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Management of Human Resources
Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) Performance
The Registry, consistent with s.16 of the Occupational Health and Safety (Commonwealth Employment) Act 1991 (the OHS Act), has an OHS policy and agreement with the CPSU (the Community and Public Sector Union).
The OHS policy/agreement aims to:
- effect compliance with the OHS Act and other relevant legislation as a minimum standard;
- provide for effective cooperation between the Registry and its employees in promoting and developing measures to ensure their health, safety and welfare at work; and
- provide adequate mechanisms for reviewing the effectiveness of OHS measures taken.
Further, the OHS policy/agreement contains, among other matters, provisions relating to:
- management and employee responsibilities;
- designated work groups;
- health and safety representatives (HSRs); and
- OHS Committees in the Registry.
Registry OHS activity is driven by two primary internal sources:
- team and individual plans – which are to contain performance indicators in relation to health and safety, particularly as espoused by the APS Value – ‘The APS provides a fair, flexible, safe and rewarding workplace’; and
- quarterly OHS surveys required to be submitted by teams – these surveys generate responses to specific, immediate issues as well as problematic, longer term issues such as airconditioning (certainly in relation to this, the issue of legionnaires disease was again reconsidered during the year).
The major external driver of OHS considerations is Comcare Advices and other articles/journals drawing attention to office-based OHS issues.
The OHS folder on the People and Planning Team’s intranet site contains an ever increasing range of OHS material of particular relevance to the Registry as an office-based workplace – the OHS Survey compilations, Officewise workstation set-up, eye exercises, the Employee Assistance Program, accident reporting system, etc.
In 2000-01 the more significant OHS considerations included:
- further reviews on security arrangements for both Commission Members and Registry employees – among other matters, the installation of a proximity card system in Melbourne thereby limiting public access to the non-public areas, and upgrades to counter arrangements in Melbourne, Sydney and Hobart;
- the roll-out of new personal computers for all employees, in particular the provision of 19 inch monitors to address eye strain concerns;
- associated with the roll-out, the addressing of cabling issues to remove trip and other hazards;
- quarterly OHS surveys undertaken by all Registry teams;
- the continuation of the influenza vaccination program for Registry employees and Commission Members;
- the complete refurbishment of kitchens in Melbourne – both to modernise and remove identified risks with slippery floors and hot water units;
- first aid arrangements, in particular the restocking of kits, emergency signage and first aid officer network meetings;
- continuation of an ‘Executive Health Assessment Program’ for Commission Members; and
- training of IMTT staff in the area of ‘Working Under Pressure’.
In 2000-01 there were no incidences of:
- dangerous occurrences, for which the Registry was required to provide a notice to Comcare pursuant to s.68 of the OHS Act;
- investigations undertaken, tests conducted, directions given to the Registry under s.45 nor notices given to the employer under ss.30, 46 and 47 of the OHS Act; or
- ‘provisional improvement notices’ issued by a HSR under s.29 of the OHS Act.
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