DIMA Annual Report 1997-98
Appendix 5: Occupational Health and Safety (OH & S)
OHS policies
DIMA's management and employee responsibilities under the Occupational Health and Safety (Commonwealth Employment) Act 1991 (OHS Act) have been agreed to and are contained in the OHS Policy and Agreement.
The Policy and Agreement have been under review and a final document has achieved Community and Public Service Union ratification. It is expected that the new OHS Policy and Agreement will be formally endorsed early in 1998–99.
The Department currently has a number of agreed policies in place. These include:
- communicable diseases;
- first aid;
- eyesight testing;
- pesticide spraying; and
- Guidelines for Avoidance and Resolution of Disability Claims during Office Refurbishments.
OHS committees
The Department has established OHS Committees in the Central Office and each of the State/Territory offices.
The peak committee, the National Standing Committee on Occupational Health and Safety, met three times during the year.
Health and Safety Representatives
Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) have been elected for each Designated Work Group and were used as a consultative medium during negotiations with Telstra and Optus over the installation of communications equipment at Central Office.
The issue of the level of electromagnetic emissions was resolved after fast but extensive consultation. State HSRs have been active in their workplaces.
During the year, ten new Health and Safety Representatives were elected and trained.
[ Top Of Page ]Health, safety and welfare at work of employees
Measures taken during the year to ensure the health, safety and welfare at work of employees and contractors included the continued promotion of health and safety through provision of advice, work station assessments, training and the contracting of consultants and specialist trainers.
[ Top Of Page ]Incidents
There were 41 incidents that were reported to Comcare under Section 68 of the OHS Act. The reportable incidents include serious personal injuries, injuries which resulted in five or more days lost time and dangerous occurrences. Of these:
- 14 were from slips and falls at or near DIMA workplaces;
- 10 were in some way related to a stressful event;
- five resulted from an exposure to chemicals or infectious material or people; and
- four involved lifting that resulted in back injury.
Other reports were the result of a range of accidents and dangerous occurrences. There was one report of an Occupational Overuse Syndrome (OOS) injury.
[ Top Of Page ]Investigations
During 1997–98, Comcare conducted three investigations under Section 41 of the OHS Act. There were no notices issued under the OHS Act.
An investigation at the Victorian State Office was conducted as part of Comcare's Planned Investigation Program and found that generally DIMA is complying with the requirements of the OHS Act.
Comcare's NSW Office conducted an investigation into the contractual arrangements at the Villawood Detention Centre. This investigation is yet to be completed.
The report from an investigation into an incident involving a member of the public at the Perth Office in November 1997 has not been received.
[ Top Of Page ]Worker's compensation
The Workers' Compensation Premium for 1998–99 is significantly lower than that of previous years and reflects changes to the injury profile of DIMA.
The Worker's Compensation premium for 1998–99 has been set, by the Safety Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission, at $869 214 ($1.8 million in 1997–98).
In addition to the reduction in the quantum of the premium, Comcare has advised that there is a bonus amount of $558 700 due to an improvement over DIMA's estimated claims performance for 1997–98.
The deduction of the bonus from the premium leaves an amount paid for Worker's Compensation in 1998–99 of $310 514.
In percentage terms, DIMA's rate (0.6 per cent) is now amongst the lowest in the Commonwealth and well below the Commonwealth average premium of one per cent.
A significant drop in the total cost of claims, with a slight decrease in the number of claims, indicates that DIMA has been successful in reducing the number of high cost claims.
For example, the number of claims for Occupational Overuse Syndrome has been reduced from 24 in 1996–97 to eight in 1997–98 with an average cost of approximately $24 000.
One note of caution is that, in the same period, there was an increase in the number of stress claims from three to six.
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