The following information provides details of Customs responses to legal obligations under section 74 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1991.
CUSTOMS HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS
As a result of amendments to the Commonwealth Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) legislation, Customs undertook a review of OHS policy and associated documents. The review identified areas of improvement and ensured legislative compliance, high standards and good practice. Some enhancements were identified and undertaken, such as the development of new hazard guidelines. However, this review indicated that the existing OHS arrangements provided a solid basis for developing the new Health and Safety Management Arrangements (HSMAs) in consultation with Customs employees.
The HSMAs consist of policy documents outlining the principles and arrangements of Customs OHS framework and a number of hazard guidelines and policy guidelines. They were initially reviewed by the National OHS Committee, represented by Customs and the Community and Public Sector Union, and then put to staff for comment during May. Amendments were made as a result of feedback, which included suggested changes to the content of some guidelines to make them more workable. The new HSMA were endorsed by the National OHS Committee in June 2007.
These HSMA provide a comprehensive system to assist work areas in identifying hazards, assessing risks, developing and implementing control measures, and monitoring and evaluating OHS performance. The HSMA contain the policy and resources to ensure risk management procedures can be developed to suit the specific hazards posed by the individual work area. Customs also continued to undertake OHS self-assessment audit processes across regions, which assisted in monitoring the efficacy of the HSMA and identifying workplaces that required assistance in meeting their OHS obligations.
HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE AT WORK
Customs undertook the following measures during 2006-07 to ensure the health, safety and welfare of our employees and contractors this year.
- Reviewed, amended and enhanced the Customs OHS framework in accordance with the Commonwealth OHS legislative amendments. Amending current policy and introduced new hazard guidelines to address deficiencies in the existing documentation.
- Reviewed the reporting lines of the online OHS incident reporting software and introduced systems to improve its efficiency.
- Identified high OHS risk areas based on incident rates and assisted with risk assessments and the introduction of control measures to address identified hazards. This has included ergonomic assessments and the development of injury prevention programs involving training and awareness and changed work practices.
- Participated in pandemic workgroups, reviewing and updating internal pandemic contingency plans in line with whole-of-government approach, and participation in exercise Cumpston, an interdepartmental pandemic influenza simulation conducted at Brisbane Airport. Contributed to the Department of Health's pandemic training package for airport based border workers and provided infection control education DVDs to all Customs staff.
- Implemented a range of health and wellbeing initiatives for staff such as health seminars, health and fitness testing, exercise programs and flu vaccinations.
- Introduced a pilot program designed to minimise the incidence of overuse injuries that were identified as an issue of concern.
- Provided regular news articles for Customs News
(a national internal electronic fortnightly publication) promoting
health and wellbeing with links to additional material on
the Customs health and wellbeing website.
- Reviewed and updated the contents of the mandatory OHS online learning module and contribute to the OHS component of the Customs Trainee Redevelopment Program.
- Promoted information on bullying and harassment as an emerging issue across the Australian Public Service.
- Developed and promoted a checklist on absence management and effective return to work.
- Facilitated a two day conference for Regional OHS Coordinators in October 2006. The focus of the conference was building skills and knowledge, improving communication, identifying improvements to current policies and practices, and networking.
Outcomes of initiatives taken to improve our OHS performance is reflected in the downward trend of the number of accepted worker compensation claims and the annual absenteeism rate.
For more information refer to Human Resources Management, Occupational Health and Safety Performance.
ACCIDENTS OR DANGEROUS OCCURRENCES
There were 25 notifications to Comcare of accidents or dangerous occurrences involving Customs employees during 2006-07 under section 68 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1991. This was slightly down from the 26 notifications reported in 2005-06. Detailed investigations were undertaken into the circumstances and appropriate measures were implemented to prevent recurrence.
INVESTIGATIONS CONDUCTED
There were eight notifications made under section 47 of the
Occupational
Health and Safety Act 1991 (OHS Act) in 2006-07, seven
as a result of the Comcare Planned Investigation Program. All
corrective action and recommendations contained in the Improvement
Notices were addressed. There were no notifications issued under
section 29 or 46 of the OHS Act.
