Slide1: Occupational Health, Safety and Compensation in Defence


OHS - WHY BOTHER?: OHS - WHY BOTHER? Maximise Capability Duty of Care and Moral obligation Public Profile Economics Legal Obligation - the OHS (CE) Act


Slide3: DIRECT COSTS Injuries to personnel Compensation Rehabilitation Property damage INDIRECT COSTS Morale Public relations Lost work capacity Family of the injured Cost of replacing employees The Real Costs


Slide4: OHS directly impacts our overall capability to defend Australia and its national interests The quality of our OHS performance is important to recruiting, retaining and protecting our people Service Chiefs and Group Heads are responsible for providing healthy and safe workplaces Defence OHS Policy Statement Aug 2005


OHS LEGISLATION: OHS LEGISLATION Defence is Governed by: Commonwealth Occupational Health & Safety (CE) Act 1991 Regulations Approved Codes of Practice


APPROVED CODES OF PRACTICE: APPROVED CODES OF PRACTICE Noise Management Manual Handling Occupational Overuse Syndrome Asbestos Interior Lighting Vibration Ultraviolet Radiation Injury and Disease Reporting Non-Ionising radiation Transporting Dangerous Goods


Slide7: OBJECTIVES OF THE ACT Secure Health & Safety of employees Protect people from risk at or near workplaces Ensure that expert advice is available on OHS Ensure workplaces are adapted to employee needs Encourage employer & employee participation Applies to Civilian and ADF personnel & Cadets


Slide8: ADF and civilian employees & cadets Does not permit any action prejudicial to Australia’s security or Defence CDF may request COMCARE to exempt the ADF from certain parts of the OHS (CE) Act Applying the Act to Defence


Exemptions to the Act : Exemptions to the Act 1. Members of the ADF cannot be members of a designated work group (DWG) & cannot be elected or selected as a Health & Safety Representative (HSR) 2. Incident reporting to Comcare is not applicable for ADF members on: ADF operational deployments Deployments in support of the UN Organised ADF sporting activities


Amendments to the Act : Amendments to the Act The OHS(CE) Act was amended on 13 Sep 2004 The key amendments to the Act change the provisions for compliance and enforcement. The employer and employees each have a duty of care under the Act, and both groups can now be penalised if the duty of care is not met. Refer: DEFGRAM No 590/2004 dated 20 Oct 2004


Health & Safety Representatives (HSR): Only Civilian employees of Defence are eligible to become a HSR. HSRs have the power to: Inspect workplaces Represent OHS issues to management Investigate complaints Issue PINS Stop Work in an unsafe situation Health & Safety Representatives (HSR)


Slide12: Defence is obliged to provide: Health and Safety policy Safe work environment Adequate welfare facilities Safe access and egress Safe arrangements for equipment and chemicals Mechanisms for consultation


Defence is obliged to provide: : Information, training and supervision System which monitors health and safety System to maintain records Adequate first aid services Safe environment for third parties and contractors Defence is obliged to provide:


Slide14: What you can expect from Management.. A workplace that is designed to suit you An induction brief on relevant hazards and emergency procedures Adequate physical space, lighting, heating, etc Personal protective equipment as appropriate Access to a trained HSR and OHS documentation An attentive ear from your supervisor on OHS issues


Slide15: Not increase risk to yourself or others Use equipment properly Cooperate with Management to: follow Defence OHS directives follow safe work practices use PPE provided and as directed report safety incidents & hazards follow emergency procedures As a Defence employee you must…


Defence OHS Committee: Defence OHS Committee


Slide17: The DOHSC was formed in March 2003 and is a subcommittee of the Defence Committee. The DOHSC was established to oversee Defence-wide OHS initiatives and the development of the Defence OHS Strategic Plan. http://defweb.cbr.defence.gov.au/sencom/dohsc


DOHSC Role: DOHSC Role Monitor and report on: OHS performance and compliance impact of OHS on enterprise risk the development and maintenance of the Defence OHS management system alignment of responsibility, accountability and resources implementation of recommendations arising out of investigations and audits


Slide19: Head Defence Personnel - Chair Vice Chief of the Defence Force Deputy Service Chiefs Deputy Secretary Corporate Services or two-star/Senior Executive Service (SES) Band 2 representative Defence Materiel Organisation two-star/SES Band 2 representative DOHSC Members


Slide20: Defence OHS Strategic Plan 2004-2006 Developed by the DOHSC Aligns with the National OHS Strategy 2002-2012 Allocates resources to initiatives Endorsed by Senior Leadership Group Refer: DEFGRAM No 618/2004 dated 3 Nov 2004


OHSC Branch: OHSC Branch


Slide22: Management Information (MI) OHSC Branch Structure HDPE DGOHSC Defence Safety Policy & Programs (DSPP) Defence OHS Program Office (DOHSPO) Rehabilitation & Compensation Policy (DRCP) Skilling, Communications & Business Management (SCBM) Defence Centre for Occupational Health (DCOH)


Slide23: OHSC Branch Provides the tools and expert advice to enable Defence to manage safety effectively Intranet: http://ohsc.defence.gov.au/ Internet: http://www.defence.gov.au/dpe/ohsc Email: ohsc@defence.gov.au 24 hour toll-free helpline: 1800 019 955


Slide24: OHSC Intranet Homepage


Incident Reporting : Incident Reporting


OHS Incident Reporting: Use Form AC563 OHS Incident Reporting


Slide27: OHSC Branch and COMCARE (or ARPANSA as applicable) notification : Deaths (within 2 hrs), Serious Personal Injuries, Incapacities and Dangerous Occurrences (in 24 hrs) Reporting - OHSC Branch must receive full report of incident within 28 days. OHS Incident Reporting


Exemptions from Notification: Exemptions from Notification Report to OHSC Branch, but not Comcare: Any injuries to ADF personnel that occur during organised ADF sporting activities, Any injuries to ADF personnel serving with the United Nations Any injuries to ADF personnel that occur while on operations Minor injuries such as bruises & cuts Incapacities resulting in less than 30 lost workdays or shifts.


Slide29: The operating arm of the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission (SRCC). Comcare’s Role: ensure compliance with the OHS (CE) Act provide OHS advice appoint and conduct investigations compensation claims management for injured civilian employees


Slide30: ARPANSA’s Role: responsible for protecting the health and safety of people, and the environment, from the harmful effects of radiation (ionizing and non-ionizing). administers the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety (ARPANS) Act 1998


Risk Management : Risk Management


Risk Management : Risk Management Is a 4-step planned & systematic process: 1. Hazard identification 2. Risk assessment 3. Risk control 4. Monitoring and reviewing


Slide33: Risk Management Score Calculator Available from OHSC Branch Homepage


Slide34: Risk Management Model AS/NZS 4360:2004


Workplace Hazards: Workplace Hazards


Identifying Hazards: Identifying Hazards Quick workplace examination Systematic Workplace Hazard Audit use checklists conduct regularly audit workplaces other than your own


Classifying Hazards: There are 6 categories of hazards: 1. Physical 2. Chemical 3. Ergonomic 4. Radiation 5. Psychological 6. Biological Classifying Hazards


Physical Hazards: Physical Hazards Noise Vibration Temperature Electrical Mechanical / moving


Chemical Hazards : Chemical Hazards Fumes Liquids Gases Vapours Fibre


Biological Hazards: Biological Hazards Viruses Bacteria Parasites


Ergonomic Hazards: Ergonomic Hazards Work area layout Equipment design Instrument layout


Psychological Hazards: Psychological Hazards Workload Shift arrangement Relationships Time constraints


Radiation Hazards : Radiation Hazards Radio Frequency Radiation Ultraviolet exposure from sun Ultraviolet exposure from welding Ionising Radiation Lasers Infra-red from drying or heating processes


Managing Workplace Hazards: Systematically identify occupational hazards, Get them properly evaluated, Implement suitable control measures, Systematically monitor effectiveness of controls. Managing Workplace Hazards


Hierarchy of Hazard Control: Eliminate the hazard, Substitute for something less hazardous, Isolate the hazard from the worker, Develop Engineering Controls, Employ Administrative Measures, Issue Personal Protective Equipment. Hierarchy of Hazard Control


OHS Training Courses : OHS Training Courses ETD Network provide: Employee, Supervisor and Manager level OHS courses as part of the Public Sector Training Package Ionising Radiation Protection Officer Laser Safety Radio Frequency Radiation Safety Officer Occupational Noise


On-line OHS Training : On-line OHS Training OHS Awareness Emergency Wardens more under development


Slide48: Rehabilitation & Compensation Military comp …….., Civilian comp……...


Slide49: Rehabilitation & Compensation Military comp …….., Civilian comp……...


Slide50: Supervisors Group Safety Coordinators Regional OHS Coordinators HSRs Defence Safety Manual (SAFETYMAN) OHSC intranet website http://ohsc.defence.gov.au Safety Helpline 1800 019 955 Australian Standards, Codes of Practice Need more information?


Summary: Summary Legal obligation on management to provide a safe working environment for all employees, cadets, contractors and visitors. Legal obligation on all employees to work safely. An employee can be prosecuted through civil or criminal law.


Slide52: Always look out for hazards Remember …………...


Questions ?: Questions ?