Work Health Safety and Injury Management

In reply to Mr PISONI (Unley) (18 July 2014). (Estimates Committee B)

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for Education and Child Development): I have been advised of the following:

In February 2013, the Department for Education and Child Development (DECD) made a formal request to WorkCover to extend the formal review of the work health safety and injury management system. The additional levy was applicable for 1 April to 30 September 2013 at a total cost of $9,000.

The extension was requested due to the time and resources required to implement the restructure of the department's health and safety unit. The fees funded the administrative costs of the partnership program between WorkCover and the department.

WorkCover no longer audits the public sector. As such, in June 2014 the department's work health safety and injury management systems were audited by Deloitte.

DECD achieved compliance in work health safety and injury management in the recent audit by Deloitte and has an injury frequency rate of 14.6 injuries per million hours worked, which compares favourably to the average rate of 16.5 across the public sector.