WorkSafe WA inspectors have uncovered some serious workplace safety issues in the state’s motor vehicle repair industry.

Inspectors conducted a statewide sweep of motor vehicle repair premises and repair workshops at car retailers.

The broad probing resulted in the issue of more than 1,300 notices.

WorkSafe WA director Joe Attard said that motor vehicle repairers were targeted due to the industry’s high rate of work-related injuries, particularly with motor vehicle hoists and traffic management.

“This inspection program was prompted by the high number of soft-tissue and muscle injuries in the industry, and also by two work-related deaths in 2013 involving a hoist and traffic management,” Mr Attard said.

Inspectors visited 174 workplaces, issuing 1,294 improvement notices and 12 prohibition notices.

“A total of 264 notices were issued for breaches involving vehicle hoists, with 148 of these relating to pre-start checks, inspections and servicing records for hoists,” he said.

“The maintenance of hoists is a serious issue, with poorly maintained hoists posing the risk of collapse while they are supporting a vehicle with a worker or workers underneath.”

A further 83 notices were issued for traffic management safety breaches, such as a lack of personal protective equipment, poor mobile plant maintenance and issues of inadequate information, instruction and training.

“Inspectors also issued 335 notices for issues relating to hazardous substances in these workplaces, covering problems with registers, training, labelling and risk assessment,” Mr Attard said.

The high number of notices issued has led the authorities to conduct another inspection program in the next financial year, to ensure businesses improve their compliance.