Work health and safety
The Treasury promotes early intervention and prevention through its health, safety and wellbeing systems, policies and programs. The Treasury actively encourages employees to contribute to a safer workplace by reporting potential hazards, incidents and accidents as soon as they occur, and being sensible about their actions in the workplace.
To assist officers to exercise due diligence in accordance with the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, the Treasury undertook a consultative process with internal business groups to review its risk profile for Work Health and Safety hazards and associated risks. The department’s risk registers were reviewed for consistency and a system was implemented to continuously review and update the registers through the Work Health and Safety Committee.
The Treasury continues to explore and implement strategies to help minimise the human and financial costs of injury and illness. Case management presents issues that are complex and varied. In 2012-13 the Treasury offered flexible arrangements that benefited both the department and injured or ill employees by supporting them to manage their illness or injury appropriately and to remain at work. Potential compensation claims and loss of productivity were reduced through the Treasury Early Intervention Policy which assisted employees to access immediate treatment for illnesses and injuries likely to impact their capacity to work.
The Treasury’s 2011-12 Comcare premium rate was revised from 0.61 per cent to 0.62 per cent and the 2012-13 Comcare premium rate was revised from 0.39 per cent to 0.40 per cent. The Treasury’s Comcare premium rate has consistently remained lower than the Commonwealth average of 1.41 per cent and 1.77 per cent respectively.
In accordance with Part 10 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, the Treasury is required to provide a report on work health and safety activities and statistics for notifiable incidents, investigations and notices.
| Work Health and Safety Act 2011 | Number |
|---|---|
| Deaths that required notice under section 38 | 0 |
| Serious injury or illness that required notice under section 38 | 0 |
| Dangerous incidents that required notification under section 38 | 0 |
| Investigations conducted under Part 9 | 0 |
| Notices given to The Treasury under section 191 (improvement notices) | 0 |
| Notices given to The Treasury under section 195 (prohibition notices) | 0 |
| Notices given to The Treasury under section 198 (non-disturbance) | 0 |
Ongoing risk management activities within the Treasury’s Health and Safety Management Arrangements included:
- Ergonomic workstation setup and assessments as requested; implementation of Comcare’s Work Health and Safety eLearning module for both staff and managers; lens reimbursements; the Employee Assistance Program; review of the Work Health and Safety risk profile; review of the Health and Safety Representative network and active promotion and engagement of the Health and Safety Committee.
- The Health and Safety Committee met every three months in accordance with the Work Health and Safety Act 2011. The meetings monitored and reviewed health and safety measures and facilitated cooperation and communication amongst staff.
- Timely reporting of work-related incidents ensures immediate action is taken to rectify hazards. During 2012-13, the Treasury received 23 work-related incident reports which included a number of trips, slips, falls, outside the Treasury building.
- Managers are encouraged to report absences which may be related to physical or psychological injury or illness to enable staff and managers to be supported. This includes assistance under the Treasury Early Intervention Policy.
- Health and Safety Representatives and their work groups are aligned to the Treasury’s group structure. There are two health and safety representatives from each Group and all of the positions are filled.
- First aid officers are located throughout the department. Staff with underlying health conditions such as epilepsy, asthma and diabetes are encouraged to advise nearby first aid officers to ensure timely and appropriate assistance is provided.
- The Treasury offers individual workstation assessments and training on ergonomics, workstation adjustment and recommended workstation practices. A total of 24 employees were referred for external workstation assessments and 112 employees received individual workstation setups conducted by trained Treasury employees during 2012-13. Workstation setup training is offered as part of the Treasury’s Health and Wellbeing Program.
- Employees requiring glasses for screenbased use can be reimbursed a portion of the cost. In 2012-13, 21 employees received reimbursement.
Free influenza vaccinations are offered annually with 386 employees receiving the vaccination in April 2013.