Employer eNews - March 2011

Comcare Regulation Policy revised

Comcare has redefined its role as a more integrated, preventative and proactive regulator. A revised Regulation Policy aligns with principles in the National Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Compliance and Enforcement Policy (national policy)—agreed to by all Australian work health and safety jurisdictions and Comcare's 2015 Strategic Plan. We encourage all members of the Comcare jurisdiction to read our policy as it will apply to all our activities from this point forward.

Key changes include:

• a wider range of compliance assistance and monitoring services
• updated information in relation to enforceable undertakings
• building an inspectorate capability
• information about Comcare’s regulatory approach.

Comcare’s Regulation Policy will be revised again during the late part of 2011 to take into account the revised s41 Rehabilitation guidelines and to prepare for the model work health and safety legislation—commencing 1 January 2012. For further information please email our OHS helpdesk.

Last chance to submit your comment on the model Work Health and Safety Regulations

The public comment period for the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulations closes 5pm EDST Monday 4 April 2011. The public comment period is an opportunity for federal agencies, licensees and workers to express their opinions on the draft model WHS Regulations.

Commonwealth departments and agencies who have comments or queries on the draft WHS Regulations are encouraged to direct these to Comcare via email. Comcare and the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations will collate comments to develop a consolidated Commonwealth position before submitting it to Safe Work Australia.

For further information please contact the Project Harmony team on 1300 366 979 or email.

Amendments to OHS (Safety Standards) Regulations

The Occupational Health and Safety (Safety Standards) Regulations 1994 (the Regulations) have been amended to incorporate the seventh edition of the Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road and Rail and the third edition of the Australian Code for the Transport of Explosives by Road and Rail. Some additional amendments have also been made to the Regulations. The above changes took effect on 16 March 2011. Click here for a complete list of amendments.

Comcare will be releasing a Work Health and Safety Policy Advice explaining the amendments in detail soon. If you require clarification on how these changes will impact your workplace in the interim please contact the Strategic Policy team on 1300 366 979 or email.

Amendments to the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act

The Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation and Other Amendments Bill 2011 was tabled in the House of Representatives on 23 March 2011. The bill is yet to be debated. Click here to view the bill.

The bill includes:

• extending coverage for injuries suffered while temporarily absent from the place of employment during an ordinary recess
• allow compensation for medical expenses to be paid, where payment of other compensation is suspended
• time frames to be prescribed in regulations for determining initial liability and reconsiderations.

Comcare's new research program

Comcare’s Strategic Plan 2010-2015 provides a clear direction and commitment to improve services, provide greater efficiencies and better outcomes. Stakeholder and client surveys will help Comcare meet its business objectives and reporting needs, as well as monitoring our progress towards our strategic goals.

Our new research program will involve the development and implementation of a range of instruments, including:

• an Injured Worker Survey will provide insight into the attitudes, perceptions, experiences, outcomes of injured workers involved in the Comcare workers’ compensation scheme, including those employed by self-insured employers
• an Employer Survey will provide insight into the experiences of agencies and employers (including licensees) in relation to Comcare, the Comcare workers’ compensation scheme and occupational health and safety in the workplace
• a Health and Safety Representative (HSR) Survey will provide insight into the attitudes, perceptions and experiences of HSRs working in the Comcare scheme in relation to such things as perceptions and awareness of Comcare, occupational health and safety in the workplace, health and well being in the workplace and exposure to hazards
• a Case/Claims Manager Survey will provide insight into the attitudes, perceptions and experiences of case managers, both internal and external to Comcare.

It is intended that surveys will be conducted twice each year, once in April/May and once in October/November. For further information about the new research program please contact Comcare’s Research team via email.

Improved service delivery for injured workers

Our new approach to managing claims has been influenced by the research undertaken by Dame Carol Black and Sir Mansel Aylward in the United Kingdom. This research focused on the social and financial impacts of worklessness on people and the significant health benefits of good health.

Our focus is to keep injured workers at work, or return them to work as soon as possible after their injury. Reducing the time injured workers are away from work, will help to reduce the financial impact of incapacity payments.

Incapacity payments are one of the leading drivers of premiums. Our service delivery framework aims to assist injured workers and their employers to implement successful and durable return to work programs, allowing injured workers to return to work as soon as possible after their injury.

Click here for more information on Comcare’s new approach to managing claims for compensation.

Ongoing vigilance over asbestos

The discovery of an old file containing a sealed envelope with a sample of asbestos, highlights the need for ongoing vigilance in handling these sorts of health and safety risks.

The file, dating back to the 1970s was originally sent from one federal government agency to another, and was then forwarded to Comcare a few years ago.

For Comcare, while there was no danger to our people as the samples were sealed, the incident has led us to re-evaluate our internal health and safety processes.