- WorkCover Authority of New South Wales
The WorkCover Authority of New South Wales is a statutory body in
New South Wales, Australia tasked with promotingworkplace safety in New South Wales cite web|url=http://www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/AboutUs/default.htm |title=About Us |accessdate=2008-06-26 |date=2003-07-01 |work=WorkCover website |publisher=WorkCover Authority of New South Wales ] .Powers and responsibilities
The WorkCover Authority of New South Wales ('WorkCover') primarily administers New South Wales
occupational health and safety law, including theOccupational Health and Safety Act 2000 , and theWorkers Compensation Act 1987 cite web|url=http://www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/AboutUs/WhatWeDo/default.htm |title=What We Do |accessdate=2008-06-26 |date=2003-06-23 |work=WorkCover website |publisher=WorkCover Authority of New South Wales ] . In doing this, WorkCover prepares codes of practice for particular industries [ [http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/ohasa2000273/ Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 (NSW)] , section 41] , and investigates reports of unsafe practices in particular workplaces cite web|url=http://workcover.nsw.gov.au/AboutUs/OurStructure/default.htm |title=Our Structure |accessdate=2008-06-26 |date=2003-07-04 |work=WorkCover website |publisher=WorkCover Authority of New South Wales ] .In investigating complaints of poor occupational health and safety practices, inspectors from WorkCover are granted significant powers, including forcibly entering places of work, taking objects, and requiring information from people in charge of particular places of work [ [http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/ohasa2000273/ Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 (NSW)] , Division 2 of part 5 ] . Once an investigation has concluded, WorkCover may require employers to improve their occupational health and safety practices, or refrain from authorising certain work [ [http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/ohasa2000273/ Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 (NSW)] , Part 6] .
Controversy
In December 2005, the
Independent Commission Against Corruption found that 23 WorkCover employees had issued false certificates of competency, which ICAC states significantly undermined workplace safety on building sites cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=ICAC finds 23 corrupt in WorkCover licensing fraud | date=2005-12-14 | publisher=Independent Commission Against Corruption | url =http://www.icac.nsw.gov.au/index.cfm?objectID=2286FFFB-F818-E1A8-8310C61386110E26 | work = | pages = | accessdate = 2008-06-26 | language = ] . ICAC further states that systemic corruption risks were exposed by the incident:References
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