How safe is the workplace?

Unfortunately the workplace is not as safe as we would all like it to be or as it should be.

Farming, logging, fishing, mining, transport and the construction industries are noted for workplace accidents resulting in death. However, no industry is immune from such incidents.

Accidents on farms are particularly high. This may be because family members often live on the job, running the farm as owners, managers and workers. Home and work often overlap with many children helping from time to time.

The general public is not immune from workplace incidents either. A number of people die or are seriously injured each year as a result of the work activity of others.

Workplace Incident Statistics

Every year in Australia it is estimated that the toll for workplace death and accidents exceeds the road toll.

The actual number of those killed as a result of a workplace incident is difficult to come by. The National Occupational Health & Safety Commission (NOHSC), an organization with a mission "to lead and co-ordinate national efforts to prevent workplace death, injury and disease in Australia", has compiled and published figures for the years 1982 to 1984 and 1989 to 1992. However the compilation of these figures was then ceased.

See www.nohsc.gov.au. Type in "workplace deaths" in the search box.

This web site contains the Australian Mesothelioma Register Report 2001. www.nohsc.gov.au/Statistics/mesothelioma_01.htm

The National Occupational Health and Safety Commission (NOHSC) was replaced in October by the Australian Safety and Compensation Council (ASCC):

The Australian Safety and Compensation Council

The Australian Safety and Compensation Council (ASCC) is a body established under the executive power of the Commonwealth to lead and coordinate national efforts to improve OHS and workers compensation arrangements. It will provide policy advice to the Workplace Relations Ministers Council on national occupational health and safety (OHS) and workers compensation arrangements.

It comprises of representatives from the Federal Government, State and Territory governments, the Australian Council of Trade Unions and the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The ASCC will lead and coordinate national efforts to improve OHS and workers compensation arrangements and will have power to declare national standards and codes of practice for OHS. The first meeting of the ASCC will be held on 20 October 2005.

The Office of the Australian Safety and Compensation Council (OASCC) will support the work of the ASCC and is also a source of national research and statistical information relating to OHS and workers compensation.

Their web site is still being developed.

See www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/RB/2004-05/05rb07.htm#statistical.

National Farm Injury Data Centre
Gives the latest statistics and other information about farm injuries.
www.acahs.med.usyd.edu.au/nfidc/

Work Factors in Suicide

• Findings from the Victorian coronial data base on suicide.
• Narrative reports of families and work colleagues bereaved by suicide.
• An annotated bibliography of existing research literature on work factors in suicide.

Many parts of Australia are experiencing extreme drought at this time. The stress and anxiety which can develop from such a situation, may lead to depression and sadly sometimes suicide. If you are feeling depressed and anxious much of the time and life is losing its meaning speak to your local doctor or nurse of a member of the family or a friend.

Beyondblue a national, independent, not-for-profit organisation working to address issues associated with depression, anxiety and related substance misuse disorders in Australia has a very useful web site with a section addressing depression in rural people.

http://www.beyondblue.org.au/.

Who is responsible for a safe work place?

In Australia regulatory responsibility for Occupational Health and Safety rests with the Federal, State and Territorial governments.

In Queensland the Workplace Health and Safety Act of 1995 and associated legislation exists to promote and ensure as far as possible the health and safety of all workers.

See www.legislation.qld.gov.au for legislation for each industry.

Who administers Workplace Health and Safety?

www.whs.qld.gov.au

Click on this web site to read:
a) The 1995 changes to the WPHS act
b) Queensland WPHS strategy 2004-2012

WHSQ has a section on the web site called "Safety Links" which keep workers and employers in touch with Workplace Health and Safety issues.

"Safety Zone" is a monthly newsletter produced by the Division.
Contact:
Industry Awareness Unit
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland
GPO Box 69 Brisbane Q 4001

Workcover, a statutory body established under the Workcover Act 1996, is responsible for ensuring State workers and investigating unsafe work practice. www.workcover.qld.gov.au

Comcare is the insurer for the Commonwealth Government. Section 68 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (CE) requires the notification to COMCARE of incidents that cause death, serious personal injury, and incapacity for certain periods of time and dangerous occurrences.
www.comcare.gov.au

Who is responsible within the workplace for Workplace Health and Safety?

Employers are legally responsible for providing a safe and healthy workplace.

Workers and Managers have a legal obligation to make themselves aware of, understand the safety laws and see that they are obeyed within the workplace.

All workers have a responsibility to see they understand and abide by the Workplace Health and Safety rules within their organisation.

Download the booklet "Safety at work - your responsibilities explained". A guide to the laws covering workplace health and safety in the commonwealth workplace.

www.comcare.gov.au/pdf_files/OHS_60_Safety_at_Work_18-04-05.pdf.

The role of Workplace Health and Safety Officers

The Workplace Health and Safety Act, 1998, Part 8 states an employer must employ a qualified Workplace Health and Safety Officer if 30 or more workers are employed in a workplace. This act was amended in 2004, expanding the role of the WHSOs.
www.legislation.qld.gov.au

The Function of a Workplace Health and Safety Officer:
Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995, Part 8, Division 5.

1. To tell the employer or principal contractor about the overall state of health and safety of the workplace.
2. To conduct inspections at the workplace to identify hazards and unsafe or unsatisfactory workplace health and safety conditions and practices.
3. To report to the employer or principal contractor any hazard or unsafe or unsatisfactory workplace health and safety practice identified during inspection.
4. To establish appropriate educational programs in workplace health ad safety.
5. To investigate, or assist the investigation of all work injuries, work caused illness and dangerous events at the workplace.
6. To help inspectors in the performance of the inspectors' duties.
7. In any work injury, work caused illness, dangerous event or immediate risk to workplace health or safety at the workplace report the injury, illness, event or risk to the employer or principal contractor.
8. Conduct an annual inspection of the workplace.

National Occupational Health & Safety Commission (NOHSC)

NOHSC leads and coordinates national efforts to prevent workplace deaths. www.nohsc.gov.au

In 2002 the National OHS Strategy for 2002 to 2012 was launched signifying the commitment of all Australian governments, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and The Australian Council of Trade Unions to work cooperatively on national priorities for improving OHS and to achieve minimum national targets for reducing the incidence of workplace deaths and injuries.
www.nohsc.gov.au/NationalStrategy/.

The Office of the Australian Safety and Compensation Council, an Australian government agency, with its headquarters in Canberra (ACT), is responsible for leading and coordinating national efforts to prevent workplace death, The ASCC replaced NOHSC In October 2005 .

National Safety Council of Australia

Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety

Trade Unions in Australia promote workplace Health and Safety.
Web sites for individual Trade Unions can be accessed through the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) directory online. www.actu.asn.au and click Links.

Labor Council of NSW "Youth Safe"

Youth Safe is an initiative of the Labour Council of N.S.W. Representatives from a diverse range of industries and backgrounds work together to raise awareness among young workers of the occupational health issues in the workplace . www.ohs.labor.net.au/youthsafe/

Minerals and Mining

The mineral and mining industres web sites concentrate very much on safety in the work place.

Accident Investigation, Occupational Health and Safety Consultants.

Last Updated - Mon 04th 2006f September 2006 15:20:47

Go to top of page