National Workers Compensation

Blog migration

2011-09-06T09:37:00.002+10:00

hi everyone

We've migrated this blog to a new home - iirworkplace.wordpress.com

Going forward, this blogspot blog will not be updated.

Looking forward to seeing you guys at the new blog site!

Cheers
The NWC Team

Workers’ Compensation Amendment Bill 2011

2011-03-21T13:52:00.001+11:00

Workers’ Compensation Amendment Bill 2011
Introduced into Parliament

On 17 March 2011 the Minister for Commerce announced the introduction of the Workers’ Compensation and Injury Management Amendment Bill 2011 into State Parliament.

The Bill proposes a significant change in the scheme with the abolition of age based limits on workers’ compensation entitlements.

Under the reforms all workers will have the same entitlements to compensation regardless of their age. At present the scheme discriminates against older workers by limiting the entitlement of injured workers aged 64 or more to only one year of income payments.

The bill will also:
• provide a mechanism to ensure seriously injured workers have a common law remedy where their employer is uninsured;
• bring significant and much needed improvement to workers’ compensation dispute resolution arrangements; and
• address longstanding technical issues.

The improvements delivered through this bill will benefit both workers and employers whilst maintaining the long term sustainability and fairness of the State’s workers' compensation scheme.

18-Year-Old’s Death A Wake-Up Call For Manufacturers

2010-12-23T12:09:00.001+11:00

WorkSafe Victoria is calling for manufacturers to heed proper safety precautions following the sentencing of a husband and wife manufacturing partnership over the death of an 18 year-old worker at a Thomastown cardboard packaging factory in February 2009.

The death of the Mill Park man, who was dragged into an exposed roller on a machine that printed and stacked cardboard, was described by Magistrate Sarah Dawes as “the sudden, unexpected and agonising loss of a son and brother,” WorkSafe Victoria reported.

Gary Reid, trading as Advanced Cartons, was convicted under two sections of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and fined $60,000. Cheryl Reid trading as Advanced Cartons faced one charge under the Act and was not convicted.

Both Mr and Mrs Reid were placed on good behaviour undertakings, which require them to complete a managers’ safety training course.

The court heard the conveyor arm of the printing and stacking machine had been raised at a 90-degree angle, so workers could complete a specialist job. This action exposed the machine’s unguarded feed rollers.

The man was dragged into the rotating feed rollers by his clothing, and died from his injuries the following day.

“This was a young man at the start of his life, whose death could easily have been prevented if his workplace had stopped to consider his safety,” WorkSafe’s executive director for Health and Safety, Ian Forsyth, said.

“Following his death, guards and an interlocking system were installed on the machine at a cost of around $6,000.

“Tragically, this is the price that could have saved this young man’s life.”

Mr and Mrs Reid reportedly failed to conduct a risk assessment on the machine, imported from China, which would have identified the risks to workers. In addition, there was inadequate information, training and supervision for workers using the machine.

Mr Forsyth said all Victorian employers needed to take a careful look at how they train and supervise young workers.

“Young workers may lack the experience, knowledge or skills to understand the risks involved in the work they are doing,” he said.

“They are more likely to follow instructions without questioning them. Sometimes they struggle to speak up about safety even if they see that something at work isn’t safe.

“This is a wake-up call for employers, managers and supervisors to recognise their added responsibilities when employing young people, and make sure their risk assessment, training, and supervision practices reflect this.”

Thursday 16 December 2010
Safe to Work

Truck and Industrial Plant Operators Urged to Prioritise Safety

2010-12-13T09:03:00.005+11:00

The Queensland Government is urging employers to ensure safe work practices are in place for moving industrial plant and when using vehicles following a spate of court cases highlighting dangerous incidents throughout the state.

Queensland Industrial Relations Minister Cameron Dick said recent prosecutions by Workplace Health and Safety Qld highlighted the importance of appropriate training and risk management in preventing injuries and fatalities.

"The last few months have seen a spate of prosecutions resolved, with very heavy fines of up to $120,000 imposed," Mr Dick said.

"One of these prosecutions resulted from a fatality at a Mackay scrap metal yard where a 56-year-old worker died from crush injuries.

"Another involved a grader running over a worker at an Atherton construction site and another five prosecutions, related to serious injuries, involved mobile scaffolding or trucks being loaded and unloaded."

Mr Dick said the fatality and injuries were all the more tragic because they were preventable.

"Workplace Health and Safety Queensland has clear guidelines for preventing incidents of these types," he said.

"Checklists are available for employees or contractors working with moving plant, scaffolding and vehicles. There are checklists for noise; driver fatigue; slips, trips and falls; falls from trucks; access to truck cabins; loading and unloading; lighting; and other risks.

"Workplace Health and Safety Queensland inspectors are active throughout the industry, auditing workplaces across the state, often targeting these types of operations. But inspectors can't be everywhere, and ultimately employers are responsible for ensuring workplaces are safe for employees."

Safe to Work

Safe rate models proposed

2010-12-13T09:03:00.003+11:00

A recently released report proposes third-party intervention in the supply chain to ensure truck drivers are paid safe rates.

The Federal Government's Safe Rates Safe Roads Directions Paper proposes three tribunal models to cover employees and owner drivers working in the transport industry.

"In order to maintain the integrity of the safe payments system for employees and owner-drivers, under the three models, a tribunal would have the power to grant rights and establish and maintain obligations on others within the supply chain consistent with their economic influence within the chain," the paper stated.

As such, a tribunal would be able to take reasonable steps to ensure that companies engaged to provide transport services were safe, and that they were engaged on terms that made it possible to pay safe rates, the paper stated.
Among other powers, a tribunal could make orders with respect to 'safe driving plan' obligations and codifying chain-of-responsibility arrangements and obligations.

The paper is open for public feedback until January 28.

Wednesday 8 Dec, 2010
NSCA

Hierarchy coded and mines missing

2010-12-13T09:03:00.001+11:00

Managing risks has taken a new turn and mining regulations have yet to make an appearance in the draft-model OHS regulations and codes of practice released this week.

The draft-model Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulations and model Codes of Practice were released for public comment late Tuesday evening.

The draft-model WHS Regulations refer to the elimination or minimisation of hazards as they relate to the management of specific risks. The previously approved Model Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act also refers to the elimination or minimisation of hazards.

However, specific references to and the application of the hierarchy of hazard control for controlling all risks is mentioned only in the Draft Codes of Practice.

As stipulated in the Draft Codes of Practice, “codes of practice are admissible in court proceedings under the WHS Act and Regulations”.

Moreover, the Draft Code stated: “The WHS Act and Regulations may be complied with by following another method, such as a technical or an industry standard, if it provides an equivalent or higher standard of work health and safety than the code”.

Meanwhile, the mining regulations are yet to be released but are expected to be made available after the initial public comment phase. The mining regulations are being developed in conjunction with the National Mine Safety Framework.

The Issues Paper released with the Draft Regulations and Draft Codes of Practice stated that the mining regulations would provide for risk control measures in mines, safety management systems, emergency response plans, mine survey plans and mine records.

The public comment period for the Draft Regulations and Codes of Practice closes on April 4 next year.

Wednesday 8 Dec, 2010
NSCA

Safe Work Australia Annual Report 2009-10 now available

2010-12-08T08:58:00.001+11:00

The 2009-10 Safe Work Australia Annual Report is now available to download here.

WorkCover WA Injured Worker Survey results

2010-12-08T08:56:00.000+11:00

In July 2010, WorkCover WA commissioned an independent survey to measure the extent to which the Western Australian workers' compensation scheme is meeting the needs of injured workers.

The purpose of the survey was to obtain information about:
satisfaction with services provided throughout the Western Australian workers' compensation scheme return to work outcomes.

A total of 704 workers who had lodged a workers' compensation claim between 1 October and 31 December 2009 participated in the telephone survey.

Participants were asked about several key areas including:

overall experience being on workers' compensation
overall satisfaction with insurance services
return to work experience
general work and claim status
heath and heathcare services
return to work support and rehabilitation
return to work status.

Results
Overall results from the survey are positive and indicate that the Western Australian workers' compensation scheme is successfully supporting individuals to return to work and reducing the social and economic impact of work-related injury and illness.

View a summary of key findings from the survey
View the full report of the injured worker survey

Federal OHS takeover festering

2010-11-29T14:22:00.001+11:00

Ahead of the December release of the model OHS regulations and codes of practice for public comment, a Norton Rose survey has found that a large proportion of respondents want a Federal take over of OHS laws.

Six hundred and twenty four people responded to the Norton Rose email survey ahead of the December release of the model OHS regulations and codes of practice for public comment.

Ninety five percent of survey respondents came from within Australia, while five per cent of respondents came from overseas or a state unknown.

Almost 90 per cent of respondents reported wanting a Federal Government takeover of OHS, which doesn't bode well for the Federal Government's harmonisation plans.

To make matters worse, 61 per cent of respondents don't think the current harmonisation model will achieve true harmonisation of OHS laws in Australia.

However, 87 percent of respondents agree that unions shouldn't have the power to prosecute for OHS breaches.

And 94 per cent think the duty of care should be qualified by reasonable practicability.

But 67 per cent said employers should have the onus of proving reasonable practicability in the event of a prosecution for a breach of the duty of care.

The draft model OHS regulations and priority model codes of practice will be released for public comment in December for four months.

Wednesday 24 Nov, 2010
NSCA
Document Actions

Worker wins $500K personal injuries payout

2010-11-29T14:21:00.004+11:00

A Queensland labour hire worker has been awarded more than half a million dollars after he sued four companies, claiming damages for personal injuries he sustained as a ship joiner in 2004.

In the Supreme Court of Queensland, the labour hire worker sued four companies connected to his employment: Skilled Group Limited, Amitek Pty Ltd, Furniture Manufacturing Company of Australia Pty Ltd and Luxury Yacht Finishers Pty Ltd.

The labour hire worker told the court he was injured while working on a boat in a shipyard in Cairns in August 2004.

He said he had slipped down the starboard steps of the boat while carrying a panel weighing 5 kilograms.

The Honourable Justice Keiran A Cullinane found the worker had injured his ankle and could not return to his previous employment.

"I am satisfied from the evidence as a whole including that of Mr Hoey, an occupational therapist that the plaintiff is incapable of performing work which involves long periods of standing, walking, crouching or heavy lifting. On the other hand, he has a capacity to engage in light work of various kinds," Justice Cullinane said.

The worker had applied for clerical/administrative/sales jobs. However, Justice Cullinane said given the workers "age, lack of qualifications and experience and my assessment of his personality [he] may not be a particularly attractive employee in these types of areas".

The judge found against the four companies and awarded the worker $516,066.09.

Wednesday 24 Nov, 2010
NSCA

Electric incident kills victorian worker

2010-11-29T14:21:00.003+11:00

An electrician has died after receiving an electric shock, in one of two Victorian workplace incidents this month where an electrician was injured.

The 37 year-old man was carrying out repairs on a main switchboard at an office complex in South Bank when he received the shock.

WorkSafe is investigating the incident, which is the second workplace death from electric shock injuries this year.

The second incident involving a man in his twenties occurred at Olympic Park in Jolimont.

The man sustained burns to his upper body after a live cable made contact with the metal frame of a switchboard he was working on.

WorkSafe’s Executive Director for Health and Safety, Ian Forsyth, urged electricians to be particularly aware of the risks associated with working on switchboards and electrical installations in the lead up to Christmas.

“If you’re working on a construction site, safe systems of work around electricity are mandatory.

“And if you’re supervising workers, you need make sure your workers understand and are complaint with these systems.

“It’s not enough just to set up safe systems of work – they need to be used,” he said.

Mr Forsyth said that electricians could reduce the risk of injury by following basic safety practices.

“Basic practices like keeping your site tidy and wearing the correct personal protective equipment, safety glasses, and long sleeved clothing which isn’t synthetic can make all the difference.

“Experience shows us that there are few safety incidents that could not have been predicted and therefore prevented,” he said.

Thursday 25 Nov, 2010

Safe work calls for public comment on model work health & safety laws

2010-11-29T14:21:00.001+11:00

Safe Work Australia has announced the second phase of public consultation on the model work health and safety laws will begin next month.
Safe Work Australia will release the draft model Work Health and Safety Regulations and priority model Codes of Practice for public comment for four months until April 2011.

Safe Work’s draft model has been released in support of the Model Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act that was endorsed by the Workplace Relations Ministers’ Council in December 2009.

Chair of Safe Work Australia Tom Phillips said the public comment period would provide an opportunity for individuals and organisations to participate in the development of the model Work Health and Safety Regulations and priority model Codes of Practice and ensure their voice is heard.

"We need your views to ensure the model Work Health and Safety Regulations and priority model Codes of Practice are relevant to all Australian workplaces,” he said.

"Model work health and safety laws will allow organisations to effectively manage workplace safety and work to one set of laws regardless of how many states or territories they are operating in.

"This will increase profitability and productivity and most importantly, lead to improved safety for workers and greater certainty for employers," said Mr Phillips.

Safe Work Australia is working in partnership with the Commonwealth, state and territory governments to provide harmonised work health and safety laws across Australia by the end of December 2011.

Thursday 25 Nov, 2010
Safe to Work

Safe Work Australia releases reports on worker exposure to hazards

2010-07-15T15:42:00.000+10:00

SAFE Work Australia has released two reports from the National Hazard Exposure Worker Surveillance survey looking at Australian workers’ exposure to hazards.

The first report is titled ‘National Hazard Exposure Worker Surveillance: Exposure to dust, gases, vapours, smoke and fumes and the provision of controls for these airborne hazards in Australian workplaces’.

The document looks at the exposure of Australian workers to dust, gases, vapours, smoke and fumes, and the workplace control measures used to eliminate, reduce or control worker exposure to these airborne hazards.

The second is titled ‘National Hazard Exposure Worker Surveillance: Vibration exposure and the provision of vibration control measures in Australian workplaces’. This document looks at vibration and control measures.

The reports may be downloaded from http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/swa/AboutUs/Publications/ResearchReports2009to2010.htm

Monday 12 July 2010
Safe to Work
Article link here.

Working hours code of practice for SA

2010-07-15T15:28:00.000+10:00

SOUTH Australia is now operating under the new Approved Code of Practice for Working Hours, which took effect on 1 July 2010.

According to the Minister for Industrial Relations Paul Holloway said the new Code specifically addresses workplace issues that might arise, such as extended hours, shiftwork and on-call work.

Code today specific guidance on appropriate occupational health, safety and welfare arrangements for working hours is now available for the first time in South Australia.

The Approved Code of Practice for Working Hours recognises the significant risk excessive working hours, and the resulting fatigue, may pose to the health, safety and welfare of South Australian workers and their families.

Minister Holloway says the Code reflects a contemporary understanding on working hours, work intensification and work-life balance, and provides a best practice approach to formulating policy on rostering and hours of work.

The Code has been approved by the government under Section 63 of the Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Act 1986 and can be found online at: www.safework.sa.gov.au.

Tuesday 13 July 2010
Safe to Work

Workers Compensation Premium Rates Reduced

2010-07-14T15:01:00.000+10:00

Wednesday 23rd June 2010

The NSW Government has decided to reduce Workers Compensation Premium rates for well-performing industries by up to 2.5 per cent.

Minister for Finance Michael Daley said the rate cuts would be delivered to those industries that have shown a sustained improvement in work health and safety, injury prevention and management.

“Businesses operating in more than 240 industry classes will see their premium rates reduced,” he said.

“This reduction will benefit more than 161,000 employers – or 55% of employers covered by the WorkCover Scheme – across the state.

“It is the sixth premium rate cut for NSW employers since November 2005, bringing the target premium collection rate in New South Wales to 1.66 per cent.

“That’s the lowest target premium collection rate in more than a decade.

“This represents an average 33 per cent reduction in WorkCover Scheme rates over the last five years – a total saving to business of around $1 billion each year.

”This is another example of the NSW Labor Government’s continued efforts to support local businesses and local jobs.”

The reduction in premium rates will benefit both small and large businesses. For example;
• A clothing wholesaler in Sydney paying wages of $750,000 will save $247.50 per year
• An egg farmer in country New South Wales paying wages of over $5 million will save$22,786 per year.

Mr Daley said cuts have been enabled by improvements in the financial position of the WorkCover Scheme.

“The Keneally Government’s measured and responsible changes to the NSW WorkCover Scheme have placed it in a strong position to continue delivering better value for both employers and injured workers,” Mr Daley said.

The rate cuts will be published in the Insurance Premiums Order 2010-2011 and will be effective for policies that start or renew on or after 30 June 2010.

Wednesday 23rd June 2010
Workcover NSW

RTW Coordinating in a nut-shell

2010-05-31T16:42:00.001+10:00

In the workplace, there is an veiled understanding of the RTW Coordinator’ role, -“You return injured people to work right?”

It’s true, I do. However, what I really do is build relationships, create trust and grow partnerships. RTW Coordinators are the meat in the workplace wellbeing sandwich.

The contexts in which we do this work are diverse. The role works down, up and sideways.

If I am lucky a manager/supervisor will advise me of an incident or I will receive an incident form.

I contact the worker and explain who I am and what my role is in the organisation. We meet. I believe in being honest about explaining entitlements, I want the injured worker to understand the process, that the objective is always to return them to work in their pre-injury role, that I am there to provide support, but they have an obligation to follow their treatment and participate in return to work, I want them to be confident that we will work together in managing their injury/illness, and in developing their RTW program.

I develop a positive relationship with the injured worker. A successful RTW outcome, for both the injured worker and the organisation, hinges on this. It is a two way street, the injured worker needs me to acknowledge their injury/illness, to feel I understand its impact on them and to know they can trust me.

Concurrently, I will be in contact with the injured worker’s manager/supervisor and their GP.

My relationship with the manager/supervisor is important because they have a vital role to play in the identification of RTW duties, providing direct support to the injured worker, and in monitoring the RTW program. I need to gauge whether they have personalised the injury. For instance, soft tissue tissue
Collection of cells that perform a similar function. e.g. epithelium (skin), connective tissue (blood, bone), muscle
Click to close injuries are hard to see, this can impact on a manager/supervisor acknowledging that the injury is work related as opposed to something obvious like a broken limb. If the injury has been personalised I sort this out.

With the permission of the injured worker I develop a relationship with their GP. Generally via the phone – GP’s are more amenable to speak with you when you pay for this service. In the first instance I explain how the organisation has/is minimising further risk to the injured worker, I outline our injury/illness management policy and say I have an expectation that we will work together for the benefit of the injured worker and their RTW.

The above activities create an environment in which we can all work together to develop the RTW program and achieve a positive outcome.

The role of RTW Coordinator is to empower the injured worker, and focuses on what they can do. The GP ensures the RTW duties are aligned with the medical restrictions and the manager/supervisor supports the application of the RTW duties within the work environment.

While returning injured workers to work is the major component of what I do , I also have a responsibility to use the same skills in developing relationships with senior management. In this context I advocate policy and program improvements, while explaining the financial benefits of these to senior management.

As a RTW Coordinator I see myself as the major ingredient in my organisation’s workhealth sandwich. It’s a great job. I make a difference.

Harmonisation housekeeping

2010-05-31T16:40:00.001+10:00

What has been achieved by twenty years of conversation and reviews about harmonising the rules of workers compensation in Australia?

From my perspective as an Occupational Physician and a participant in some of the reviews, discussions and well-meaning efforts, the situation has not changed to any significant degree in two decades.

And in the current push to make harmonisation happen, one question seems to have been forgotten. Will harmonising the rules of workers' comp going to improve return to work rates and health outcomes?

Given the intricacies of Australia's eleven workers' comp jurisdictions, this is not an easy question to answer.

For a long time, Australian workers' compensation jurisdictions used lump-sum payments to compensate employees for injuries at work. In the 1980s, in an effort to shorten the time to claim settlement and make the process less adversarial, most systems changed to paying wages and medical costs.

Since then there have been multiple amendments within every jurisdiction. Each system is now a unique combination of rules for the level of wage replacement, claim acceptance, lump sum payments, and involvement of private insurers. Tinkering with the rules of systems that have evolved over time will have consequences, as was noted in a previous RTWMatters article about the pros and cons of harmonisation.

But is changing with the rules the only way for harmonisation to achieve better outcomes across all ten workers comp jurisdictions?

At the recent forum on harmonisation organised by SafeWork Australia, I was given the opportunity to speak as a designated 'expert' in the field. The audience consisted of about 90 people - CEO's of the state and federal compensation systems, their 2IC's, and lead people from unions, employers, insurers, health practitioners and researchers.

Below is an abridged version of my presentation. The full text is here.

The message I endeavoured to get across is that rearranging the lounge suite is not a fix when mildew is growing on the walls. Rather than tinkering with the rules, I argued that:

1. Return To Work is important, but is not going well;
2. Harmonisation as it has been discussed won't improve return to work; and
3. We have an opportunity to create harmonised tools and techniques and this opportunity should not to be missed.

1. Return To Work is important, but is not going well

The data we have tells us that our compensation system are not producing good results. Employees with a compensable condition have poorer outcomes than those who have the same condition in a non compensation situation. For example, those who have surgery have four times the odds of a poor outcome when the condition is compensable.

The RTW Monitor surveys employees across Australia and NZ at six months post claim lodgement. According to the RTWMonitor reports available on the HWCA website, return to work have been steadily declining in Australia (National) rates over the last three years.

An individual not back at work after six months has a relatively poor chance of ever returning to work. People who remain out of the workforce in the longer term have significantly increased risk of health problems. They are more likely to get cancer, heart disease and to die earlier. Odds are they will suffer from isolation, depression, marital separation, and the health of their children will be poor.

SafeWork Australia’s report “Cost of Work-related Injury and Illness” indicates that the total cost of work injuries is 57.5 billion dollars, representing 5.9 per cent of GDP for the 2005-06 financial year.

These are troubling statistics.

2. Harmonisation as it has been discussed won't improve return to work

Harmonisation of workers compensation rules is a sensible thing to do, and would likely benefit many multi-state employers. However it would be a massive exercise, that consumes vast amounts of time, energy, and resources from all jurisdictions.

At this point, our focus should be on the improving return to work performance and health outcomes for employees within the system. This is the best way to help workplaces reduce costs and improve productivity. It is the best way to reduce the cost burden on the community.

3. The creation of harmonised tools and techniques is an opportunity not to be missed

The training, resources and tools available to employees, employers and people who work in the field are limited. Complex cases are hard to manage, and being the return to work coordinator for a difficult case is harder than being a medical practitioner. The coordinator may need to simultaneously manage a disbelieving production manager, a busy supervisor who does not understand that their input is crucial, and an organisation that is not effectively dealing with a negative workplace culture, return to work systems, and individual employees.

I proposed that the harmonisation initiative focus on a project to develop a standard national set of tools and techniques to support and enable return to work. A narional project that focuses on what is our core challenge in the 21st century – returning people to health and activity as quickly as possible.

Developing a standard set of tools and techniques that can be used across the country offers the opportunity to create a world leading set of tools and resources.

By shifting the focus from rules and regulations - and arguments over differences - to tools and resources harmonisation will address a set of unresolved problems that are common to all authorities and every stakeholder in the field.

Individual systems have strengths in certain areas. Those strengths, such as information for employees, partnership approaches, web content, could be used in the development of a national tools and resources set.

I suggested the following starting point for discussion:

* Supervisor training;
* Basic ergonomic ergonomic
* Information on telephone communication techniques;
* Practical tools to address motivation;
* Ways of influencing senior management to improve workplace culture;
* A tool to clarity the costs to the business;
* Ways of talking to the Finance manager;
* A bank of videos of employees who have done well with return to work, and how they’ve achieved that;
* Information for employees about how to get the best out of their situation; and
* A national curriculum for doctors and allied health professionals about return to work.

A list of the necessary tools and techniques should come from those who work at the coalface, from employees and RTW coordinators , from health practitioners who deal with the core issues on a daily basis.

As the forum on harmonisation progressed, I felt that return to work, the stigma of compensation and the need for better outcomes, became the dominant discussion themes. There seemed to be little appetite for tackling changes to the rules. This was encouraging.

There is a chance that improving return to work resources and outcomes will become a major focus of harmonisation, rather than only tinkering with the rules.

If that occurs, your input into what tools and resources are needed will be vital.

The future of OHS and nanotechnology

2010-05-31T16:39:00.000+10:00

SENATOR Kim Carr, in an address to the ACTU OHS and Workers' Compensation Seminar on Nanotechnology, talked about OHS in the face of developing technology.

According to Senator Carr, Australian workers can expect to encounter more nanomaterials in the production environment and in workplaces.

Senator Carr reinforced the Government’s determination to achieve a balance between occupational health and safety and leadership in nanotechnology.

Nanotechnologies are being used to develop sensors to make workplaces safer, clean energy solutions, treatments for diseases, and new techniques to increase agricultural productivity in the face of dwindling water supplies.

Senator Carr says the Government is developing answers to the occupational health and safety concerns regarding nanotechnology by engaging in dialogue with the community. Unions, for example, are represented in various nanotechnology advisory groups and forums.

The Australian Government is also supporting research to improve understanding of how nanoparticles behave, examining the adequacy of the existing regulatory framework, and determining whether workplace control measures are equal to the challenge of dealing with nanomaterials.

The National Enabling Technologies Strategy will provide $18.2m to build biometrology and nanometrology capabilities at the National Measurement Institute.

This will develop measurement infrastructure, standards and skills, essential for measuring the exposure of workers to nanomaterials.

Regarding carbon nanotubes, the Senator says current research indicates these should be handled with great care. Workers should remain vigilant until more is known.

The Government has asked the National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme to assess whether carbon nanotubes should be classified as hazardous substances. This will be completed by August 2010.

Natinal Workers Compensation 2010 - Were you there?

2010-05-27T10:03:00.004+10:00

National Workers Compensation Summit 2010 attracted over 100 speakers, delegates and exhibitors combined, as they get involved in discussing the harmonisation of national workers compensation laws across the country, national reform and fraud in claims.

********************

Vincent Quattropani BAcc, Strategic Development Manager of MPOL spoke to us about fraudulent claim detection and the challenges faced in detecting them.

********************

Kevin Purse, Senior Research Fellow of Hawke Research Institute at the University of South Australia, spoke to us about the challenges faced in developing a national Workers Compensation framework.

********************

Jaye Radisich, CEO of Council of Small Businesses spoke to usEbout the Federal Government's proposed preventative workplace health plan.

We would like to thank all who are involved in helping to make this year's event a success!

Learn the most effective and durable outcomes in claim and injury management

2010-03-14T12:07:00.001+11:00

The National Self Insurance Summit 2010

29 - 30 March 2010 - Quay Grand Suites, Sydney www.iir.com.au/selfinsurance

The National Self Insurance Summit 2010 brings together the Nation’s leading self insurance and workers compensation stakeholders in one place.

Now in its seventh year, this not to be missed event will include a number of best practice presentations and case studies from the leading companies and industry experts throughout Australia

Featured professionals speaking at this year's event include:

- Filanthy Nalpantidis, Health and Injury Management Leader, CSL
- Dean Stone, Manager, Workers Compensation and Governance, NAB
- Andrew Jeremijenko, Chief Medical Officer, Tele Dr
- Steve Curley, Principal, Finity Consulting Actuaries
- Adam Payne, Consultant, Finity Consulting Actuaries
- Fleur Dooley, Department Head - Workers Compensation, Saltwater Insurance Consultants
- Denise Fishlock, Chair, NSW Self Insurers Association
- Robin Shaw, Chair, National Council of Self Insurers
- James Johnson Partner, Compensation, Sparke Helmore Lawyers
- Sonia Minniecon, Manager-Return to work Assist and Awards Unit Q-COMP
- Paul Cutrone, Partner, OHS, Sparke Helmore Lawyers
- Andrew Howarth, CEO, Risk Management & Safety Services

and many more...

Click here to view the full agenda.
http://www.iir.com.au/selfinsurance

Interview with Jeremy Keane, CEO & Dr Scott Burne, Sports Physician, Injury Treatment

2010-01-28T15:21:00.001+11:00

Jeremy Keane, CEO and Dr Scott Burne, Sports Physician of Injury Treatment discusses the important factors in tail and complex claims management and why accurate, comprehensive diagnosis and multidisciplinary medical intervention is important.

For more information, go to www.nationalworkerscomp.com.au

Watch the interview here.

Exclusive Interview with Siusan Mackenzie, Principal, Equilibrium Worklife Solutions

2010-01-28T15:02:00.001+11:00

Can you briefly explain the theory behind Work-life initiatives?
Until quite recently work-life initiatives were simply viewed as what an employer did to retain 'good' women with parental responsibilities. Now, the best contemporary employers are more likely to consider work-life initiatives much more broadly with respect to changed social conditions and strategically as part of a company's approach to people management. The health and wellbeing of people is more commonly a core organizational value and this means companies see the value of investing in people through a range of work-life initiatives aimed at having a positive impact on both mental and physical health. By establishing management practices, and developing people so that the workplace culture consistently supports the work-life needs of people, it has been shown that what people can do, and are motivated to do, more effectively matches what the organization needs them to do, and this naturally leads to performance improvement.

How can a business make these initiatives an investment that benefits the company?
Work-life initiatives are an investment in people and they should be designed to improve performance on a number of fronts. It is expected that heightened interest in human capital will see CEO's and Boards soon asked to report more comprehensively on how they manage people. This new wave of interest by investors and analysts means employers will be under increasing pressure to demonstrate greater respect for work-life balance and effective people practices. This will require companies to reveal the impact of strategies designed to support people's work-life balance and in turn, how that links to the performance of the organization. Good base line data, clear performance indicators and effective monitoring process are just a few of the elements which will need to be established so that change can be measured.

What will be the focus of your presentation at the 11th Annual National Workers Compensation Summit on the 17-18 February 2010 in Sydney?
Leaders often say they don't know how to get started with work-life initiatives. The focus of my presentation will be to outline how to take a thorough and strategic approach to work-life balance which will provide mutual benefit for people and their employers and go beyond meeting the new legislative requirements that now provide many employees the right to request flexible work arrangements.

What would you like delegates to take away with them from your presentation?
I want delegates to take away an understanding that the clear link between individual physical and mental wellbeing and performance has shifted the landscape in terms of people practices. Having this at the heart of how an organisation operates is no longer a nice to have - it is essential for improving performance. Like all change processes it will take time and commitment to establish the sort of culture which can consistently demonstrates how its support for work-life balance makes a difference to the performance of people and the company - but your efforts will be well rewarded. Pressure on employers to demonstrate respect for work-life balance and people practices more generally is not only coming from new statutory requirements and employees, but also investors.

Safe Work establishes strategy group to facilitate harmonised workers’ compensation laws

2010-01-14T09:31:00.000+11:00

SAFE Work Australia has agreed to establish a Strategic Issues Group on Workers’ Compensation to facilitate the development of harmonised workers compensation laws.

According to SAFE Work Australia, the Strategic Issues Group on Workers’ Compensation (SIG-Workers’ Compensation) will guide and advise on the overall strategic planning and policy development for harmonisation of workers’ compensation arrangements.

The role of the SIG–Workers’ Compensation group includes:

• providing advice on the identification and assessment of strategic issues that will improve national workers’ compensation arrangements across jurisdictions

• providing advice on the development and resolution of issues relating to national workers’ compensation policy for employers with operations in more than one jurisdiction

• providing advice on the development and implementation of the National Workers’ Compensation Action Plan, and

• developing, harmonising and continuously enhancing national comparative information on workers’ compensation arrangements.

SAFE Work Australia says it is also organising a National Workers’ Compensation Forum to be held on 30 to 31 March 2010.

The authority claims workers’ compensation stakeholders and experts will be invited to participate in shaping the national action plan.

SAFE Work Australia members and the Workplace Relations Ministers’ Council will formally consider the action plan later in 2010.

Wednesday 13 January 2010
Safe to Work
Direct link to article here.

Safe Work announces release of CPM report on OHS and workers’ compensation outcomes

2010-01-12T15:36:00.001+11:00

SAFE WORK Australia has announced the release of the 11th edition of the Comparative Performance Monitoring (CPM) report on Australia’s occupational health and safety and workers’ compensation outcomes for 2007-2008.

The report was endorsed by Commonwealth, State and Territory Workplace Relations Ministers at the Workplace Relations Ministers’ Council meeting in December 2009.

SAFE WORK Australia Chair Tom Phillips AM says the results indicate Australia is taking steps in the right direction in some areas however more needs to be done to ensure safer workplaces throughout the country.

“While some areas are recording a reduction in incidents and deaths, we need this to be across the board. We should still be aiming towards the ambitious target of zero deaths in Australian workplaces,” Mr Phillips said.

The CPM report shows the number of fatalities recorded for 2007–08 is slightly lower than in previous years. In 2007-08 there were 232 accepted compensated claims for a work-related fatality compared to 260 fatalities in 2006-07.

Results also show the reduction in the incidence rate of injury and musculoskeletal claims between 2000–01 and 2007–08 was 18%. SAFE WORK Australia claims this is well below the rate required to meet the National OHS Strategy long term target of a 40% improvement by 2012.

Five jurisdictions met the required rate of improvement including Seacare with 46% improvement, South Australia with 33% improvement, the Australian Government with 30% improvement, New South Wales with 25% improvement and Victoria with 24% improvement.

The CPM report series can be found at www.workplace.gov.au/cpm.

Monday 11 January 2010
Safe to Work

HWCA develops new workers’ compensation strategy

2009-11-02T15:10:00.001+11:00

HEADS of Worker’s Compensation Authorities (HWCA) has developed The Australian and New Zealand Workers’ Compensation Strategy 2009-2012.

According to HWCA, the Strategy identifies a common set of objectives, principles and priority areas to improve workers’ compensation and injury management arrangements. It will also maintain fair, affordable and financially viable workers’ compensation schemes.

HWCA says the The Australian and New Zealand Workers’ Compensation Strategy 2009-2012 has been developed with flexibility to allow for various regulatory environments across jurisdictions.

HWCA claims implementation of the Strategy will support and strengthen relationships between governments, agencies, service providers, businesses and employees.

It is envisaged the Strategy will complement initiatives already underway as part of the
National Occupational Health and Safety Strategy 2002 – 2012 and the Safe Work Australia

HWCA includes representatives from Australia and New Zealand government agencies responsible for the regulation or delivery of workers’ compensation services.

Thursday 29 October 2009
Safe to Work

Safe Work Australia Council releases six sector reports on work-related injuries

2009-10-21T11:27:00.001+11:00

SAFE Work Australia Council has released six industry-specific reports based on an analysis of the 2005 to 2006 Work-Related Injuries Survey.

The reports cover the construction, health and community services, manufacturing, agriculture, forestry and fishing, transport and storage and retail trade industries.

The Work-Related Injuries Survey is conducted every four years by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. SAFE Work Australia partially funds the survey to complement its collection of workers’ compensation data.

The Work-Related Injuries Survey reports explore the types and causes of work-related injury, and provides information on those workers who are not covered by workers’ compensation.

The reports found part-time workers in the retail trade industry recorded a frequency rate of injury nearly double that of full-time workers.

Agriculture, forestry and fishing workers experienced the highest rate of injuries, with 109 injuries per 1000 workers. For the construction industry, employees recorded a similar rate of injury to self-employed workers. There was also little difference in rates of injury between those working on a contract and those not working on a contract.

For the manufacturing industry, young workers aged 15 to 24 recorded an injury rate 44% higher than the corresponding rate for young workers in the Australian workforce as a whole.

Transport and storage workers aged 35 to 44 years recorded an injury rate 75% higher than the rate recorded by all Australian workers of this age.

SAFE Work Australia Council says these reports add significantly to its understanding of Work-Related Injuries and provide information on the extent and frequency of Work-Related Injuries that is not available using workers’ compensation data alone.

20 October 2009
Safe to Work

HWCA endorses ANZ Workers Compensation Strategy

2009-10-20T17:08:00.000+11:00

THE Head of Workers’ Compensation Authorities has endorsed the Australian and New Zealand Workers Compensation Strategy during their October meeting.

The Australian and New Zealand Workers Compensation Strategy will see various jurisdictions working co-operatively on key priorities, providing a coordinated approach to workers’ compensation across Australia and New Zealand over the next three years.

The Strategy will aim to deliver best practice services to injured workers and employers to assist recovery; and to build sustainable workers compensation schemes.

The HWCA will now develop jurisdictional action plans to support the Strategy.

During the meeting, the HWCA also endorsed a paper on principles of early injury management. The working group on Biopsychosocial Rehabilitation will develop a plan for the next steps.

HWCA is a group comprising the Chief Executives (or their representatives) of the peak bodies responsible for the regulation of Workers Compensation in Australia and New Zealand.

Thursday 15 October 2009
Safe to Work

UPDATE TO THE HWCA WEBSITE

2009-10-15T15:25:00.001+11:00

www.hwca.org.au

• Initiatives - Projects
Nationally Consistent Approval Framework for Workplace Rehabilitation Providers
In June 2008, the Heads of Workers’ Compensation Authorities (HWCA) endorsed the introduction of a Nationally Consistent Approval Framework for Workplace Rehabilitation Providers from 1st July 2010

The Nationally Consistent Approval Framework is intended to:
o provide a robust approval system across participating workers’ compensation authorities;
o enable the objective measurement of provider performance against the Conditions of Approval; and
o establish practice principles designed to deliver high quality workplace rehabilitation services to workers, employers and insurers.
For more information about the approval framework and process and the transitional arrangements in 2009 and 2010 please go to www.hwca.org.au and your respective jurisdictional workers compensation website.

• Initiatives - Reports - National Return to Work Reports
The 2008/2009 Campbell's Australian and New Zealand Return to Work Monitor is now available on www.hwca.org.au

• Home Page - Recent News & Updates
The communiqué of the Heads of Workers Compensation Authorities October 2009 meeting is now available on www.hwca.org.au

HWCA Secretariat
Ph: (02) 4321 5322
Email: HWCA.Secretariat@workcover.nsw.gov.au

WorkHealth figures a wake-up call for Victorians workers

2009-09-21T17:04:00.000+10:00

WorkHealth says new figures show Victorians need lay off the beer and chips and exercise more.

WorkHealth conducted a test of 3500 workers, and found more than half were overweight and/or had high blood pressure, while a quarter had high levels of blood cholesterol.

More than 40 people were identified as potential medical emergencies and urged to see a doctor immediately. Another 480 were advised to see a doctor within the next few weeks.

WorkHealth is a state government initiative designed to address chronic diseases, such as obesity, heart disease and diabetes.

WorkHealth offers confidential health tests to workers. The worker health checks are free for employers with an annual payroll of less than $10 million, while employers with annual payroll greater than $10 million will receive a $30 reimbursement towards the cost of each health check.

Participating workers get results from the tests and information about how to live a healthier life.

According to WorkHealth, the figures should act as a wake up call for workers to get involved in enhancing their health.

Other early findings from the program showed male workers were more likely to have high blood pressure, and female workers were more likely to have higher levels of cholesterol in their blood.

The majority who were tested eat less than the recommended five serves of vegetables per day, but eat at least two pieces of fruit each day.

SafeWork SA releases Safe Work Month 2009 programme

2009-09-21T17:03:00.001+10:00

SafeWork SA has announced the programme of events for the state’s Safe Work Month 2009.

Safe Work Month 2009 will stage more than 250 events across SA, from 4 to 30 October 2009.

The Month will begin at the Loxton Show during the October long weekend and conclude in Adelaide with the presentation of the Safe Work Awards.

During the first three weeks, free workshops will be staged in all of the state’s major regional centres, before the final week in metropolitan Adelaide, coinciding with Safe Work Australia Week from 25t to 31 October.

The workshops will cover a range of topics, from aquaculture and accident investigation to wine tank safety and work life balance. They will throw a spotlight on priority risks and industries, or occupations where the incidence of injury is particularly high.

Other highlights include a mock Industrial Court trial, the first annual OHSW Research Forum, a presentation of the SA Construction Industry Report Card: 2009, a Health & Safety Representatives Network Meeting, the SA Unions HSR Conference, and a showcase of injury prevention by SA Health.

National safety regime a reality

2009-09-10T09:44:00.001+10:00

THE PASSAGE of the Safe Work Australia Bill through the Parliament represents a significant milestone in the move towards a national Occupational Health and Safety regulatory regime, according to Minerals Council of Australia CEO Mitch Hooke.

The legislation establishes Safe Work Australia as an independent statutory agency to give effect to the Intergovernmental Agreement for Regulatory and Operational Reform and Occupational Health and Safety agreed by COAG on 3 July 2008.

Safe Work Australia will be tasked with developing a draft Model OH&S Act.

“The MCA supports a single OH&S Act covering all sectors and jurisdictions and industry specific national regulations, where required, complemented by national codes of practice and guidelines,” Hooke said.

“The minerals industry has been advocating legislative and regulatory reform that enhances the protections of workers and is consistent with the industry’s goal of zero harm in the workplace.”

There are currently 10 principal statutes – six state, two territory and two Commonwealth - governing OH&S in Australia as well as numerous regulations and codes of practice.

“This raft of overlapping OH&S laws, standards and requirements is confusing for workers and diverts business from the primary goal of improving workplace health and safety,” Hooke said.

“These problems are amplified when businesses operate across multiple jurisdictions where additional and inconsistent industry specific OH&S legislation exists.”

The MCA has called for the National Mine Safety Framework to form the basis of national minerals-industry specific regulation within the Model OH&S Act.

Tuesday 8 Sept 2009
Mining Daily
http://www.miningaustralia.com.au/Common/ContentManagement/Mining/miningaustralia/08_09_2009.pdf

Comcare releases publication on investing in OHS and health

2009-07-29T15:22:00.000+10:00

28 July 2009

COMCARE has released a new publication titled ‘Building a case to invest in OHS and organisational health’.

According to Comcare, the publication examines the elements of organisational health, and the steps involved with designing and implementing effective organisational health programs.
Comcare claims the health and wellbeing of employees is very important, as it can directly affect morale, commitment and productivity.

‘Building a case to invest in OHS and organisational health’ outlines the benefits employers can expect to receive from investing in organisational health initiatives and how to write a business case to obtain funding for investment.

Safe to Work

Direct link to article here.

Xstrata Mount Isa Mines enters Queensland’s first Return to Work Awards

2009-07-27T15:51:00.001+10:00

XSTRATA Mount Isa Mines says its efforts to get injured workers back to work has been recognised in a nomination for Queensland’s first Return to Work Awards.

Xstrata Mount Isa Mines Crew Supervisor Tony Seng was involved in a workplace accident in November 2007, resulting in burns to 17% of his body.

With the help of workmates and the Xstrata Injury Management Team, as well as a rehabilitation and return to work program, Seng says he returned to his pre-injury job full-time in less than twelve months.

According to Seng, his boss and colleagues offered overwhelming support, visiting him in hospital, checking up on his condition, helping out, and engaging in banter to keep his spirits up.

His workmates also installed split system air conditioning units at Seng’s home, to provide relief from his burns during the Mount Isa summer.

The return to full-time work was over an eight month period, using a suitable duties program designed by Seng and Xstrata Mount Isa Mines’ Injury Management Team.
According to Xstrata’s return to work coordinator Breda Watterston, the successful return to work was a result of Tony’s personal strength and courage, as well as the workings of a collaborative approach to injury management.

Xstrata Mount Isa Mines and Tony Seng are entering the Return to Work Awards 2009, an awards program being run Q-COMP, Queensland’s Workers’ Compensation Regulatory Authority.

The program recognises excellence by employers, rehabilitation and return to work coordinators, and injured workers, in workplace rehabilitation and return to work. Entries close on 31 July 2009, and the awards evening will take place after the Work Safe and Return to Work Expo 2009.

Wednesday 22 July 2009

Safe to Work

Direct link to article here.

WorkSafe Victoria’s campaign for Return to Work awareness

2009-07-20T14:51:00.002+10:00

WORKSAFE Victoria has launched an extensive campaign to raise awareness about the importance of getting injured workers back to work.

According to WorkSafe Victoria, its ‘Return to work, Return to life’ television commercial is airing on Victorian television sets. The advertisement illustrates how returning to work is a vital part of an injured worker’s recovery, and their return to normal life.

The TV commercial is part of a broader return to work campaign that includes a redesigned ‘If you are injured’ poster that will be sent to every Victorian employer, an employer Return to Work support kit to be released in august 2009, and online, radio and billboard advertisements.

WorkSafe Victoria has highlighted its Return to Work website, where online audiences can watch real stories from an employer, a worker, a doctor and a WorkSafe Agent Case Manager.

The website also includes two animations that explain the Return to Work experience and the roles, the obligations and the rights of everyone involved.

To receive all important and relevant Return to Work information, interested parties should input their details on the Return to Work Coordinator Register by 22 July 2009.

Wednesday 15 July 2009

Safe to Work

Link to article here.

NSW does not need national OHS laws: Greens

2009-07-20T14:51:00.001+10:00

GREENS MP and industrial relations spokesperson Lee Rhiannon says the drop in NSW workplace injuries shows the state does not need the national OHS laws.

According to recent WorkCover NSW statistics, the state achieved a significant drop in workplace injuries, which are at a 20 year low. Rhiannon says the results show NSW’s current occupational health and safety laws are working.

The Greens claim the national OHS scheme will water down safety laws to the “lowest common denominator” based on the “lower standards” of Victoria and Queensland.

They have say Minister Joe Tripodi should take the position of only joining the national workers’ health and safety system if standards are maintained.

The Greens are critical of the national laws because strict liability for employers will be removed and unions and the community will lose the right to prosecute for breaches.

Friday 17 July 2009
Safe to Work

Link to article here.

Tasmanian workers’ compensation reforms seek balance

2009-07-15T16:39:00.001+10:00

THE TASMANIAN State Government has announced reforms to the state’s workers’ compensation system, which it claims balances the needs of employers and the rights of workers.

Tasmanian Premier David Bartlett says the Government had arrived at a Cabinet-approved package which provides a cost-effective workers’ compensation scheme for employers and also achieved fairness for injured workers and their families.
The reforms will also bring an added focus on supporting injured workers to return to work. They will also seek to prioritise the prevention of workplace accidents.

While recognising the importance of ensuring proper care for injured Tasmanian workers, the government was aware that a blowout in workers compensation costs would add an extra burden to Tasmanian businesses’ bottom lines.

Workplace Relations Minister Lisa Singh said the changes would improve the current scheme.

The step down provisions have been lifted from 85% of normal weekly earnings at 13 weeks to 90% at 26 weeks. The whole person impairment threshold has been lowered from 30% to 20%.

The package is expected to increase premiums from 1.97%of wages to 2.26% of wages for businesses.

The Government will legislate to implement the comprehensive Return To Work and Injury Management Model developed by the WorkCover Board.

The reforms will take effect from 1 July 2010.
14 July 2009

Safe To Work
Direct link to the article here.

RTWMatters: put the human face back on Accident Compensation Act reforms

2009-07-15T16:35:00.000+10:00

RETURN to Work Matters says the proposed reforms to the Accident Compensation Act presents an opportunity to reduce compensation costs and improve health outcomes.

In June 2009, the Victorian Government announced a $90m reform package for injured Victorian workers, responding to the Hanks Review of the Accident Compensation Act.

According to RTWMatters, the stakeholder responses to the reform package have been almost unanimously negative.

VECCI CEO Wayne Kayler-Thomson said, “There is little in the Government’s response for employers” and claims that it “contradicts the broader agenda of streamlining regulation and red tape”.

VTHC secretary Brian Boyd believes that the reforms will do nothing to reduce disputation in the system.

RTWMatters CEO Dr Mary Wyatt is currently collaborating with the RTWMatters professional network to draft a series of Principles for Return to Work, and will be calling on the state government to implement the Hanks Review recommendation number 19.

Recommendation 19 advises that “The Accident Compensation Act should include a set of principles that apply to return to work. The principles would help guide employers injured workers, and other stakeholders…and foster the type of relationships between the various parties that is essential to a successful return to work process.”

According to Dr Wyatt, by ignoring recommendation 19, stakeholder groups are failing to capitalise on the opportunities presented by the proposed reforms. While recognising the importance of cutting red tape, RTWMatters says human relationships can make a difference return to work health outcomes and compensation costs.
10 July 2009

Safe To Work
Direct link to article here.

WorkSafe Victoria announces 2009 to 2010 inspection campaigns

2009-07-07T12:03:00.002+10:00

WORKSAFE Victoria has announced the areas it is targeting in the 2009 to 2010 Safe Towns and Safer Work Zones inspection campaigns.

According to WorkSafe Victoria, the safety campaigns target regional and metropolitan areas. Teams of up to ten WorkSafe inspectors will be visiting as many workplaces as possible over one week.

WorkSafe Victoria says the program will aim to help small and medium sized businesses identify basic safety issues to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities, help people who have been hurt to return to work, and ensure businesses have appropriate WorkSafe injury insurance.

According to WorkSafe Victoria, businesses should take note of the early notice. Despite the prior notification, the safety authority says employers often ignore the opportunity to make improvements, leading to safety improvement notices or prohibition notices.

WorkSafe will be focusing on improving the safety of hazardous manual handling, slips, trips and falls, and plant, equipment guarding, return to work, and injury insurance.

In the 2008 to 2009 program, WorkSafe inspectors visited nearly 2000 workplaces, issued 2030 improvement notices, and another 37 prohibition notices.

1 July 2009

Safe to Work

WorkCover SA takes new approach to Return to Work

2009-07-07T12:01:00.001+10:00

WORKCOVER SA says the state government’s reform package of the WorkCover Scheme includes $2.4m for Return to Work Fund projects.

The Fund totals $15m. Part of it will be used to implement a program of practical solutions to improve return to work outcomes in South Australia.

According to WorkCover SA, it can be daunting for people who have been injured and off work for a long time to return to the workplace. Statistics show that the longer a worker is away from work, the probability of their returning to work significantly decreases.

The initial projects are expected to help up to 250 injured workers. A number of these projects are aimed at helping the business community assist injured workers to return to work.

WorkCover SA is enlisting the education, training and coaching skills of a range of organisations, to help injured workers feel more confident about returning to the workplace and show employers how to reduce barriers that may discourage workers form returning to work.

The SA Unions will undertake a pilot project which includes training as an effective part of the rehabilitation of injured workers and their return to work. Business SA will run an educational program for small businesses finding it difficult to provide injured workers with alternative duties.

Interwork will create ‘whole of life’ action plans for injured workers, taking them through five key developmental stages in securing employment. The Business Services

Industry Skill Board will prepare injured workers for retraining or upskilling to new jobs, either with their existing employer or a new one.

The projects commenced from 1 July 2009.

2 July 2009

Safe to Work

E-Newsletter 03 update

2009-07-03T09:18:00.000+10:00

Hi everyone!

National Workers Compensation's third e-newsletter will be released in a few weeks' time. We have exciting announcement to make regarding next year's event!

Stay tuned.

If you have any questions, just send an email to us and we'll get back to you.

Cheers
Serena
Part of the NWC team

Exclusive interview and speaker presentation!

2009-07-01T09:27:00.000+10:00

We have released an exclusive interview - featuring Bronwyn Griffth, Health and Workers Compensation Manager at H J Heinz Company Australia, about safety and workers compensation and how they affect each other.

We also had a chance to record Dr David Burroughs' presentation to the National Workers Compensation 2009 as he talks about managing psychological risks in hostile and remote locations.

Enjoy!

Till next time,
The NWC team

NWC second newsletter coming soon!

2009-05-18T14:22:00.000+10:00

We will be launching National Workers Compensation second newsletter very very soon!

Just a sneak peak into the newsletter, as promised, we will feature an exclusive interview with Bronwyn Griffith, Health & Workers Compensation Manager of H J Heinz Company Australia.

We will also release part 2 of David Meredith's fantastic paper and a presentation excerpt of a very interesting speaker at the conference - you'll have to wait to find out who!

The National Workers Compensation LinkedIn group is alive and active. If you're yet to be part of the group and would like to be, click here and it'll bring you to the join page. If you're not a member of LinkedIn, not to worry, just sign up!

If you have any questions, just contact us here and we'll try to help.

Signing off,
Serena
Part of the NWC team

Extended interviews released on YouTube!

2009-03-31T10:29:00.001+11:00

With the launch of the first NWC newsletter last week, we've also released the extended version of the interviews that are featured in the wrap-up video of NWC 2009.

Angelica Vecchio-Sadus, HSE & Site Operations Manager of CSIRO Minerals
We had the chance to have a chat with Angelica to learn more about holistic wellbeing programmes in the modern workplace.

Craig Bosworth, Manager, Public and Industry Affairs - Corporate and Medical Affairs of Medibank Private
We had the chance to have a chat with Craig about the interplay between private health insurance and workers compensation in Australia.

Victor Schultheiss, Head of Centre of Competence for Workers Compensation, Munich Reinsurance Company, Germany
We had the chance to have a chat with Victor to discuss 2 of the 9 identified emerging risks in workers compensation - obesity and ageing workforce.

Wrapping up the 10th Annual National Workers Comp Sumimt 2009!

2009-03-24T08:26:00.001+11:00

In 2009 the National Workers Compensation Summit moved to Melbourne for the first time, where it was met with great success. You can view highlights of the event here.

Many thanks to everyone who helped to pull National Workers Compensation Summit 2009 together. There are far too many people to mention, but I’d like to give particular thanks to our engaging and dedicated speakers.

The array of topics covered, and the variety of industry’s represented ensured a comprehensive conference with lots of networking opportunities, where you were able to design your own program through the number of streams running.

Chief Executive Officer of Comcare, Martin Dolan addressed the Summit about the challenges facing Comcare in 2009, and was able to answer pressing questions about where to next for Comcare.

The Summit was delighted to welcome Victor Schultheiss from Germany to add an international flavour to the event. Victor compared and contrasted Australia’s workers compensations systems with what is happening in Europe and how Australia can learn from international developments.

Angelica Vecchio-Sadus from CSIRO presented an extremely relevant case study focusing on maximising injury prevention in an organisation and Jackie Burke, from the NSW Rape Crisis Centre gave an engaging and practical presentation about identifying psychological in high risk work places, and intervening in situations of psychological health hazards.

Craig Bosworth added a new dynamic and perspective to the Summit as he discussed what and how private health insurance and workers compensation in Australia can learn from each other.

And for those who weren’t rushing to the airport on Wednesday afternoon, NAB's Dean Stone gave a very interesting presentation about resolving workers compensation disputes and obtaining better outcomes for all parties involved.

And of course, who could forget the National Workers Compensation Summit dinner and networking drinks? Giving everyone a chance to meet workers compensation professionals from around Australia, it was an ideal way to relax and unwind down by Melbourne’s Dockland’s precinct.