Former chair and Executive Director of WorkSafe Victoria, John Merritt has been appointed as independent reviewer of SafeWork SA.

During the 2022 election, the then Labor opposition promised a review on SafeWork SA to improve ‘workplace safety, deliver prompt action on safety concerns, support improved physical and mental wellbeing in workplaces, and ensure a genuine voice for workers’.

The terms of reference for the review which Merritt will be charged with undertaking include the effectiveness of SafeWork SA’s compliance and enforcement functions, the voice of workers their representatives and families of deceased workers in investigation processes and the engagement between WorkSafe SA and other government agencies in monitoring workplace safety.

Merritt’s career spans over four decades with other key roles including Chief Executive of the National Safety Council of Australia and Chief Executive of Victoria’s Environmental Protection Authority.

Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector Kyam Maher said the review will help the government analyse the processes undertaken by SafeWork SA currently.

“This review will help us analyse SafeWork SA’s current operations and how we can strengthen it in the future so it is a nation-leading work health and safety regulator,” Maher said.

“Mr Merritt has an outstanding record and is widely respected by both business and worker representatives.

“All South Australians have the right to a safe workplace and to come home to their families and loved ones at the end of each day, it is essential that the community has confidence in SafeWork SA to properly investigate and prosecute breaches of work health and safety laws.”