Safe Work Australia
Strategic Plan
2012–2015
SafeWorkAustraliaisaninclusive,tripartitebodyrepresenting theinterestsof the Commonwealth,statesand territoriesaswell asworkersandemployersinAustralia.Safe Work Australiais reform-focussedwith thepower tomakerecommendationsdirectlyto the SelectCouncil onWorkplaceRelations.
ThemainfocusofSafeWork Australiasinceitsestablishment hasbeen thedevelopment ofmodelWorkHealthandSafety (WHS) laws. Thisdevelopmentworkisnowlargely completewithfinalisationofmodelWHS(Mines)Regulationsandmodel codesofpractice continuinguntil theendof2012.
Thefocusfor SafeWork Australiawill move to monitoringandevaluatingthe implementationofthe model lawsand makingchangestoimproveoperational efficiency.
SafeWorkAustraliawill continue tobeakeysourcefor highqualitynationallysignificant dataandresearchtoinform thedevelopmentofnew workhealthandsafetyandworkers’ compensationpolicy.
During2012–2013SafeWork Australiawill launch theAustralianWorkHealthandSafety Strategy2012–2022(the AustralianStrategy)asastrategicframework toguidenational action. The launchof theAustralianStrategywill facilitate theredevelopmentofSafeWork Australia’sstrategicplaninearly2013. Therevisedstrategicplanwill reflect theAustralian Strategy’svision, goalsandoutcomes.
OUTCOME
Workhealthandsafetyis regardedasakeycommunity issue.
RATIONALE
TheAustraliancommunityand theirattitudesareakey influenceinbringing aboutpositivechange.Reducing thetolerancethecommunityhasfor the
ongoinglevel ofdeath, injuryanddiseaseresultingfrom workandmotivating
thepublictotakeactiontoimproveworkhealthandsafetyisavital partof thenational vision.
STRATEGIES
1.1 Workwithstakeholders througharangeofmechanismstodelivera consistent nationalmessageontheimportanceof workhealthandsafety.
1.2 Developanddisseminatenational publicationsonkeystrategicobjectives andworkhealthandsafetyandworkers’ compensationmatters.
OUTCOME
Workhealthandsafetyisimprovedthroughunderstandingwhatinfluences Australianworkplaceculturesandputtinginplacemechanismstoeffect change.
RATIONALE
Howtoeffect sustainableimprovementstohealthandsafety inthe workplace remainsasignificantchallenge. Understandinghowrisksatwork areperceivedandhowtheseperceptionsmightbechangedisessential to helpimproveworkplacecultureandorganisational behaviour.
STRATEGIES
2.1 Undertakeresearchtoidentifythefactorsthat positively influence workplacecultureandorganisational behaviour.
2.2 Developand maintaincollaborativeAustralianandinternational partnershipsonworkhealthandsafety.
OUTCOME
Australiahasharmonisedworkhealthandsafetylawscomplementedby consistent complianceandenforcement policiesthatcontributetoimproved
safetyfor all workers.
RATIONALE
Inconsistentworkhealthandsafety lawscauseinequitablesafetystandards for workersandadditional costsandconfusionforbusinessesacross jurisdictionsandindustrysectors. Inconsistencyalsoleads toduplicationand inefficienciesfor governments intheprovisionof policy,regulatoryand support services.Theharmonisationofworkhealthandsafety legislationis part oftheCOAGNational ReformAgendaaiming toreduceregulatory burdensandcreateaseamlessnational economy.
STRATEGIES
3.1 Continueddevelopment andassistancewith theimplementationof the model workhealthandsafety laws.
3.2 Monitortheeffectivenessofthemodelworkhealthandsafety laws.
3.3 Identifyandrecommendareasfor improvement related toharmonisation, efficiency,equityandthestandardof safetyprovided.
OUTCOME
National workhealthandsafetyandworkers’ compensationpolicy is informedbyknowledge, evidence,understandingandprioritisationof existingandemergingissues.
RATIONALE
Policydevelopmentshouldbebasedonevidence. Processestoidentify, assessandrespondtoemergingandcurrentissuesarerequiredtoensure effectivepolicydevelopment.Followingpolicyimplementation, robust evaluationusingbothlagandleadindicatorswill determineifithasbeen effectiveindeliveringchange andifamendmentsareneeded.
STRATEGIES
4.1 Collect,analyse, monitor andreportondataand researchtoinform national workhealthandsafetyandworkers’ compensationpolicy
developmentandevaluation.
4.2 Identify, assessandreport oncurrentandemergingworkhealthand safetyandworkers’ compensationissues.
4.3 ReviewtheNational OHS Strategy2002–2012.
4.4 FinalisedevelopmentandcommenceimplementationoftheAustralian
Work HealthandSafety Strategy2012–2022.
OUTCOME
Opportunitiesforgreaterimprovements inworkers’ compensation arrangementsareidentifiedandassessedandpolicyproposalsdeveloped.
RATIONALE
Inconsistentworkers’compensationarrangementsacrossAustraliacanlead tolessequitable, effective,efficient,comprehensibleand sustainable workers’ compensationarrangementsforbothworkersandemployers, particularlyfor employerswithworkers inmorethanonejurisdiction.Policy proposalswill bedeveloped toidentifyandassessopportunitiesfor
improved responsestoand management ofwork relatedinjuryandillness.
STRATEGIES
5.1 Undertakepolicyresearchonhighpriorityworkers’ compensation arrangements,particularlyforemployerswithworkersinmorethanone jurisdiction.
OUTCOME
Continuousimprovement ofSafeWorkAustralia.
RATIONALE
A wellfunctioningandcontinuously improvingSafeWorkAustraliawill assist stakeholderstomeet thechallengeswhichhavebeenidentifiedandare
likelytoemergeinAustraliaincomingyears.TheCEOand staffofSafe
Work Australiaarecommittedtoimproving thepeople,theorganisationand theway itoperates.ThestaffofSafeWorkAustraliaiscommittedto providinghighqualitypolicyadviceanddevelopment, research, data analysis,communicationandsecretariat services.
STRATEGIES
6.1 Identifyanddevelopareasforimprovement sothat theworkforce continuestobesafe, empowered,productiveandcommitted.
6.2 Continuedprovisionofeffectivegovernance, resourcemanagement and statutoryreporting.
6.3 Manage,developandsupport working relationshipswithkeystakeholders anddeliverhighqualityservices.