Safe Work Australia began its operations as an independent agency on 1 November 2009.[1] It is responsible for the improvements in work health and safety and workers’ compensation arrangements across the whole of Australia. Safe Work Australia also gives effect to the Intergovernmental Agreement for Regulatory and Operational Reform in Occupational Health and Safety. Prior to becoming an independent agency, Safe Work Australia existed as different types of agencies as well as different organizational names.
Contents |
| Safe Work Australia (Independent Statutory Agency) | 1 November 2009 – Present |
| Safe Work Australia (Executive Agency) | July 2009 - October 2009 |
| Safe Work Australia (group within the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations) | April 2009 - June 2009 |
| Australian Safety and Compensation Council (ASCC) | October 2005 - March 2009 |
| National Occupational Health and Safety Council (NOHSC) | December 1985 - September 2005 |
The Safe Work Australia Act 2008 requires a strategic plan to be prepared at least once every three years. Safe Work Australia is also required to prepare an operational plan each financial year, outlining the tasks or operations undertaken by Safe Work Australia in performing its functions.
The aims of Safe Work Australia are ultimately to:
Safe Work Australia collaborates with the governments of the states and territories, businesses, workers, employer and employee associations and industry groups. These collaborations ensure that the best possible approach to health and safety for all Australian workplaces is achieved. Collaborations exist with:
Safe Work Australia is involved in a range of international activities. The objective of activities aims to improve communication with national and international research bodies involving the work health and safety and workers’ compensation. Some of the international bodies that Safe Work Australia works with include:
Safe Work Australia has four essential roles in relations to worker’s compensation. These include;
Each state and territory has their own workers’ compensation scheme. However, the Commonwealth scheme must include:
The data collected and recorded in regards to worker’s compensation is used in Safe Work Australia’s research and evaluation process. This data enables for a better understanding of the workplace and what issue or precautions are needed to address and demand attention. However, not all cases are able to be collected such as those of:
Several measures have been made by Safe Work Australia to ensure safety in the workplace.
National Standards, National Codes of Practices and guidance material for a range of health and safety issues are published by Safe Work Australia. These documents form the basis of a nationally regulatory approach for the safety in the workplace. Below are a selection of numerous publications.
Safe Work Australia is encouraging the public sector to be more involved in safe and healthy work practices. Safe Work Australia is motivating research in the areas of workers’ compensation, work health and safety and has developed resources and guidance materials to encourage safety in the workplace as a priority in the public sector.
Safe Design is a process to identify hazards and risk to eliminate or minimize the risk of death and injury throughout the life of the product.[7] Safe Design is important to people who are involved with designing and modifying products, structures and processes used for work. Guidance has been developed to guide organizations in understanding the principles of Safe Design.
Safe Work Australia provides training and skills in the development of effective work health and safety guidelines to various organizations through publishing training resources. Besides that, work health and safety training is available through educational institutions, industry associations, training consultants and private work health and safety service organizations.
Safe Work Australia has listed five specific industries as a priority in the National Occupational Health and Safety Strategy. This is due to the constant high numbers of injuries and deaths related to these industries. As a priority, these industries receive an increased amount of attention under the strategy. These industries are listed below.
The operations of Safe Work Australia are act as a model for work health and safety law under the Australian Government Council. Different states and territories in Australia have followed the same model which also includes the Regulatory and Codes of Practice. As a result Safe Work Australia’s responsibility and roles are consistent throughout the nation.