Appendix D: Occupational health and safety

In 2008–09, the Commission undertook a different approach to employee health and fitness by offering a Heath and Lifestyle Month. This new approach offered more opportunities to our employees through a number of activities provided and workplace challenges. These included:

• annual influenza vaccinations
• Health and Lifestyle Month activities
• enhanced and targeted OHS information through the Commission’s online staff induction program and face to face Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) sessions including Manual Handling and Workstation Assessment training
• OHS training for OHS Committee members
• regular and targeted hazard inspections, and
• workstation assessments for all new employees and those with reported health concerns.

Legislative changes

With the legislative changes to the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1991, the Commission consulted with all employees to develop new Health and Safety Management Arrangements (HSMAs) and reviewed other OHS policies and guidelines. The new HSMAs are now in place.

Outcomes

Through ongoing OHS initiatives for all employees, the Commission has noted an increase in the number of reported accidents and incidents which allowed for appropriate early intervention. Early management of reported injuries and incidents has continued to assist keeping the Commission’s claim numbers low.

Accident statistics

During the year, there were two (2) incidents that required notices under section 68 of the OHS Act. One incident involved an employee of the Commission and the other was a participant attending training on the Commission’s premises. No directions were given to the Commission under section 45 and no notices were given under sections 29, 46 or 47.

No investigations were conducted during the year.

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