Transcript John Watson WorkCover NSW

XIX World Congress on Safety and Health at
Work
A Regulator’s Journey to Harmonisation
14 September 2011
John Watson
General Manager
Work Health and Safety Division
WorkCover NSW
WorkCover NSW
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
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WorkCover NSW – a commercial organisation
$2.5 billion in
premiums
We contract seven Scheme
Agents
Operational
expenditure
$572 million
$9.5 billion
funds under
management
Last year we paid them $283
million
More than 85,000 new claims
More than 102,000 open claims
265,000
employers
Claims liabilities were $12
billion
$126 billion in
wages
2008/2009
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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
WorkCover's performance against national targets - Workplace injuries
Claims per 1,000 workers
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
base
period
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
Achieved
• 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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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.
WorkCover's performance against national targets - Fatalities
Claims per 100,000 workers
2.8
2.6
2.4
2.2
2.0
1.8
1.6
base
period
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
Achieved
• 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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2012
WorkCover NSW
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
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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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Journey to harmonisation
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
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New legislative arrangements
Duties of care:
• Persons Conducting a Business or Undertaking
(PCBUs)
• Workers
• Expanded consultation obligations
• Health and Safety Representatives
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New legislative arrangements
Enforcing compliance:
• Inspectors focus on providing education, advice
and assistance to businesses
• Notices
• Enforceable undertakings
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Ensuring national consistency
 Work Health and Safety Regulators’ Harmonisation
Project
 National Compliance and Enforcement Policy
 Framework for Common Approach to Inspection Work
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Implementation in New South Wales
Work Health and Safety Legislation
Implementation Program
Building internal capability – systems,
inspectorate and staff
Communicating and engaging with stakeholders
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Assisting industry meet their obligations
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WorkCover Assist Grants Program
Free workshop series outlining new legislation
Advisory visits
Training package
Website
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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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Improving workplace safety
 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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Further information
WorkCover Website
www.workcover.nsw.gov.au