B.7 Work Health and Safety

Work Health and Safety (WHS) within CMTEDD continues to be a priority for the directorate and is managed in accordance with the statutory provisions of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011(the Act); and supported by the ACTPS Safety Management System Framework and the whole of government Safety Support team. The CMTEDD People and Capability Branch together with the CMTEDD Safety Support Team provided guidance and support to CMTEDD in implementing the requirements under the Act.

During the reporting period CMTEDD was not issued (under Part 10 of the Act) with any improvement, prohibition or non-disturbance notices, nor did the Agency fail to comply with any enforceable undertakings under Part 11 or Part 2 (Divisions 2.2, 2.3 and 2.4) of the Act.

Health and Safety Structures and Consultation Arrangements

CMTEDD operates under a tiered Health and Safety Committee structure consisting of a directorate level committee (Tier 1), the WHS Network (Tier 2) covering the majority of CMTEDD staff working in safety and compliance roles as well as health and safety representatives and a localised Tier 2 Committee for Shared Services staff.

The CMTEDD Tier 1 Health and Safety Committee, the CMTEDD WHS Network meetings and the Shared Services localised committee were held quarterly to provide a mechanism for consultation, cooperation, coordination, information sharing and education. CMTEDD’s Tier 2 committees reported to the CMTEDD Tier 1 Health and Safety Committee. The Committees monitored the effectiveness of the safety management system, considered injury prevention initiatives and programs, and promoted the achievement of improved health and safety outcomes. The CMTEDD, Safety Support Team attended Tier 1 and Tier 2 committees to provide safety advice.

The Executive Management Group received quarterly WHS updates and copies of the Health and Safety Committee meetings were uploaded to the staff intranet. As at 30 June 2017, there were 39 elected Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) for the directorate.

During the reporting period:

  • a CMTEDD specific WHS Management System (WHSMS) was developed and implementation of the system commenced. This system aligns with the whole of government WHSMS Framework;
  • all CMTEDD WHS risk registers were completed; and
  • the Riskman Accident and Incident reporting tool continued to be promoted to staff across CMTEDD.

Injury Prevention and Health and Wellbeing

CMTEDD implemented a range of injury prevention and health and wellbeing initiatives and continued to promote a culture where health, safety and wellbeing are a part of everyday business. Initiatives implemented included:

  • Safety Promotion initiatives:
    • promotion of WorkSafe ACT’s Safety Month with a range of activities held during the month to help reduce the risk of accidents and incidents within the office;
    • promotion of Safe Work Australia’s Virtual Seminar Series; and
    • development of WHS policies and procedures as components of the CMTEDD WHSMS.
  • Health and Wellbeing initiatives:
    • ‘Health and Wellbeing’ reimbursement initiative (not exceeding $100 per annum) to financially support employees to participate in health and wellbeing activities;
    • representation on the whole of government Health and Wellbeing Network and WHS Working group through CMTEDD Corporate People and Capability Branch representation;
    • user pays fitness classes such as pilates;
    • user pays access to seated massage;
    • influenza vaccinations offered onsite to staff;
    • mental health awareness promotion activities;
    • New Access information sessions for staff;
    • Mental Health First Aid training;
    • Domestic/Family Violence Awareness training;
    • Healthy Weight Week was held in February and promoted across the directorate including the delivery of a range of health promotion activities. For example, cooking demonstrations and nutrition seminars presented by Nutrition Australia; and
    • staff participated in a 10,000 steps a day challenge during Healthy Weight Week to improve health and wellbeing.
  • Health and Safety training initiatives:
    • briefing sessions were held on the CMTEDD WHSMS for staff, WHS Network members and Executives;
    • induction sessions that include WHS information;
    • management of workplace psychological illness in the workplace program for supervisors;
    • respect, equity and diversity training; and
    • First Aid Officer and HSR training;
  • Early intervention and injury management initiatives:
    • ongoing provision of workstation assessments;
    • Activity Based Work (ABW) environments at the Canberra Nara Centre and Cosmopolitan Centre were designed to support worker well-being. Every workstation features an electronic sit-to-stand desk, adjustable monitor arms and a high quality standard chair;
    • to support staff movements into ABW environments, occupational therapists were engaged to conduct workstation assessments for staff who requested them, or who were identified as having special requirements in their new work environment;
    • during the first weeks following the move to ABW, occupational therapists were on site to train individual staff on how to correctly configure workstations in line with ergonomic requirements;
    • engagement of rehabilitation providers for both compensable and non-compensable injuries/illnesses to support employees to an early, safe and supported return to the workplace;
    • provision and promotion of professional and confidential counselling services available to staff and their families through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP); and
    • provision and promotion of the EAP Manager Assist Program.

Notifiable Incidents

There were 10 serious injury or illness and dangerous incidents that required notification to the regulator in accordance with Part 3 Section 38 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011.

Target 1 – reduce the incidence rate of claims resulting in one or more weeks off work by at least 30 per cent
 

CMTEDD # new 5 day claims

CMTEDD rate per 1000 employees

CMTEDD Target 1

ACTPS # new 5 day claims

ACTPS rate per 1000 employees

ACTPS Target 1

Baseline
(Avg FY 09-12)

17.00

7.84

7.84

336.33

17.21

17.21

 

2012 - 13

16.00

6.99

7.61

371

18.17

16.69

 

2013 - 14

13.00

5.60

7.37

326

15.48

16.18

 

2014 – 15

20.00

7.95

7.14

280

12.89

15.66

 

2015 – 16

13.00

5.21

6.90

205

9.33

15.14

 

2016 – 17

17.00

6.47

4.71

243

10.91

10.58

 

2017 – 18

  

4.54

  

10.21

 

2018 – 19

  

4.37

  

9.84

 

2019 – 20

  

4.21

  

9.46

 

2020 – 21

  

4.04

  

9.09

 

2021 - 22

  

3.87

  

8.72

 

Target 1 New 5 day claims per 1000 employees

In 2016-17, CMTEDD has seen an increase of four new claims exceeding five days incapacity per 1000 employees (total 17). While in 2016-17, CMTEDD was above its Target of 4.71 at a rate of 6.47, the directorate’s overall performance continues to compare well against the ACTPS target of 10.58 for 2016-17.

The directorate continues to work closely with the Injury Management Team to provide proactive case management services for both compensation and non-compensation matters and to support managers. Early intervention continues to be a priority for the directorate with an ongoing risk assessment and follow up of all accidents and incidents reported to prevent reoccurrence and further injury. The directorate continues to work with business units to assist with the development and implementation of strategies to support business units to ensure early intervention and a safe and quick return to work of injured workers.

Target 2: reduce the incidence rate of claims for musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) resulting in one or more weeks off work by at least 30 per cent
 

CMTEDD # new 5 day MSD claims

CMTEDD MSD rate per 1000 employees

CMTEDD Target  2

ACTPS # new 5 day MSD claims

ACTPS MSD rate per 1000 employees

ACTPS Target 2

Baseline
(Avg FY 09-12)

12.67

5.84

5.84

224.67

11.50

11.50

2012 - 13

9

3.93

5.67

240

11.76

11.15

2013 - 14

6

2.59

5.49

213

10.11

10.81

2014 – 15

12

4.77

5.32

180

8.28

10.46

2015 – 16

8

3.21

5.14

146

6.64

10.12

2016 – 17

10

3.81

3.53

150

6.73

7.26

2017 – 18

  

3.40

  

7.01

2018 – 19

  

3.28

  

6.75

2019 – 20

  

3.16

  

6.49

2020 – 21

  

3.03

  

6.24

2021 - 22

  

2.91

  

5.98

Target 2 New 5 day claims per 1000 employees

Dates are based on those claims received by Comcare in each financial year

Data is taken at 30 June in each of the years to allow for direct comparisons to be made between years

The report includes accepted claims which result in one or more weeks off work

Data includes claims up to 30 June 2017

CMTEDD has seen a slight increase from the previous year at 3.21 (8 claims) to 3.81 (10 claims) for the incidence rate of claims for musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) resulting in one or more weeks off work. Whilst slightly above the CMTEDD target, the rate compares favourably against the ACTPS target of 7.26.

The directorate has established manual handling intervention strategies to support its workers including:

  • work station assessments and specific workstations assessments for Activity Based Work environments;
  • engagement of Occupational Therapists to conduct workstation assessments;
  • development of WHS risk registers for the directorate;
  • the CMTEDD induction program delivered quarterly included information about safe manual handling techniques; and
  • the CMTEDD WHSMS has established requirements for the management of risks arising from hazardous manual tasks.

Further information can be obtained from

Sue Hall
Executive Director
Corporate
+61 2 6207 0569
Sue.Hall@act.gov.au