Health & Safety Stakeholder Reference Group 26 April 2012 2 - 4pm Level 7, 222 Exhibition Street.

Health & Safety Stakeholder Reference Group

26 April 2012

2 - 4pmLevel 7, 222 Exhibition Street

Page 2

Welcome, Minutes, Action items

2017 strategy update

Prevention Strategy Update

LPIS update

Other Business

Close

AgendaMarlo Baragwanath

Time Agenda item

2.00

2.05

2.25

2.55

3.05

3.10

Page 3

Apologies, Minutes, Actions

Apologies

Previous Minutes - SRG dated 29 March 2012

Action items from previous meeting

WorkSafe 2017 FeedbackKey Themes

26 April 2012

Page 5

Five discussion papers were sent to stakeholders for comment in Feb-March

Mental Wellbeing

Return to Work

Medical & Allied Health

Service deliveryClaims

management and premium

Health & Safety

Program Development

& Delivery

Page 6

Key themes from all stakeholder feedback

Broad support for the strategy & interest in ongoing engagementBroad support for the strategy & interest in ongoing engagement

Recognition of work done to date on mental wellbeing ie. acknowledging the past

Recognition of work done to date on mental wellbeing ie. acknowledging the past

How we evolve the role/ scope of the OHS regulator in Mental

Wellbeing (no shared view) & in prevention

How we evolve the role/ scope of the OHS regulator in Mental

Wellbeing (no shared view) & in prevention

Stakeholders who sent feedbackStakeholders who sent feedback Key themesKey themes

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Your health & safety feedback

…concerned by the increasing focus on safety culture, tailored health and safety systems and health and

wellbeing… we do not believe that these are the functions of a regulator whose primary purpose is ensuring that

workplaces are compliant with the law

…concerned about the focus on 'safety cultures' and 'business systems'… grateful that there are

strong indications this part of the strategy is underpinned by consultation and engagement but

words need to be included: “in particular with social partners (i.e. unions and employer

associations)”

…In our view a focus on such 'business' and 'culture' aspects must not detract,

confuse or marginalise Worksafe regulatory functions

Terms such as 'safety culture' 'positive safety culture' 'business systems' and

'quality business systems' must be clear and unambiguous. These terms mean

different things to different people…

…build upon provisions in the Act in strategically supporting

Health and Safety Representatives in workplaces

to build effective local issue resolution processes and

procedures

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Your health & safety feedback

Need to acknowledge the constraints of [claims] as a

measurement tool for health and safety performance

The OHS strategy appears devoid of actual injury reduction targets… strategy

should include specific measureable outcomes specified by injury type

… concern that the OHS focus outlined in the strategy

appears uncertain and without specific measureable outcomes which lead to fewer

injuries and deaths

Discussion paper lacking in relation to activities to

address known hazards and targeted industries.

There needs to be a link to the National OHS Strategy as we consider that Victoria should continue to be a key

player in its implementation…

The use of broader measures than workers compensation data for measuring OHS performance

must be included in the Strategy including the legitimate role for feedback and intelligence from

social partners into the Strategic Prevention activities.

Page 9

Your mental wellbeing feedback

Mental wellbeing is not defined and there is a lack of acknowledgement of the work undertaken by Worksafe

as the OHS regulator over a number of years …

The issue should be broken into 3 components: OHS - referred to as risks to psychological

health; Claims management; & RTW as each will have a different approach

The management of the risks to psychological

health are not new in OHS and are not limited to

bullying…

…numerous 'standards' reflected in Worksafe publications which

adopt Worksafe regulatory approach to focus on the 'control' of risks.

…we emphasise the need for WorkSafe to acknowledge and build upon the

considerable body of excellent work and guidance material

…[we] have for many years been engaged with WorkSafe and other stakeholders in the

development of strategies to identify, assess and control stress related hazards…the ‘Mental wellbeing’ document doesn’t acknowledge this significant work and the learning from its

limited implementation…

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Your mental wellbeing feedback

…the strategy needs to provide clear guidance on

what compliance is…

WorkSafe should limit its activities to addressing work related mental health problems such as

work related stress, bullying and fatigue…… concerns that involvement in areas of personal

health blur the lines between WorkSafe’s role as OHS regulator and workers compensation provider

…concerns about where the role of the workplace, and that of WorkSafe, should start and finish …include reference to “work” in the topic title…

…not convinced that it is the role of a workplace health and safety regulator to be involved in researching and sharing knowledge

about investment in wellbeing programs

…consider the proposed measure of success is problematic

…the task remains for WorkSafe to develop effective compliance tools

and measures and we urge the focus remain on the regulator’s role

Page 11

Our strategic themes have evolved

Service delivery

Prevention Return to Work

Claims Mgmt

Mental wellbeing

People

IT & systems

Performance analysis & research

Medical & allied health

Common law

Premium

Covers Health & Safety Program Development & Delivery (i.e.

includes the strategic operating

framework)

Page 12

Next steps

SRG discuss key themes & response

to feedback

Apr 2012 May 2012 Jun 2012 Jul 2012

Update on 2012/13 corporate plan (Jun 28 SRG)

WorkSafe 2017 further discussed at

Board meeting

Draft Corporate Plan reviewed

1:1 meetings with general manager

operations (30 Apr- 11 May)

Commencement of 2012/13 initiatives

Public release of WorkSafe 2012-2015

Corporate Plan

13

Prevention Strategy Update

• 2017 at a high level

• Progress on 2012/13

14

Awareness raising

–Leverage our public communications to raise awareness of the benefits business and workers can capture by investing in workplace safety–Influence social aspirations for workplace health, safety and wellbeing in Victoria

Dealing with hazards

–Interventions to help people at work to comply with the law and prevent injuries by dealing with hazards at their source–Better utilise our regulatory activity to increase our understanding of priority hazards and effective controls–Improve our capacity to measure effectiveness of interventions and monitor the sustainability of positive change in workplace safety

Evolving our approach

–Better utilise our interventions to encourage or require employers to address safety hazards as part of the system of work in place at their workplaces they are responsible for under the law (OHS Act s.21(2)(a))–Build on our existing base of employer focussed programs–Encourage employers to promote a culture within their workplace that values safety and OHS leadership

Ongoing regulatory functions

–Continuously improve the efficiency and effectiveness of WorkSafe's discharge of its mandatory OHS

2017- PreventionStrategy snapshot

Page 14

15

Prevention5 year road map

Page 15

PriorityAwareness raising

11

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5

PriorityDealing with hazards

22

PriorityEvolving our approach

33

PriorityOngoing regulatory functions

44

Road Map

Leverage WorkSafe’s communications as a tool to encourage employers to comply and adopt a more systematic approach to OHS

Review the evidence

Identify and prioritise hazards and their root cause

Ensure alignment of risks/targets with SOF

Improve targeting processes

Look at our own work processes to better utilise our employer focussed interventions and other tools

Encourage employers to reflect and act on the systems of work that have led to a failure

Encourage employers to manage their OHS in a systematic way

Review of PSD regulatory reform options

Ongoing reform of mandatory OHS regulatory functions

16

Thinking we went out with

Strategy 2017- “Systems and OHS regulation”

Feedback:

•Stakeholders

•Group Leaders

•WorkSafe staff

•Operations Leadership Team

•PSD Leadership Team

There isn't a shared view about what ‘a systematic approach’ is or what it means for us in our work

‘Systems’ don’t guarantee good OHS

Some of us ‘do it now’

It can’t and it shouldn’t displace our C&E role … ever

It’s all part of our evolution as a regulator

17

What ‘evolving our approach’ means

WorkSafe needs to keep looking for the next set of ideas to throw into the mix with our traditional compliance and enforcement approach, and emerging employer focussed tools to gain ground in the fight against injuries.

So:

In the near term we will look at OUR OWN WORK PROCESSES to better utilise our employer focussed interventions where our visits and notices aren't leading to sustained change, and for cohorts of employers where it makes sense.

Over the medium term we need to get more uniform in how we use our workplace interventions to encourage employers to reflect and act on the SYSTEMS OF WORK (as per the OHS Act 2004 s.21(2) (a)) that have led to a failure, rather than applying a band-aid solution to go back next month to put another one on.

Over the longer term we've got to encourage employers to manage OHS at their workplace in a SYSTEMATIC WAY (which in some cases may involve them applying a certified auditable system from the market) while acknowledging that as a regulator we will never walk away from enforcing the law in their workplaces.

18

Progress on 2012/13

Positive feedback• Board• Executive Leadership Team• Operations• VTHC/ VCEA

19

High level priorities for 2012/13

Hazards•Lifting, lowering and shiftingboxes, crates, bags, people

•Dangerous machines

Health issues

•Asbestos

•Worker- psychological

Cohorts•Construction

•Transport•HSRs

•Agriculture

Focus areas•Transport•Storage

•Warehousing•Aged care

•Manufacturing•Grocery

•Meat processing•Construction

20

1. Manual handling

2. Dangerous machines

3. Asbestos

4. Health and safety reps

5. Construction

Awareness and compliance (July- onwards)

Awareness then compliance and more (July- onwards)

A single source of information

Empowered through better service offering

Keep going

The problemOur thinking on the methodThe big 5

21

Key ingredients for campaign design

• Field and enforcement ‘smell test’ for relevance, applicability and targeting

• Key stakeholder groups engaged early and involved in implementation (eg. manual handling, dangerous machines)

22

Key things coming up for SRG

• Outline of manual handling and dangerous machines campaign

• The Caple Report on HSR support

• Update on process for reviewing public info materials for psychological hazards

Update on National Health and Safety Reform

Angela Jolic & Liz Bailey

Stakeholder Reference Group

26 April 2012

Page 24

National WHS Laws Update

• Victoria, WA and SA have delayed implementation of the national WHS laws. Implementation will commence in Tasmania on 1 January 2013 and has already commenced in the remaining jurisdictions

• Summary of Supplementary Impact Assessment released:• Assessed 20 key changes between current Victorian laws and the proposed

national laws• Showed that only 3 of the 20 key changes were likely to have a positive impact on

Victorian businesses• Found the total cost to Victoria of adopting national WHS laws to be $3.44 billion

over 5 years (net present value)• This includes transition costs of $812 million and annualised ongoing costs to

business in the order of $587 million a year over the first 5 years• Government is currently considering the implications of

this Assessment• COAG met on 13 April and agreed the national WHS laws

will be reviewed by the end of 2014

Page 25

Report on national OHS forums

Strategic Issues Group – WHS 13 April meeting

• Agreed to consideration of Model Mines Regulations at 17-18 May meeting

• Agreed amended Implementation TAG Terms of Reference

• Agreed Draft Code of Practice Tree trimming and removal – crane access method to Safe Work Australia Members Group for approval

• Agreed to tree trimming and removal guidance

Page 26

Report on national OHS forums

Next Safe Work Australia Members Group Meeting on 27 April will consider:

• Process for managing urgent issues arising with the implementation of WHS legislation

• Draft Safe Work Australia Strategic Plan 2012 -15

• Draft Safe Work Australia Operational Plan 2012 -15

• Mandatory inclusion of WHS reporting in annual reports – discussion paper for public comment

Page 27

Heads of Workplace Safety Authorities (HWSA)

Next HWSA meeting on 26 April will consider:

• Regulators Harmonisation Project – Status Update on all Phase 2 items, proposed change to harmonised guidance workplan, and updated HWSA Memorandum of Understanding for sign off

• Final reports on previous cross-jurisdictional projects (Safe Design, Manufacture and Supply of Plant; and Worker Safety on or near Public Roads)

• Cross-jurisdictional funding proposal on Quad Bikes Research

• Proposal to re-establish regular cross-jurisdictional inspectorate forum

• Proposed amendments to HWSA harmonised Guidance Policy

• Process for dealing with WHS Implementation Issues

• WHS Act exemption proposal to NSW from Habitat for Humanity

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Any Questions?

Page 29

CloseMarlo Baragwanath

Next SRG meeting - 31 May 2012, 2 - 4pm