XIX World Congress on Safety and Health at Work

A Regulator’s Journey to Harmonisation 14 September 2011

John WatsonGeneral Manager Work Health and Safety DivisionWorkCover NSW

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Responsible for administering work health and safety, injury management, return to work and workers compensation laws, and managing the workers compensation system in New South Wales

WorkCover NSW

32008/2009

WorkCover NSW – a commercial organisation

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National Target 1: 40% reduction in injury claim incidence rate by 2012. NSW tracking slightly off the target as at the end of FY 2009/10. Trend is deteriorating

• The workplace injuries target incidence rate for 2009/10 was 10.1• The actual workplace injuries incidence rate for that period was 10.7, with a statistical confidence range of 10.6 to 10.8• Injury incidence rate is the number of injuries per 1,000 employees who worked in NSW during the reporting period. • Injury frequency rate is the number of injuries per million hours worked. It is calculated as: Number of injuries diseases /  Number of hours worked by employees x 1,000,000.

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base period

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Cla

ims

per 1

,000

wor

kers

WorkCover's performance against national targets - Workplace injuries

Achieved

National Target 2 : 20% reduction in fatality incidence rate by 2012. NSW was on track to meet target as at the end of the FY 09/10.

The small number of fatalities means the fatality incidence rate trend can be quite volatile.

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• The fatalities target incidence rate for 2009/10 was 2.17• The actual fatalities incidence rate for that period was 1.99, with a statistical confidence range of 1.52 to 2.57• Fatalities incidence rate is the number of fatalities per 100,000 employees.

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1.8

2.0

2.2

2.4

2.6

2.8

base period

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Cla

ims

per 1

00,0

00 w

orke

rs

WorkCover's performance against national targets - Fatalities

Achieved

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Focused on reducing workplace fatalities, injuries and illnesses in New South Wales by:

•Promoting productive, healthy and safe workplaces

•Providing advice and assistance to businesses

• Working in partnership with the community

WorkCover NSW

Corporate Priorities• Help employers improve understanding and ability to achieve safer

and healthier workplaces through guidance material, workplace advisory visits, partnerships and alliances, research grants, training and mentor program.

• Encourage the sharing of leading practices and learning from exemplar businesses to lift standards across the board. Delivery of timely, accurate and helpful information and advice to workers and employers.

• Identify high risk occupations and work with employers to help reduce business risk, reduce incidents, improve performance, and reduce workers compensation premiums

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WorkCover NSW is committed to:

•Working together with the other Australian states and territories to achieve harmonised work health and safety legislation

•Ensuring the effective implementation of the new legislation across New South Wales

•Working in partnership with businesses, employers, workers and unions to ensure they are ready to operate under the new arrangements

Journey to harmonisation

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Duties of care:

• Persons Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBUs)

• Workers

• Expanded consultation obligations

• Health and Safety Representatives

New legislative arrangements

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Enforcing compliance:

• Inspectors focus on providing education, advice and assistance to businesses

• Notices

• Enforceable undertakings

New legislative arrangements

Work Health and Safety Regulators’ Harmonisation Project

National Compliance and Enforcement Policy Framework for Common Approach to Inspection Work

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Ensuring national consistency

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Work Health and Safety Legislation Implementation Program

Building internal capability – systems, inspectorate and staff

Communicating and engaging with stakeholders

Implementation in New South Wales

WorkCover Assist Grants Program Free workshop series outlining new legislation Advisory visits Training package Website

• Up-to-date information• Webinars• Fact sheets• Frequently asked questions

Advertising campaign and online media updates

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Assisting industry meet their obligations

Stakeholder engagement strategies • Consultation on model regulation and codes of practice• External Reference Group (ERG)

- promotes discussion between WorkCover and those affected by the changes.

- four specific ERG subgroups - PCBUs & Officers; Right of Entry; Interpretation and Enforcement; and Consultation

Industry Reference Groups (IRGs)

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Assisting industry meet their obligations

Identifying emerging trends and priority areas

Developing strategies and allocating people and resources to where they are most needed

Sharing information, expertise, techniques and resources across jurisdictions and stakeholder groups

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Improving workplace safety

WorkCover Website

www.workcover.nsw.gov.au

Further information