MICK Gentleman has paid tribute to retiring ACT Work Safety Commissioner, Mark McCabe, for his contribution to making Canberra a safer place to work and live.

“On behalf of the ACT Government I thank Mr McCabe for his passion and tireless work in the area of workplace health and safety, and wish him well in the next chapter of his life,” Mick said.

“As ACT Work Safety Commissioner for over eight years, Mark has been instrumental in transforming WorkSafe ACT into a more trusted and customer-service focused regulator.

“In particular I would like to thank him and commend his work on the “Getting Home Safely” report, which has seen major improvements on ACT construction sites, with no deaths occurring on worksites since its implementation.

“He has established strong relationships with industry to reinforce the importance of workplace safety.

“He has been responsible for getting more inspectors out to more construction sites, more often.

“Mark’s achievements have been many, and include:

• delivering the Getting Home Safety Report on the safety of Canberra’s construction industry, resulting in additional inspectors being employed in the ACT;
• implementing the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 in the ACT as part of the model work health and safety laws across Australia;
• introducing the ‘Stop Construction Falls’ campaign, provided training for industry on key construction safety issues like falls from heights;
• working closely with the Asbestos Response Taskforce; and
• introducing mandatory Asbestos Awareness Training for all construction-related occupations in the ACT.

“Mark leaves a legacy that he can be justifiably proud of, and I wish him well in his retirement,” Minister Gentleman concluded.

Mark has worked in the ACT Government since 2003 commencing in the then Chief Minister’s Department to oversight the development of workers’ compensation and occupational health and safety. He was appointed as ACT Work Safety Commissioner in 2008.

Mark’s retirement takes effect on 15 April 2016.