Appendix 3 - Occupational Health and Safety

Measures to ensure health, safety and welfare at work
The department undertook a range of initiatives and activities during the year to ensure the health, safety and welfare at work of its employees. This included an increased number of workstation assessments to prevent overuse, back and sprain/strain injuries and an open day at the Canberra office to promote the benefits of healthy lifestyles and achieve balance between work and home.

Comcare audited AQIS during the year under subsection 41(3) of the Occupational Health and Safety (Commonwealth Employment) Act 1991 (the OH&S Act). Comcare considered that AQIS has performed well overall in integrating, applying and managing health and safety, and rated the organisation as one of the better performing within the Australian Government jurisdiction. AQIS also received a Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission Workplace Safety Innovative Solution Award during 2003.

The department’s Occupational Health and Safety Committee covering Canberra-based staff also undertook a self-assessment in expectation of a similar Comcare audit. The findings of that self-audit will underpin the Canberra committee’s work program over the next 12 months. Areas to be addressed include the need for wider dissemination of OH&S information, more rigorous hazard identification, risk assessment and risk control and a greater investment in relevant training for management and staff.

Notification and reporting of accidents and dangerous occurrences
In accordance with Section 68 of the OH&S Act the following were reported:

*Serious personal injury (to ANY person) is that the person needs:

• emergency treatment by a doctor or
• treatment in a hospital as a casualty, with or without being admitted to the hospital or
• admission to hospital.

** Dangerous occurrences are ‘near misses’ that could have resulted in death, serious personal injury or incapacity, but did not.

Investigations and Notices
There was one investigation conducted in AQIS during 2002-03 of a forklift incident at a facility visited by AQIS staff.

No directions were given to the department under Section 45 of the OH&S Act. No notices were given to the department under Sections 29, 46 or 47 of the OH&S Act.