B.7 Work Health and Safety

Work Health and Safety (WHS) 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 Work Health and Safety 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 of the Work Health and Safety Act.

Health and Safety Structures and Consultation Arrangements

The tiered CMTEDD WHS Committees and Network met quarterly and comprised Executive Directors, Directors, Senior Managers, Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) and officers in safety and compliance roles. Work Health and Safety issues were monitored and managed through the tiered committee structures, the directorate’s 43 HSRs as well as through local Health and Safety Coordinators and officers in safety and compliance roles.

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 the meetings to provide safety advice.

During the reporting period the directorate:

• continued to implement the CMTEDD WHS Management System (WHSMS) across the directorate;
• in consultation with workers, reviewed the WHS Work Group structure and held elections as required for Health and Safety Representatives;
• held the directorate’s first CMTEDD Safety Awards recognising staff in the following categories: Leadership, Health and Safety Representative (HSR), Health and Wellbeing Initiative, Solution to an Identified Hazard, WHS Coordinator of the Year and Rehabilitation Case Manager of the Year;
• commenced a WHS Audit program to determine the directorate’s conformance with the WHS Management System;
• developed and piloted the Occupational Violence hazard element of the WHS Management System that aligns with WoG Occupational Violence policy across the directorate; and
• continued to promote the Riskman Accident and Incident reporting tool 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 National Safe Work Month with activities held during the month to assist in promotion of safety at work;
  • promotion of CMTEDD Safety Awards recognising safety achievements;
  • promotion of Safe Work Australia’s Virtual Seminar Series; and
  • development of WHS policies and procedures as components of the CMTEDD WHS Management System.
• 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;
  • directorate representation on the Whole of Government Health and Wellbeing Network and WHS Working group;
  • in April 2018 CMTEDD Business Units took part in the Whole of Canberra Workplace Challenge. The Challenge ran over two weeks and was open to all Canberra workplaces. The Challenge was designed to help people create new habits to get them moving throughout the day – particularly in the workplace. Participants had to complete at least 30 minutes of exercise each day;
  • user pays fitness classes such as Pilates;
  • user pays access to seated massage;
  • influenza vaccinations offered onsite to staff;
  • mental health awareness promotion activities;
  • Mental Health First Aid training;
  • Domestic/Family Violence Awareness training;
  • healthy weight week was held in February and promoted across the directorate; and
  • staff participated in a 10,000 steps a day challenge during healthy weight week.
• Health and Safety training initiatives:
  • briefing sessions were held on the CMTEDD WHSMS for staff and Executives;
  • induction sessions were held quarterly and included WHS information;
  • management of workplace psychological illness in the workplace program for supervisors;
  • Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety offered to staff in safety roles;
  • Respect, Equity and Diversity training; and
  • First Aid Officer and HSR training.
• Early intervention and injury management initiatives:
  • ongoing provision of work station 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.

Accident Reporting

During 2017-18 there were 367 reported workplace accidents or incidents across CMTEDD and of those 21 were reported to WorkSafe in accordance with Part 3 Section 38 of the Work Safety Act 2011.

During the reporting period CMTEDD was issued (under Part 10 of the Act) with three provisional improvement notices following a tractor rollover incident at the National Arboretum Canberra on  23 January 2018:

• IN-05771-TSEUYG-1: Prohibiting the operation of any plant or vehicles within the workplace outside of a vehicle's or plant's operation on a road or defined track established for the travel of a motor vehicle;
• IN-05771-TSEUYG-2: Prohibiting any use or operation of tractor ACT Government Registration 215-234 with the exception of use for the purpose of repairs conducted by a competent person; and
• IN-05771-TSEUYG-3: Prohibiting any use or operation of trailer ACT Registration T35*8E with the exception of use for the purpose of repairs conducted by a competent person.

The directorate did not fail to comply with any enforceable undertakings under Part 11 or Part 2 (Divisions 2.2, 2.3 and 2.4) of the Act.

Performance against Targets

In 2017-18 CMTEDD, as shown in figures and tables following, achieved significant reductions for the following targets: Target 1, reduced the incidence rate of claims resulting in one or more weeks off work; and Target 2, reduced the incidence rate of claims for musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). These significant reductions from 2016-17 have been achieved with early intervention strategies and proactive case management.

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

TARGET 2 – reduce the incidence rate of claims for musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) by at least 30%

Note:

• 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

Further information can be obtained from

Robert Wright
Executive Director
Corporate
+61 2 6207 0569
robert.wright@act.gov.au