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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 2 Hansard (6 March) . . Page.. 809 ..

My Department is not aware of any specific concerns raised formally about occupational health and safety issues. However, all agencies and unions are involved in a Service-wide consultation forum in which agencies can raise and discuss issues and concerns in relation to occupational health and safety. The Occupational Health, Safety and Rehabilitation Advisory Committee (OHSRAC) meets on a quarterly basis and representatives of all ACT Public Service agencies and unions represented in their workplaces are invited to attend. OHSRAC is chaired by the public sector employer representative on the Occupational Health and Safety Council. The Occupational Health and Safety Commissioner attends the meetings.

In August 2002, the Government initiated the ACT Public Sector Injury Prevention and Management Project. The Project provides a structured consultative platform on which sustainable injury prevention and management strategies can be established. The aim is to improve workplace safety, injury management and return-to-work outcomes, target 'hot spots', ensure that best practice methods are adopted across the ACT public sector and to reduce the financial and human costs of workplace injuries and illness for the ACT public sector workforce.

In February 2003, the Chief Minister launched the 'Leadership and Commitment' strategy. The strategy consists of information and guidance materials to assist senior managers, supervisors and employees understand and fulfil their injury prevention and management responsibilities. Work on additional strategies is in train including the implementation of safety management systems in ACT Public Service workplaces.

A performance-based methodology for allocating the ACT public sector's workers' compensation premium was implemented in 2001-02. Agencies are provided with detailed information on claim frequency and costs with their annual premium notifications. The information can be drawn on to address particular workplace prevention and injury management trends.

Attachment A

ACT Public Service, Incident Reports and Workers' Compensation Claims,

2000-01 to 2002-03 (as of 28 February 2003)¹

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