SOFT TISSUE INJURIES

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (15:12): My question is to the Minister for Industrial Relations. Will he provide the chamber with details of what action is being taken by WorkCover and its claims agent, Employers Mutual, to reduce soft tissue injuries?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister Assisting the Premier in Public Sector Management) (15:12): I thank the honourable member for her question. As members would be aware, this government has a strong commitment towards improving safety at work, and this commitment is reflected in our Greater Safety at Work Strategic Plan target which is to achieve the nationally agreed target of 40 per cent reduction in injury by 2012.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: Obviously, there are some members in this parliament who do not seem to be interested in that. I would have thought it is a far better target to prevent workers being injured. It is a pity that that is not the focus of some other people. I am advised that in the 2007-08 financial year, soft tissue injuries represented the largest percentage of worker injuries. This government supports the work of employers and others in working to achieve this target of a 40 per cent reduction. I am pleased to report on one of these initiatives today.

Soft tissue injuries are often very painful for the worker involved and significantly impair their quality of life. These types of injuries also drain the productivity of workplaces and can be very costly for the WorkCover scheme. WorkCover's claims agent, Employers Mutual, runs a member incentive program, and each year they reinvest a share of operational profits to assist South Australian employers with occupational health, safety and welfare and injury management initiatives. This member incentive program aims to achieve better outcomes for injured workers and reduce the cost of workers compensation for employers.

In April this year, Employers Mutual approved a project application by the South Australian branch of the Pharmacy Guild aimed at reducing soft tissue injuries in the community pharmacy industry. The Pharmacy Guild of Australia is Australia's leading community pharmacy industry organisation and in South Australia represents 90 per cent of community pharmacies. The guild has previously developed and delivered projects and programs in the community pharmacy setting in partnership with the commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing.

Muscular joint work injuries represent a large cohort of WorkCover claims in South Australia. The Pharmacy Guild's project aims to address this growing trend of soft tissue injuries suffered by employees in the community pharmacy sector. The project is developing a best practice integrated model of musculoskeletal risk minimisation in the workplace. This project will also include resources to help prevent injury, in the first place, provide effective rehabilitation when injury does occur and strategies to help injured workers return to work. This four year project will involve assessment, training and continuous improvement in the workplace to ensure a sustained permanent change in community pharmacies across the state.

I commend the Pharmacy Guild and Employers Mutual on this proactive approach to injury prevention and management, and I look forward to monitoring the project as it evolves and reduces injuries and improves the return-to-work rates of injured workers in community pharmacies.