School Camps A WorkSafe perspective Trevor Butler Regional Manager June 2017

WorkSafe overview Region model 4 Regional Managers 15 Multi-disciplinary teams 4 Construction teams 1 Major Hazards team 1 Earth Resources team Specialists including Hygienists, Ergonomists & Engineers The overall RTW rates for Education industry looks pretty flat, tracking along with the public sector and scheme performance at a level close to 80%. However, it looks more volatile for Social Assistance Services. When we look at the RTW rates for mental injury claimants, the rates dropped significantly to a level around 57%. The rates again look pretty flat for Education industry. For Social Assistance Services, the rates are trending downwards in the past 3 years but YTD results show an improvement.

Data Summary Between 1 January 2014 to 13 June 2017 there have been 188 Incident notifications relating to accidents and injuries at school camps. A large percentage were reported by the school at the conclusion of the camp rather than by the camp operator. It is likely that a large number of injuries are not reported. These injuries include teachers and students from both primary and senior schools.

Injury overview Teachers sporting activities slips, trips & falls loading or trying to fix buses Students sporting activities (could be unfamiliar with activity) surfing cycling climbing horse riding Camp staff manual handling slips trips & falls

REPORTING INCIDENTS Employers, occupiers and persons in charge must report incidents to WorkSafe Victoria at 132 360 or in writing via online form. Deaths and life-threatening injuries, such as amputations, must be reported immediately. Other serious incidents should be reported as soon as the employer is aware of the incident. These include; a person requires medical treatment: after exposure to a substance as an inpatient in hospital for a serious injury such as a head or eye injury, electric shock, spinal injuries or serious laceration.

POTENTIAL RISKS & HAZARDS What are the potential risks? To visitors (teachers & students) These are most likely to occur during activities such as rock climbing, horse riding or surfing that participants are not familiar with. Musculoskeletal disorders Slips, trips and falls Cuts & abrasions Fractures Also consider Egress in case of emergency Fire safety

POTENTIAL RISKS & HAZARDS To workers Musculoskeletal disorders such as sprains and strains are the most common injuries. Most of these injuries are caused by manual handling which includes: lifting heavy or awkward objects or repetitive work such as chopping vegetables or stirring pots. Slips, trips and falls are also common, especially when floor surfaces are wet, oily, dirty or uneven, or when the area is poorly lit. Stress and occupational violence (which includes sexual harassment and threats of violence). Illnesses from exposure to hazardous chemicals or dangerous goods Infectious diseases from exposure to human body fluids and raw food.

DISCUSSION RISKS & HAZARD IDENTIFICATION Who is responsible at a school camp for conducting risk assessments? If the camp does an assessment, should each school group review before participating in activities? Who should report an incident and when? What role should or could WorkSafe play in raising safety awareness at school camps?

Workplace Inspections WorkSafe inspectors visit businesses of all sizes across all industries. Our inspectors focus on industry sectors and organisations that have a high number of injuries and hazards that pose serious risks or often cause injury. They also attend workplaces in response to reports of unsafe working conditions or after reportable incidents.

Inspector visits While at your workplace the inspector might: provide practical and constructive advice about how to comply with Victoria's health and safety laws advise how to fix any safety breaches they come across issue notices or directions, conduct interviews and make enquiries, take photos and measurements, take samples and items for examination or testing, and read and copy documents.

Dedicated Stakeholder Relationship Coordinator role We are aiming to continually improve our stakeholder engagement and commitment to work with you Dedicated Stakeholder Relationship Coordinator role Aiming to improve our engagement with external stakeholders Working with stakeholders is critical to our success as a regulator Working effectively together will deliver a better service to Victorian workplaces WorkSafe may engage with stakeholders at different levels depending on the business task The overall RTW rates for Education industry looks pretty flat, tracking along with the public sector and scheme performance at a level close to 80%. However, it looks more volatile for Social Assistance Services. When we look at the RTW rates for mental injury claimants, the rates dropped significantly to a level around 57%. The rates again look pretty flat for Education industry. For Social Assistance Services, the rates are trending downwards in the past 3 years but YTD results show an improvement.