OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY
AFMA’s Health and Safety Management Arrangements 2008 outline the occupational health and safety responsibilities of the agency, supervisory staff and employees, the reporting of incidents, accidents and hazards, dispute resolution procedures, and arrangements regarding the Occupational Health and Safety Committee. The Health and Safety Management Arrangements and will be reviewed in the 2011-2012 financial year, in consultation with staff and management. The arrangements, and any relevant information, are made available to staff on AFMA’s intranet.
The Occupational Health and Safety Committee met four times during 2010–11 to review AFMA’s health and safety performance including identifying risks and developing strategies to reduce them.
Health and safety initiatives
Every year, staff members are provided with the option of free onsite influenza vaccinations to staff. In June 2011 we also provided free health checks for all staff. We experienced a strong take-up rate for both of these opportunities.
Eleven workstation assessments were conducted in 2010–11 for staff experiencing any sort of pain or discomfort at their workstation. As a result of these assessments a variety of measures were implemented, including the purchase of specialised chairs, desk and computer equipment.
Health and safety outcomes achieved
AFMA again performed well in occupational health and safety. Our workers compensation premium remained below the Commonwealth average and there were no notifiable injuries or incidents.
The unplanned absence rate was 8.1 days per person which is up slightly from last year (7.7 days) but still lower than the APS average of 10.5 days per employee per year.
Accident or dangerous occurrence statistics
In 2010–11 there were 17 recorded incidents, accidents or near-misses (see figure 2). This rate is similar to the previous year and again dominated by minor incidents, with only one serious personal injury involving an absence of two or more weeks.
OH&S risk assessment of AFMA’s at-sea activities was undertaken with the risk assessment component identifying the operational risks for the four at-sea operational areas – Observers, Domestic Compliance Canberra, Domestic Compliance Darwin and Foreign Compliance Darwin. Risk assessments were made for each area, identifying current risk mitigation activities and recommending some further actions. The additional controls are being implemented and AFMA’s Sea Safety Policy will be updated.
Investigations conducted during the year
No investigations were conducted by Comcare under section 41 of the Occupational Health and Safety (Commonwealth Employment) Act 1991. In addition, no notices were issued in relation to health and safety representatives and no prohibition notices were issued.
FIGURE 2: AFMA OH&S INCIDENT REPORTS COMPARISON
