Unions have lambasted WA’s workplace safety laws after the Supreme Court today reduced the fines for a company and its directors who were found negligent in the workplace death of a 22 year old worker.

Luke Murrie was killed when a section of crane fell on him in 2007. Today a Supreme Court judge dismissed appeals against the convictions but ruled that the fines should be reduced.

WA unions have issued a call for the State Government to immediately sign up to new national workplace safety laws that include increasing the maximum penalty for negligent employers who are responsible for a workplace death.

WA unions today demanded immediate action from the Barnett Government to address the staffing crisis in WorkSafe, the agency responsible for administering WA’s occupational health and safety laws and promoting safe workplaces.

WorkSafe is in the midst of a staffing crisis and is currently unable to fill more than a quarter of its workplace inspector positions. WA currently has the lowest ratio of workplace inspectors to employees with major regional centres such as Kalgoorlie and Geraldton without a single inspector.

UnionsWA Occupational Health & Safety Officer Linda Morich is concerned that the staffing crisis is endangering WA workers.