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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-07-06 Daily Xml
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SAFEWORK SA

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (16:00): My question is to the Minister for Industrial Relations. Will you inform the council on what is being done by SafeWork SA to assist and guide industry in reducing the incidence of work-related injury and illness in South Australia?

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (16:00): I thank the honourable member for his question. SafeWork SA, as the safety regulator in this state, assists and guides improvement in occupational health and safety. As part of their role, SafeWork SA develops and implements proactive injury prevention programs to assist and guide industry to reduce the incidence of work-related injury in line with target T2.11 Greater Safety at Work of South Australia's Strategic Plan and the National Occupational Health and Safety Strategy 2002-2012.

SafeWork SA's key proactive injury prevention initiative is the industry improvement program through which employers are engaged in a range of intervention strategies that build the employer's capability to prevent work-related injury and illness. The agency works with a range of key industry consultative committees that assist and guide the development and implementation of specific safety initiatives. Committees are in operation for five high risk industry groups: construction, hospitality, aged and personal care services, manufacturing and meat products manufacturing.

Small businesses (those employing 20 or less workers) represent more than 90 per cent of employment in this state. They are strongly supported by SafeWork SA through a range of proactive preventive initiatives. This support includes an ongoing series of small business forums to raise awareness of industry risks for small business and to encourage a systematic approach to managing health and safety successfully.

Since 1 July 2010, six forums have been conducted in both metropolitan and country regions. A new small business visits project was completed in 2010. This project, engaging 117 small businesses experiencing a disproportionate number of workers compensation claims, provides face-to-face assistance and guidance at the workplace for employers to reduce injuries and to manage their health and safety successfully. The small business visits project will continue with planning for a 2011 cohort in progress.

SafeWork SA also continues to support small business in 2010 and 2011 through sponsorship of the Messenger Small Business Awards. Medium and large employers with higher rates of workers compensation claims than their industry average are engaged in a registered, employer-targeted intervention strategy which provides guidance to comply with their legislative responsibilities, improve their occupational health and safety performance and reduce injury rates. This strategy engaged and completed interventions with 99 employers in 2010-11, and planning for the 2011-12 intervention program is progressing.

The latest data available indicates a significant improvement within the targeted groups. I am delighted to inform the council that the latest statistical data available indicates that as at 3 April 2011, when comparing their performance in 2009-10 with 2008-09, these employers have achieved a reduction of 8 per cent in injury claims; above any reduction that may have been achieved had they not been involved in the program.

WorkCover's analysis of the 2007-09 cohorts indicate that significant reduction in injury, and therefore cost to the workers compensation scheme and SA business, are being achieved. The reduction in injuries represents approximately 383 workers compensation claims avoided over the year for the groups: an estimated total workers compensation claims cost avoidance in excess of $4.8 million. This government remains committed to working in partnership with industry employers to ensure further reductions in injuries and accidents across all industries.

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