Safe Work establishes strategy group to facilitate harmonised workers’ compensation laws
Safe Work announces release of CPM report on OHS and workers’ compensation outcomes
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
