regional Operations and Sector Initiatives, Tony Williams said the project was about increasing the ability of service stations in regional NSW to work safely and more productively.
“The NSW Government is committed to making it easier to do business,” Mr Williams said.
“Due to their isolation, small independently-owned service stations in regional NSW have received less frequent assistance in the past.
“By supporting them to understand their work health and safety, workers compensation and trading obligations, workers will be safer and consumers better protected.”
During the visits, SafeWork inspectors will advise local operators how to comply with dangerous goods regulations and ensure they have adequate and up to date safety and emergency plans.
They will also check that the operators have a current workers compensation insurance policy.
Information on fuel signage and octane ratings will also be obtained for verification by NSW Fair Trading, so that customers can make an informed choice.
Operators that receive a visit may be eligible to claim a $500 rebate from SafeWork NSW, to put towards the purchase and installation of eligible safety items that address a safety problem in their business.
For further information on service station safety, visit www.safework.nsw.gov.au or call 13 10 50.
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