WorkCover WA has announced an Employer Compliance Campaign
focusing on the residential construction industry.
Inspectors from WorkCover plan to perform compliance checks on
businesses in this industry primarily to ensure that workers'
compensation insurance policies are up-to-date. There is nothing
new about this requirement, as workers' compensation
(employers' indemnity) insurance has been compulsory in Western
Australia for a very long time. In addition, the level of
non-compliance appears to be low.
The consequences of non-compliance are of course very
serious for both employer and potentially for an injured
worker. The employer is liable for fines of $5,000 per
worker plus an amount equal to the premium avoided, backdated five
years. The employer is also directly liable for the cost of any
claims.
