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Enforceable undertaking - John Holland Rail Pty Ltd

Media release

- 04 Sep 2009

Comcare has accepted a Court-enforceable undertaking for John Holland Rail (JHR) after JHR allegedly failed to observe its duties under federal workplace safety laws.

The undertaking is a result of a Comcare investigation into a 24 August 2007 incident where an apprentice boilermaker sustained crush injuries to his left index finger at JHR’s facility at Kewdale, Western Australia.

The undertaking is a legally enforceable commitment by JHR. Enforceable undertakings commit employers to do more than minimum compliance with workplace safety legislation.

The undertaking requires JHR to make a number of mandatory improvements to workplace safety, including:

implementing safer work systems across all JHR workplaces
improving supervisory structures at all JHR workplaces
assessing the risk of all major JHR activities to determine and identify ‘high risk activities’
better training arrangements.

Comcare CEO, Paul O’Connor said, ‘this enforceable undertaking commits John Holland Rail to improving their workplace safety systems across Australia. This will deliver real benefits to the health and safety of all employees of John Holland Rail.’

Comcare will monitor JHR to ensure it complies with the enforceable undertaking. A copy of the undertaking is available at www.comcare.gov.au.

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Media enquiries:
Elizabeth Mail
Ph: 1300 366 979
Email: media@comcare.gov.au

Media Release - Enforceable undertaking - John Holland Rail Pty Ltd [PDF version]