C9 Workplace health and safety

The Directorate is dedicated to improving workplace health and safety across schools and central office. Key actions for the reporting period included:

• the ongoing review of the Directorate's Safety Management System (SMS) and Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) policy and procedures
• the development and implementation of new and ongoing initiatives outlined in the Workplace Health and Safety and Injury Management Improvement Strategy 2009-2012 and the Health Safety and Wellbeing Strategic Plan
  2013-2015. These include the development of site based Risk Registers and programs to address the three highest mechanisms of injury for the Directorate: Slips, Trips and Falls; Being Hit by Moving Objects; and Body Stressing
• the ACT Education and Training Directorate Work Health Safety Audit project undertaken from October 2012 to April 2013 will provide key focus areas for SMS improvement.

The Directorate continues to support the holistic, 'one service' approach to improving the health and return to work outcomes of ACTPS injured workers outlined in the ACTPS Workers' Compensation and Work Safety Improvement Plan (ACTPS Plan). Key actions for the reporting period included:

• the development of enhanced injury management performance reporting tools for Directorate leaders
• the review of current injury management support materials and processes including the clarification of injury management roles to assist principals to manage non-compensable injuries and return to work processes at their site in line with the transition to empowering ACT schools.

Investigations

In the reporting period the Directorate was issued with three Improvement Notices 5818, 5819, 5820. These notices were issued under the ACT Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act), in regard to an electrical incident at a school. These related to:

• 5818 - failure to ensure non-disturbance of site
• 5819 - failure to ensure the regulator was notified immediately after becoming aware of the incident
• 5820 - failure to provide immediate access to health professionals.

A review of the Accident/Incident reporting process, electrical equipment policy and risk management processes including the WHS issues identified in the Improvement Notices was completed. The Improvement Notices were revoked on 3 October 2012.

In the reporting period, 11 Notifiable Incidents were reported to WorkSafe ACT and followed up by Health Safety and Wellbeing (HSW) section of the Directorate. These incidents related to asbestos, falls, student injury and two incidents with potential to cause injury.

HSW investigated 65 incidents reported via Accident/Incident Reporting and/or requests to visit schools to assess WHS issues and provide advice. Shared Services Safety Support Team provided support to the Directorate with the follow up of nine WHS issues.

A total of 696 staff Accident/Incident Reports were received during 2012-13, up from the previous year's figure of 484. There were 16 notifiable incidents reported under the WHS Act.

The Directorate received 1,575 student Accident/Incident Reports and 28 third party Accident/Incident Reports. Following the issuing of the three Improvement Notices the comprehensive accident reporting system was reviewed and new procedures implemented. This included a requirement to report all accidents including those requiring minor first aid to ensure all accidents were reported. The increase of reported student Accident/Incident Reports from the previous reporting period of 1,481 can be attributed to this change in process. All student and third party reports are notifiable under section 38 of the WHS Act and were reported to WorkSafe ACT.

Worker consultation arrangements and health and safety representatives

As required under the WHS Act, the Directorate consulted with employees regarding Worker Consultation Units. A total of 88 Worker Consultation Units were formed during 2012-13. The Directorate had 90 Health and Safety Representatives (HSR) and 58 Deputy Health and Safety Representatives undertaking their responsibilities. To support representatives, training was delivered to newly elected HSRs in August 2012 and quarterly network meetings for representatives were conducted in August and November 2012 and March and June 2013. These contact points ensured up-to-date health and safety information was disseminated throughout the Directorate.

Injury prevention and management

Injury Prevention and Management Policy Committee

The Injury Prevention and Management Policy Committee is the key consultative committee for the Directorate's workplace health and safety matters. The Committee has had oversight of the development of new and existing health and safety initiatives such as:

• ongoing review of the Workplace Health and Safety Reference Manual
• policy and procedure review of electrical and first aid policies
• contractor arrangements review
• a Sharp Instruments Survey in schools
• participation in the Shared Services Health and Safety Manual Handling project.

Injury prevention and management programs

In 2012-13, a range of programs were implemented throughout the Directorate to ensure the safety and welfare of staff including:

• ongoing implementation of the Directorate's Workplace Health and Safety and Injury Management Improvement Strategy 2009-2012
• ongoing development of the Directorate's Workplace Health and Safety Reference Manual and ongoing review of the Intranet site: Index to improve access to workplace health and safety information
• the relocation of the Directorate's Injury Management team in August 2012 to complete the transition into the whole of government model for provision of injury management services
• continuation of the Employee Assistance Program which is an independent, confidential, short term, solutions-focused counselling service for staff and their immediate families. The service offers counselling assistance for both work and non-work related matters. The average utilisation rate during 2012-13 was 5.69 percent compared to 6.90 percent in 2011-12. This utilisation rate includes staff attendance at Employee Assist and Manager Assist services. This variance is attributed to an adjustment in staff numbers, and does not accurately reflect actual usage. Actual usage was stable during both periods: 330 cases in 2011-12 and 333 in 2012-13
• delivery of the Flu vaccination program to over 2,270 employees and HEP A/B to over 26 targeted employee groups including BSOs, First Aid Officers, early childhood teachers and learning support assistants
• ongoing Respectful Workplaces training to assist in the management and reduction of the risk of psychological injury for employees. Training was delivered to 40 staff in leadership positions and various employee groups including business managers and BSOs during the reporting period.

Injury prevention and management targets

The Directorate is working towards improving workplace health and safety performance through:

• the completion of actions outlined in the Directorate's Workplace Health and Safety and Injury Management Improvement Strategy 2009-2012
• the development of the Health Safety and Wellbeing Strategic Plan 2013-15 in line with the WHS Act and the targets outlined in the Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy 2012-22
• the development of prevention programs to address the Directorate's risk profile including the three highest mechanisms of injury: Slips, Trips and Falls; Being Hit by Moving Objects; and Body Stressing
• continuing to address the timeliness of reporting and appropriate referrals to Shared Services Injury Management.

The 2012-13 insurance premium rate for the Directorate was 3.17 percent. This is an increase compared to the 2011-12 result of 2.79 percent and compares favorably against the whole of government result of 4.1 percent for the same period. There were 159 claims accepted for the calendar year ending December 2012 (149 for 2011).

Target 2: Reduce the incidence rate of claims resulting in one or more weeks off work by at least 30 percent

There has been a reduction in claims requiring one or more weeks off work through early intervention and ongoing risk assessment of all accident/incident reporting and the provision of specialist advice to prevent reoccurrence and further injury. This was achieved through the provision of:

• workplace assessment and advice
• workstation assessments
• ergonomic assessments.

Table C9.1: Reduce the incidence rate of claims resulting in one or more weeks off work by at least 30 percent

Source: Human Resources Branch
Note:
1. The baseline is an average of the three financial years: 2009-10, 2010-11, and 2011-12.

Target 3: Reduce the incidence rate of claims for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) resulting in one or more weeks off work by at least 30 percent

The early intervention focus adopted by the Directorate has seen a reduction in MSDs.

The ACTPS Manual Handling Program provides support for teachers and workers responsible for special needs students through:

• provision of support and advice to the Directorate Health, Safety and Wellbeing Team regarding manual handling
• delivery of training to specialist schools
• review and advice on equipment/procedures/training.

The Directorate is required to report on its performance against these national improvement targets, which also form part of the ACT Public Service Workplace Health Strategic Plan.

Table C9.2: Reduce the incidence rate of claims for MSDs resulting in one or more weeks off work by at least 30 percent ^a,b

Source: Human Resources Branch
Note:
a. The report includes accepted claims only
b. Dates are based on those claims received by Comcare in each financial year
c. The baseline is an average of the three financial years: 2009-10, 2010-11, and 2011-12.

For more information contact:
Director
Human Resources
(02) 6205 9202