‘Toughest’ safety requirements for food delivery platforms, riders set to be introduced in NSW
New measures include requiring food delivery companies to provide protective equipment to riders.
The NSW Government announced it is introducing new laws to improve safety outcomes in the gig economy and food delivery industry.
The new measures include requiring food delivery companies to provide protective equipment to riders, the implementation of compulsory induction training and a new penalty system for riders to crackdown on “repeated unsafe practices.”
“These laws have come in the wake of a recent education and safety blitz that found continued widespread non-compliance with the state’s road and work health and safety laws,” Minister for Better Regulation Kevin Anderson said. “It is completely unacceptable that our inspectors found almost nine in ten food delivery riders were not wearing safe, hi-visibility clothing and 40 per cent were observed riding in an unsafe manner.”
“Following the tragic deaths of four riders late last year we immediately increased education and compliance to try to lift safety standards but we can no longer stand by while riders continue placing themselves and others at risk,” he added.
The changes will be implemented by amendments to the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017 and were recommended in the final report of the Joint Taskforce into Food Delivery Rider Safety.
