OHS Consultation Process Contribute to the implementation of the OHS consultation process Mark Savage

Barriers to OHS consultation Stakeholders understanding of legal & moral obligations to consult & contribute to OHS processes Cynicism Employer mistrust Token or sporadic attempts at OHS Consultation Lack of information during OHS consultation process No Clear direction by committees Lack of respect for OHS processes Ignorance by all stakeholders Exclusion of employee groups Existing workplace culture relating to OHS

Strategies to effective OHS consultation Employer encouragement Identification of the barriers within the OHS consultation process Implementation of effective systems for OHS consultation Identification of key stakeholders & share information Identification of employer & employee goals in relation to OHS Roles & responsibilities – make committee members accountable Circulate action plans - LISTEN Make OHS fun, challenging, CONSULT PROPERLY Strong senior management commitment to OHS In 2008 the Australian Council of Governments (GOAG) agreed to work in harmonisation of the OHS laws. Today this process is on going.

Promoting OHS in the workplace Tool Box Talks Site Specific Inductions Ongoing Training Consultation Policy Procedures Site Specific safety plans Reviews of policy and procedures On site presence of safety advisors Site Safety committees Posters Hand outs

Injury Statistics In Construction Industry Construction Industry workers experienced 86 injuries per 1000 workers. 25% higher than other industries Non Employees – injuries equated to 5 or mare days off work in 50% of cases 25% higher than employees Sprains/strains; cuts, open wounds & chronic joint muscle condition accounted for ¾ of all injuries experienced by construction workers Lifting/pushing or pulling object & hitting or being hit or cut resulted in 80% of injuries in the construction industry. Workers compensation data provides good information on the way in which serious injuries occurred but does not provide as good a picture on the types of injury occurred Source - Injury Statistics in Construction Industry was published by Worksafe Australia in October 2009

General Trends 8.63% of workers in the construction industry experienced a work related injury in 2005 – Other industries were 25% lower. In % of construction workers were male. Statistics for female workers injured were too small for any information to be collected for an analysis of injuries received by sex. The age profile shows a lower percentage of worker in the construction industry aged 55 years and over. All other age groups were consistent with other worker groups.

Workers In The Construction Industry : Percentage By Age ►The data shows that workers in the construction industry had a similar profile to that of all Australian workers. Except a lower percentage of workers in the 55years and over age group.

Work-related injuries in the Construction Industry: Incidence By Age ►These data shows that in the construction industry the incidence rates were highest in the & 45 – 54 age groups. ►The result for the workers 15 – 24 years is consistent with other industries

Work-related injuries in the Construction Industry: Percentage by duration of absence from work ►The construction industry had a similar pattern of lost time following an injury to that of all Australian workers. ►Injuries within the construction industry that required less little or no absence from work were lower than the other industries. More were reported for the period of less than four days off ►Data suggests that the trend is that the injuries sustained within the construction industry are more serious and require longer periods off from work than other industries.

Work-related injury in the Construction Industry: Percentage by type of injury ►56% of injuries were sprains, strains, cut & open wounds. ►16% of injuries were chronic joint or muscle conditions. ►The data suggests that the types of injuries within the construction industry matches the profile of other industries. ►An exception to this is the cuts & open wounds category.

Work-related injuries in the Construction Industry: Percentage of injuries by mechanism of injury ► Lifting, pushing or pulling objects totalled 38% of injuries within the construction industry. ► Hitting, being hit, or being cut by an object accounted for 32% of injuries within the construction industry. ►Other mechanisms includes exposure to mental stress, contact with chemical or substances, and vehicle accident.

Summary – Important Points ►Workers in the construction industry had a similar profile to that of all Australian workers. Except a lower percentage of workers in the 55years and over age group. ►In the construction industry the incidence rates were highest in the & 45 – 54 age groups. ►injuries sustained within the construction industry are more serious and require longer periods off from work than other industries. ►the types of injuries within the construction industry matches the profile of other industries, sprains, strains, cut & open wounds. ►Lifting, pushing, pulling objects, hitting, being hit or being cut by an object totalled 70% of injuries within the construction industry.

OHS consultation process OHS Consultation Statement 1. Introduction 2. Roles & Responsibilities 3. Policy 4. Procedures 5. Work Safety Committee 6. Work Safety Representatives 7. Governance 8. Review

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