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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 13 Hansard (26 November) . . Page.. 4640 ..

MS MacDONALD (continuing):

5,000 people a year being injured while working. Since self-government in 1989, there have been about 20 workplace fatalities, excluding work-related motor vehicle deaths, with three of them being recorded at workplaces in 2002-03.

While these figures sound high and, I believe, are high, the ACT remains below the Australian average for workplace-related injuries. Data from the fourth comparative performance monitoring report, released in June 2002, revealed that from 1999-2000 to 2000-01 the total number of compensated claims fell by 48-from 3,912 to 3,864. Whilst a decrease is always commendable, I do not think that those numbers are acceptable.

This decrease can be attributed to a number of factors, including increased awareness of occupational health and safety issues and the availability of safer machinery and materials. One contributing factor has been the work done by ACT WorkCover, the government agency working primarily to eliminate death, disease and injury in the workplace.

Since 1989, ACT WorkCover has promoted the importance of occupational health and safety and how best to achieve high standards of occupational health and safety across all industries in the ACT. With about 65 dedicated employees, including the Occupational Health and Safety Commissioner, ACT WorkCover has provided Canberra's 17 industries with information and advice on how to reduce their rate of workplace injury.

ACT WorkCover has worked closely with industry to reduce their rate of injury through a number of educational and enforcement strategies. Initiatives such as a site inspection rating program which measures the effectiveness of the small business health and safety tool kit and OH&S compliance, the creation of Aware Bear, which is a mascot to promote the ABCs of safety for primary school students and the broader community, the implementation of amendments to the Workers Compensation Act 1951 to radically improve workers compensation and rehabilitation, and the consolidation of workers compensation data collection through a high level of insurer and industry training will further assist in achieving the objective of no deaths, injury, disease or damage to property in the ACT due to unsafe work practices.

The WorkCover at work initiative launched under ACT WorkCover's 2002-03 education and information strategy is another important component for achieving ACT WorkCover's vision. The program provides businesses with practical information and advice and involves the use of a mobile centre equipped with publications, information and multimedia displays. I understand that the response from workplaces regarding the mobile centre has been positive, especially from small businesses, with ACT WorkCover staff conducting educational presentations and promoting the small business health and safety tool kit.

This year also saw the launch of the first ACT health and safety month. Held during May, the aim of the month is to raise awareness of workplace health and safety issues by encouraging workers and employers to organise safe activities in their own workplaces and to participate in the many other events and activities held throughout the month. Health and safety month gives workplaces the opportunity to learn from each other and experience at first hand how other businesses implement occupational health and safety innovations. That is important for small businesses which may not have the knowledge

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