Print this pageIn accordance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1991, we are committed to providing a safe and healthy work environment. In 2008–09 we continued to implement strategies to encourage prevention, early intervention and management of health and safety issues as well as increase awareness generally through a range of health and wellbeing programs.
Our Health and Safety Committee meets quarterly to facilitate discussion between management and staff and to advise on health and safety issues in the workplace. Staff are encouraged to participate by talking with their elected Health and Safety Representatives who use the forum to raise and manage ongoing health and safety matters. The Health and Safety Representatives also conduct annual inspections to help identify and rectify potential workplace hazards.
In August 2008, we revised our Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) Guidelines and the Health and Safety Management Arrangements. These arrangements outline how OH&S issues will be managed in the workplace. In addition, we reviewed the Fitness for Duty and Return to Work Guideline to provide staff with practical advice for the management of illness and injury as it relates to the workplace. This includes support mechanisms for staff returning to work after an injury or illness. The review of these documents was conducted in consultation with staff through the OH&S and the Consultative Committees.
We implemented a twelve month calendar of health and wellbeing initiatives to minimise injury and illness in the workplace and raise awareness of health related issues. The program included onsite fitness classes, weight management programs, lunchtime awareness seminars and promotion of national health related campaigns such as Organ Donor Awareness Week.
In addition, as a preventative measure staff were offered the annual flu vaccination and opportunity for a workstation assessment. During 2008–09, 261 staff received the flu vaccination and 172 individual workstation assessments were conducted.
In response to the H1N1 Influenza staff received regular updates and information to reduce the risk of flu symptoms spreading. We also took preventative measures to ensure staff travelling overseas were provided with access to face masks and hand sanitiser if requested.
Our First Aid Officers play a vital role in supporting staff when they are injured. We have 9 fully trained First Aid Officers who are located throughout the building to ensure immediate assistance is available when required. In addition, a number of staff in Community Cabinet are also trained First Aid Officers to ensure assistance is available during meetings we hold with the public.
Incident reporting and investigation is a high priority and action is taken to rectify hazards as they occur. During 2008–09, 17 incident report forms were received most relating to slips/ trips/ falls and sprains. Of the 17 incidents reported, 1 compensation claim was submitted and this claim was accepted.
As required under section 68 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1991 (the OH&S Act), there was 2 notifications of an accident or dangerous occurrence during the year. There were nil directions or notices issues to us under the OH&S Act (section 29, 45, 46 and 47).
| 2007–08 | 2008–09 | |
|---|---|---|
| PROACTIVE MEASURES | ||
| Workstation assessments | 124 | 172 |
| Flu vaccinations | 220 | 261 |
| WELLBEING INDICATORS | ||
| Staff receiving employee assistance | 36 | 27 |
| Bullying and harassment | 0 | 0 |
| INCIDENT MANAGEMENT | ||
| Notifications of accidents and dangerous occurrences (s68 occurrences) | 1 | 2 |
| Directions or notices issued to PM&C under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (s29, 30, 45, 46, 47) | 0 | 0 |