LADIES AND GENTLEMEN (Wfi/lS'T'ZA Â£ÃÂ¶'ÃÂ½ÃÂ¡ÃÂ¹.ÃÂ¿ÃÂ³'*Â£*ÃÂ/ÃÂ />j>pÂ£ESi -To V tc n x i* *  ÃÂÃÂ ÃÂ·ÃÂ ÃÂ  ? It MA/WFACTOÂ£Â£&$ 5/ 8/82 I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE VCM FOR THE OPPORTUNITY OF BEING  HERE THIS AFTERNOON AND CONGRATULATE THE CHAMBER FOR  ORGANISING THIS CONFERENCE. I HAVE LONG HELD THE VIEW THAT TOO LITTLE ATTENTION IS GIVEN  TO OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ISSUES - ONE OF THE MOST  COSTLY BURDENS BORNE TODAY BY GOVERNMENT, INDUSTRY, COMMERCE  AND THE COMMUNITY GENERALLY. I RECALL THAT IN A PREVIOUS  PORTFOLIO - PRODUCTIVITY - I SPOKE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS  ABOUT THE NEED TO IMPROVE OUR PERFORMANCE IN THIS AREA. WHILE THERE ARE NO OFFICIAL NATIONAL STATISTICS ON THE SIZE  OF THE PROBLEM CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATES SHOW THAT THE COST OF  INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES AMOUNT TO $4 BILLION A  YEAR AND THE TIME LOST TO ABOUT 1 MILLION MAN WEEKS A YEAR.  COSTS OF THAT ORDER OF MAGNITUDE PUT BEYOND DOUBT THAT  AUSTRALIA'S PERFORMANCE IN THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND  HEALTH FIELD IS DEPLORABLE. IT IS, OF COURSE, EASY AND PERHAPS TEMPTING TO DISMISS THESE  BROAD ESTIMATES AS NOT HAVING ANY RELEVANCE IN A PARTICULAR  WORKPLACE. BUT HOW MANY MANAGERS HAVE ATTEMPTED TO  DETERMINE JUST HOW MUCH ACCIDENT AND INJURIES COST THEM IN  REAL TERMS? HOW MANY IN MANAGEMENT - IN SETTING OUT  OBJECTIVES CONCERNING LEVELS OF TURNOVER, PROFITABILITY, .../2. * ÃÂ 2. MARKET PENETRATION, LIQUIDITY, REPLACEMENT OF MACHINERY AND  EQUIPMENT, AND THE EVERY DAY BUSINESS DECISIONS - HAVE DUE  REGARD TO REDUCING OCCUPATIONAL ACCIDENTS? HOW MANY HAVE SOUGHT TO FIND ANSWERS TO THE FOLLOWING  QUESTIONS? . ' (1) THE AMOUNTS PAID BY WAY OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION PREMIUMS OVER THE Â· PAST FIVE YEARS; (2) THE INCIDENCE OF ACCIDENTS AND  INJURIES AND TIME LOST BY EMPLOYEES OVER THE SAME .  . PERIOD; AND ,  . (3) THE EFFECT ON THE FIRMS' PRODUCTIVITY AND PROFITABILITY Ã¢ÂÂ  INCURRED BY MEETING THESE COSTS. I SUSPECT THAT MANY WOULD BE IN FOR A REAL SURPRISE  AS TO THE EXTENT TO WHICH THESE COSTS FIGURE IN THEIR  ENTERPRISE'S OVERALL COSTS. .  ../3 3. THE LARGER ENTERPRISE NOW USUALLY HAS SOME FORM OF  OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH PROGRAM OPERATING WITHIN  THEIR ESTABLISHMENTS BECAUSE THEY HAVE RECOGNISED THAT THERE  IS A PAY-OFF IN TERMS OF IMPROVED PRODUCTIVITY. HAVING SEEN  THE NEED FOR REMEDY, THEY HAVE ALLOCATED STAFF AND RESOURCES  TO THE TASK. HOWEVER FOR THE SMALLER FIRM - THOSE EMPLOYING  ONE HUNDRED PEOPLE OR LESS - THE ATTENTION GIVEN TO THE  PROBLEM TENDS TO BE MINIMAL. " IN THIS AREA GOVERMENTS - AND IT IS STATE GOVERNMENTS WHICH  HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY AND ACTUAL POWER TO LEGISLATE -  CAN PLAY A PART THROUGH THE MAKING OF LAWS AND REGULATIONS  WHICH PRESCRIBE MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR SAFE WORK PLACES AND  PROVISIONS FOR INSPECTION PROCEDURES TO ENSURE THESE ARE  BEING OBSERVED. .  - HOWEVER I THINK WE NEED TO BEAR IN MIND THAT THE BULK .OF  ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES DURING THE COURSE OF EMPLOYMENT  RELATE TO SLIPS, FALLS AND SPRAINS. THERE IS NOT MUCH THAT  LAWS AND REGULATIONS CAN DO TO REDUCE THE COSTS THAT THESE  REPRESENT. THEY ARE DUE TO BAD HOUSEKEEPING, INADEQUATE  TRAINING OF PERSONNEL IN ELEMENTARY SAFE PRACTICES WHEN  LIFTING OR MOVING MATERIAL OR, GENERALLY, TO THE LACK OF A  COMMON SENSE APPROACH. GOVERNMENTS NEVERTHELESS HAVE A REAL CONCERN IN THIS AREA. . .  ./H 4 MOST OF YOU HERE WILL BE AWARE OF THE LIMITS TO THE EXTENT  OF COMMONWEALTH JURISDICTION IN OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY MATTERS.  ITS DIRECT RESPONSIBILITY IS LIMITED TO ITS OWN EMPLOYEES  AND TERRITORIES. ALL OTHER ACTIVITIES FALL WITHIN THE  AMBIT OF STATE GOVERNMENT JURISDICTION AND I UNDERSTAND  SUBSEQUENT SPEAKERS WILL TELL YOU ABOUT THE LEGISLATIVE  PROPOSALS AND AMENDMENTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY BEING CONSIDERED  IN THE VICTORIAN CONTEXT. ‘ HOWEVER THE COMMONWEALTH HAS SEEN THE NEED TO PLAY A COÂ­ ORDINATING ROLE. THIS DATES BACK TO THE LATE 1940'S WHERE  COMMONWEALTH AND STATE GOVERNMENTS HAVE WORKED TOGETHER TO  DEVELOP STANDARDS AND CODES OF PRACTICE ON OCCUPATIONAL  SAFETY AND HEALTH ISSUES THROUGH REGULAR MEETINGS OF  COMMONWEALTH/STATE MINISTERS FOR LABOUR AND A COUNTERPART  BODY - THE DEPARTMENTS OF LABOUR ADVISORY COMMITTEE (DOLAC) - WHICH IS COMPRISED OF THE PERMANENT HEADS OF THE  COMMONWEALTH/STATE DEPARTMENTS OF LABOUR. IN RECENT TIMES THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CHANGES IN CONSULTATIVE  ARRANGEMENTS AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL IN RELATION TO  OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ISSUES FOLLOWING THE FEDERAL  GOVERNMENT'S ACCEPTANCE OF A NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS OF  THE REVIEW OF COMMONWEALTH FUNCTIONS. THESE CHANGES HAVE  BEEN TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT EFFECTIVE CONSULTATION BETWEEN THE  VARIOUS PARTIES CONTINUES. FIRSTLY, DOLAC HAS ESTABLISHED A WORKING PARTY OF  COMMONWEALTH/STATE HEALTH AND LABOUR DEPARTMENT INTERESTS  THAT CAN OPERATE AS A CO-ORDINATION MECHANISM IN THIS /ÃÂ 5 IMPORTANT AREA AND REVIEW THE NEED FOR MORE PERMANENT  ARRANGEMENTS. THE WORKING PARTY HAS INVITED EMPLOYER AND  TRADE UNION REPRESENTATIVES TO PARTICIPATE IN ITS  DELIBERATIONS. SECONDLY, AT THE NATIONAL LABOUR CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL, THE  EMPLOYERS PROPOSED -WITH THE SUPPORT OF EMPLOYEE INTERESTS,  - THE CREATION OF AN OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH COMMITTE  THE COUNCIL AGREED WITH THE PROPOSAL AND THIS COMMITTEE HAD  ITS FIRST MEETING ON 22 JULY 1982. THE'ESTABLISHMENT OF  THIS COMMITTEE WILL ENABLE TRIPARTITE CONSIDERATION OF.  ISSUES OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE IN THIS AREA. NLCC HAS  AGREED THAT REPRESENTATION SHOULD ALSO BE SOUGHT OF HEALTH  AND STATE INTERESTS ON THIS COMMITTEE. ON THE HEALTH ISSUE, I SHOULD POINT OUT MY COLLEAGUE, THE  MINISTER FOR HEALTH, IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OCCUPATIONAL  HEALTH ISSUES AND, GIVEN THE WAY THAT SAFETY AND HEALTH  ISSUES SHADE INTO EACH OTHER, OF NECESSITY WE WORK CLOSELY  TOGETHER IN, THE RESOLUTION OF POLICIES AND PROBLEM SOLVING. IT IS PROBABLY TOO EARLY TO PREDICT HOW EFFECTIVE THESE TWO  NEW CONSULTATIVE MECHANISMS WILL BE BUT I AM SURE THAT IT  IS ONLY BY THE PARTIES WITH PRIMARY INTERESTS AND Ã¢ÂÂ¢  Â·  Â·  / 6 Â· 6. RESPONSIBILITIES SITTING DOWN TOGETHER AND CO-ORDINATING  THEIR ACTIVITIES. IN THIS WAY THAT WE CAN EXPECT POSITIVE  AND MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL IMPROVEMENT IN AUSTRALIA'S  OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH PERFORMANCE. AS PART OF THE ONGOING CO-ORDINATION BETWEEN THE  COMMONWEALTH AND THE STATES THE COMMONWEALTH AND STATE  GOVERNMENTS HAVE BEEN EXAMINING FOR SOME YEARS THE RELEVANT  REGULATIONS FOR THE BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY,  CRANES, POWER TOOLS, MACHINE GUARDING, ETC. THE RESULT  HAS BEEN THE GRADUAL AMENDMENT OF THE REGULATIONS TO  EMBODY AGREED UNIFORM STANDARDS. THIS IS A SENSIBLE METHOD  OF ACHIEVING CHANGE AND IMPROVEMENT. WE SHOULD NOT BE  COMPLACENT IN THIS HOWEVER, PARTICULARLY BEARING IN MIND THE  ADVENT OF NEW TECHNOLOGY, MATERIALS AND PROCESSES. A GREAT DEAL NEEDS TO BE DONE BY WAY OF TRAINING PERSONNEL  AND UNDERTAKING RESEARCH INTO POTENTIAL OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH  PROBLEMS. THERE ARE PROBLEMS - SERIOUS PROBLEMS - IN  IDENTIFYING THE POSSIBLE RISKS TO EMPLOYEES INVOLVED IN NEW  PROCESSES OR THE USE OF POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS. CLEARLY WE NEED TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEMS AND POTENTIAL ’   HAZARDS AND CONCENTRATE OUR RESOURCES IN A SYSTEMATIC  FASHION. TO RESOLVE THEM. .. ./7 7. By t h e p r o v i s i o n  of a p p r o p r i a t e  h i g h  l e v e l  n a t i o n a l CONSULTATIVE FORUMS, ALL PARTIES HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO  CANVASS ISSUES AND REACH AGREEMENT ABOUT ORDERS OF PRIORITY  AND METHODS TO SEEK SOLUTIONS, PROBLEMS SHOULD NOT BE  TACKLED IN AN UNCO-ORDINATED AND AD HOC WAY, WITH THE -,  ATTENDANT WASTEFUL DUPLICATION OF RESEARCH AND EXPENDITURE  ON THE ONE HAND OR THE NEGLECT OF SOME OTHER IMPORTANT , PROBLEM BECAUSE OF IN S U FFIC IEN T RESOURCES ON THE OTHER, I HAVE MENTIONED THAT ONE AREA WHERE THE COMMONWEALTH Go v e r n m e n t  h as d i r e c t  r e s p o n s i b i l i t y  i s  i n  r e s p e c t  of i t s OWN EMPLOYEES, I n TH IS  REGARD THE GOVERNMENT HAS  ADOPTED A CODE OF GENERAL PRINCIPLES ON OCCUPATIONAL   SAFETY AND HEALTH WHICH REQUIRES .ALL HEAD OFFICES TO ISSUE   A SAFETY POLICY AND TO ADOPT ARRANGEMENTS FOR JO INT CONSULTATION   WITH APPROPRIATE EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATIVES TO DETERMINE THE   SAFETY PROGRAMS TO BE IMPLEMENTED W ITHIN THAT DEPARTMENT OR  AUTHORITY, T he code was drawn up BY REPRESENTATIVES of  VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, THE ACTU AND C AGEO AND  REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENTS OF LABOUR AND ' I n d u s t r y , - 8 MY DEPARTMENT TOGETHER WITH THE PUBLIC SERVICE BOARD AND  THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERSIGHTING  THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CODE, AND DISCUSSIONS' ARE UNDERWAY  TO REINFORCE WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN UNDERTAKEN TO ENSURE  THERE IS A CONSISTENT PROGRAM OF PREVENTATIVE ACTION  THROUGHOUT THE COMMONWEALTH EMPLOYMENT AREA. WITH SOME MINOR AMENDMENTS, THE GOVENMENTS OF WESTERN  AUSTRALIA, SOUTH AUSTRALIA, VICTORIA AND NEW SOUTH WALES  HAVE ADOPTED THE CODE IN RESPECT OF THEIR OWN EMPLOYEES. GENERALLY SPEAKING, IMPLEMENTATION OF APPROPRIATE SAFETY '   AND HEALTH PROGRAMS HAS TAKEN PLACE IN MOST FEDERAL  GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND STATUTORY AUTHORITIES. NOT  UNNATURALLY THE ONES BEING PURSUED IN "INDUSTRIAL" TYPE ACTIVITIES VIZ, GOVERNMENT FACTORIES, TELECOM, THE  AUSTRALIAN ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION - TO NAME A FEW - ARE  EXTREMELY DETAILED AND EFFECTIVE. >  . THOSE AREAS WHERE ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITY PREVAILS HAVE  TENDED TO REGARD THE MATTER AS PERHAPS MORE PERIPHERAL,  DEPENDING ON THE HEAD OFFICER'S ATTITUDE. I AM BOUND TO  SAY HERE THAT PRACTICE HAS TENDED TO VARY FROM WORKPLACE  TO WORKPLACE - .  FROM THE ADOPTION OF WIDE RANGING PROGRAMS  TO, IN SOME CASES, NOT MUCH AT ALL. IN OUR OWN SPHERE OF ,../9 9 INFLUENCE THEREFORE THE COMMONWEALTH ITSELF STILL HAS  FURTHER WORK TO DO TO ENSURE THAT THOSE AT WORK REMAIN FIT  AND ABLE AND THAT THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH AVOIDABLE  ABSENCES ARE NOT INCURRED. THE COMMONWEALTH WILL BE PURSUING THE TASK OF SETTING ITS  OWN HOUSE IN ORDER. Â·  WE WILL ALSOCONTINUE TO WORK WITH  THE STATE TO DEVELOP UNIFORM STANDARDS AND CODES OF PRACTICE  ON PHYSICAL WORKING CONDITIONS, PARTICULARLY THOSE RELATING  TO SAFETY, HEALTH AND WELFARE. Ã¢ÂÂ  FURTHERMORE THE COMMONWEALTH WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH  STATE GOVERNMENTS AND INFLUENTIAL INDUSTRIAL ORGANISATIONS  LIKE THE VCM, TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT  THE PROBLEM ON AN ENTERPRISE BY ENTERPRISE BASIS WITH A VIEW  TO EACH PUTTING HIS OR HER OWN.HOUSE IN ORDER. IN THIS  AREA THERE IS, OF COURSE, NO REASON WHY INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYERS  AND EMPLOYEES SHOULD WAIT FOR SOMEONE ELSE - E.G. THE .   GOVERNMENT, THE VCM OR TRADE UNIONS TO START URGING THEM  BEFORE THEY SET ABOUT IMPROVEMENT IN THE DAY TO DAY RISK  MANAGEMENT OF THEIR PARTICULAR ENTERPRISE. ..,/10 10 MUCH CAN BE DONE BY MANAGEMENT AND STAFF PARTICIPATIVE  PROCESSES TO CHANGE THE BEHAVIOUR AND ATTITUDES OF THE  PARTIES IN RELATION TO OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH. BOTH EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES NEED TO BE INVOLVED IN '   RESOLVING DIFFICULTIES AND DEVELOPING BETTER PRACTICES. BOTH HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN THE OUTCOME. THERE IS AMPLE  EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE VIEW THAT WHERE'MANAGEMENT AND  EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATIVES PARTICIPATE IN DRAWING UP POLICIES  AND PROGRAMS ON OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND'HEALTH THERE IS MORE  COMMITMENT TO THE OUTCOME. SUCH JOINT CONSULTATIVE  PROCEDURES APPLIED TO SAFETY AND HEALTH ISSUES WILL CREATE  AN ENVIRONMENT WHICH WILL SUPPORT VIGOROUS AND CONTINOUS  PROMOTION OF THE POLICIES AND PRACTICES ADOPTED. THERE ARE MANY OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH PROGRAMS WHICH  CAN BE IMPLEMENTED WITHIN A FIRM WHICH WILL IMMEDIATELY  IMPROVE THE SITUATION. BUT A "ONE SHOT" PROGRAM OR CAMPAIGN  IS NOT THE ANSWER IN THIS AREA. TO BE OF LASTING BENEFIT  TO THE1EMPLOYER AND THE EMPLOYEES, OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND  HEALTH PROGRAMS REQUIRE CONTINOUS APPLICATION, REVIEW AND  EVALUATION. '  . . . ,/ll. Â« I One t h i n g  i s  c e r t a i n , t h e c o s t of n e g l e c t i n g  o c c u p a t i o n a l SAFETY AND HEALTH W ILL NOT LESSEN BY IGNORING I T ,  A s  MANAGERS, THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE OPERATION OF YOUR  ENTERPRISE RESTS SQUARELY WITH YOU, I URGE THOSE OF YOU  WHO MANY NOT HAVE DONE SO TO FIND OUT JUST WHAT YOUR PRESENT  COSTS ARE -  IN TERMS OF COMPENSATION, ABSENTEEISM AND SICK  LEAVE, I BELIEVE THAT AS A RESULT YOU W ILL REVIEW YOUR  PO LICIES AND PROGRAMS WITH A VIEW TO DRASTICALLY REDUCING  THE OCCUPATIONAL ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES OF YOUR WORKFORCE, I HAVE ID E N T IF IE D -T H E  SMALLER EMPLOYER AS THE ONE WHO MAY  BE IN GREATEST NEED TO IMPROVE PERFORMANCE IN THIS AREA, Giv e n  t h e  p r o b l e m s  t h a t  p r e s e n t l y  b e s e t  s m a l l  b u s i n e s s m e n , I CAN UNDERSTAND AN INSTIN C TIVE REACTION AGAINST SUGGESTIONS  FROM ME THAT THEY SHOULD OUTLAY MORE OF THEIR PRECIOUS  RESOURCES ON IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF WORKLIFE OF THEIR  EMPLOYEES, I HOPE HOWEVER THAT ON REFLECTION THERE WILL  BE A REALISATION THAT PRODUCTIVITY IMPROVEMENT AND SAVINGS  WOULD MORE THAN OFFSET ANY I N I T IA L  INVESTMENT, T he p u r p o s e  of t h i s  k i n d  of Co n f e r e n c e  i s  to t r y  and aw aken THE INTERESTS OF THOSE IMMEDIATELY CONCERNED TO THE  MAGNITUDE OF THE PROBLEM; THE NEED TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO  AVOID THE COSTS IN HUMAN SUFFERING AND TO HIGHLIGHT NOT ONLY  THE MORAL OBLIGATION BUT THE SOUND BUSINESS COMMONSENSE IM P L IC IT   IN THE ADOPTION OF PROPER OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY PRACTICES,

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN

(Wfi/lS'T'ZA Â£ÃÂ¶'ÃÂ½ÃÂ¡ÃÂ¹.ÃÂ¿ÃÂ³'*Â£*ÃÂ/ÃÂ

/>j>pÂ£ESi -To V tc n x i* *  ÃÂÃÂ ÃÂ·ÃÂ ÃÂ  ?

It

MA/WFACTOÂ£Â£&$

5/ 8/82

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE VCM FOR THE OPPORTUNITY OF BEING

HERE THIS AFTERNOON AND CONGRATULATE THE CHAMBER FOR

ORGANISING THIS CONFERENCE.

I HAVE LONG HELD THE VIEW THAT TOO LITTLE ATTENTION IS GIVEN

TO OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ISSUES - ONE OF THE MOST

COSTLY BURDENS BORNE TODAY BY GOVERNMENT, INDUSTRY, COMMERCE

AND THE COMMUNITY GENERALLY. I RECALL THAT IN A PREVIOUS

PORTFOLIO - PRODUCTIVITY - I SPOKE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS

ABOUT THE NEED TO IMPROVE OUR PERFORMANCE IN THIS AREA.

WHILE THERE ARE NO OFFICIAL NATIONAL STATISTICS ON THE SIZE

OF THE PROBLEM CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATES SHOW THAT THE COST OF

INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES AMOUNT TO $4 BILLION A

YEAR AND THE TIME LOST TO ABOUT 1 MILLION MAN WEEKS A YEAR.

COSTS OF THAT ORDER OF MAGNITUDE PUT BEYOND DOUBT THAT

AUSTRALIA'S PERFORMANCE IN THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND

HEALTH FIELD IS DEPLORABLE.

IT IS, OF COURSE, EASY AND PERHAPS TEMPTING TO DISMISS THESE

BROAD ESTIMATES AS NOT HAVING ANY RELEVANCE IN A PARTICULAR

WORKPLACE. BUT HOW MANY MANAGERS HAVE ATTEMPTED TO

DETERMINE JUST HOW MUCH ACCIDENT AND INJURIES COST THEM IN

REAL TERMS? HOW MANY IN MANAGEMENT - IN SETTING OUT

OBJECTIVES CONCERNING LEVELS OF TURNOVER, PROFITABILITY,

.../2.

*

ÃÂ

2.

MARKET PENETRATION, LIQUIDITY, REPLACEMENT OF MACHINERY AND

EQUIPMENT, AND THE EVERY DAY BUSINESS DECISIONS - HAVE DUE

REGARD TO REDUCING OCCUPATIONAL ACCIDENTS?

HOW MANY HAVE SOUGHT TO FIND ANSWERS TO THE FOLLOWING

QUESTIONS? . '

(1) THE AMOUNTS PAID BY WAY OF WORKERS'

COMPENSATION PREMIUMS OVER THE Â·

PAST FIVE YEARS;

(2) THE INCIDENCE OF ACCIDENTS AND

INJURIES AND TIME LOST BY

EMPLOYEES OVER THE SAME .  .

PERIOD; AND ,  .

(3) THE EFFECT ON THE FIRMS'

PRODUCTIVITY AND PROFITABILITY Ã¢ÂÂ

INCURRED BY MEETING THESE COSTS.

I SUSPECT THAT MANY WOULD BE IN FOR A REAL SURPRISE

AS TO THE EXTENT TO WHICH THESE COSTS FIGURE IN THEIR

ENTERPRISE'S OVERALL COSTS.

.  ../3

3.

THE LARGER ENTERPRISE NOW USUALLY HAS SOME FORM OF

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH PROGRAM OPERATING WITHIN

THEIR ESTABLISHMENTS BECAUSE THEY HAVE RECOGNISED THAT THERE

IS A PAY-OFF IN TERMS OF IMPROVED PRODUCTIVITY. HAVING SEEN

THE NEED FOR REMEDY, THEY HAVE ALLOCATED STAFF AND RESOURCES

TO THE TASK. HOWEVER FOR THE SMALLER FIRM - THOSE EMPLOYING

ONE HUNDRED PEOPLE OR LESS - THE ATTENTION GIVEN TO THE

PROBLEM TENDS TO BE MINIMAL. "

IN THIS AREA GOVERMENTS - AND IT IS STATE GOVERNMENTS WHICH

HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY AND ACTUAL POWER TO LEGISLATE -

CAN PLAY A PART THROUGH THE MAKING OF LAWS AND REGULATIONS

WHICH PRESCRIBE MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR SAFE WORK PLACES AND

PROVISIONS FOR INSPECTION PROCEDURES TO ENSURE THESE ARE

BEING OBSERVED. .  -

HOWEVER I THINK WE NEED TO BEAR IN MIND THAT THE BULK .OF

ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES DURING THE COURSE OF EMPLOYMENT

RELATE TO SLIPS, FALLS AND SPRAINS. THERE IS NOT MUCH THAT

LAWS AND REGULATIONS CAN DO TO REDUCE THE COSTS THAT THESE

REPRESENT. THEY ARE DUE TO BAD HOUSEKEEPING, INADEQUATE

TRAINING OF PERSONNEL IN ELEMENTARY SAFE PRACTICES WHEN

LIFTING OR MOVING MATERIAL OR, GENERALLY, TO THE LACK OF A

COMMON SENSE APPROACH.

GOVERNMENTS NEVERTHELESS HAVE A REAL CONCERN IN THIS AREA.

. .  ./H

4

MOST OF YOU HERE WILL BE AWARE OF THE LIMITS TO THE EXTENT

OF COMMONWEALTH JURISDICTION IN OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY MATTERS.

ITS DIRECT RESPONSIBILITY IS LIMITED TO ITS OWN EMPLOYEES

AND TERRITORIES. ALL OTHER ACTIVITIES FALL WITHIN THE

AMBIT OF STATE GOVERNMENT JURISDICTION AND I UNDERSTAND

SUBSEQUENT SPEAKERS WILL TELL YOU ABOUT THE LEGISLATIVE

PROPOSALS AND AMENDMENTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY BEING CONSIDERED

IN THE VICTORIAN CONTEXT. ‘

HOWEVER THE COMMONWEALTH HAS SEEN THE NEED TO PLAY A COÂ­

ORDINATING ROLE. THIS DATES BACK TO THE LATE 1940'S WHERE

COMMONWEALTH AND STATE GOVERNMENTS HAVE WORKED TOGETHER TO

DEVELOP STANDARDS AND CODES OF PRACTICE ON OCCUPATIONAL

SAFETY AND HEALTH ISSUES THROUGH REGULAR MEETINGS OF

COMMONWEALTH/STATE MINISTERS FOR LABOUR AND A COUNTERPART

BODY - THE DEPARTMENTS OF LABOUR ADVISORY COMMITTEE (DOLAC)

- WHICH IS COMPRISED OF THE PERMANENT HEADS OF THE

COMMONWEALTH/STATE DEPARTMENTS OF LABOUR.

IN RECENT TIMES THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CHANGES IN CONSULTATIVE

ARRANGEMENTS AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL IN RELATION TO

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ISSUES FOLLOWING THE FEDERAL

GOVERNMENT'S ACCEPTANCE OF A NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS OF

THE REVIEW OF COMMONWEALTH FUNCTIONS. THESE CHANGES HAVE

BEEN TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT EFFECTIVE CONSULTATION BETWEEN THE

VARIOUS PARTIES CONTINUES.

FIRSTLY, DOLAC HAS ESTABLISHED A WORKING PARTY OF

COMMONWEALTH/STATE HEALTH AND LABOUR DEPARTMENT INTERESTS

THAT CAN OPERATE AS A CO-ORDINATION MECHANISM IN THIS

/ÃÂ

5

IMPORTANT AREA AND REVIEW THE NEED FOR MORE PERMANENT

ARRANGEMENTS. THE WORKING PARTY HAS INVITED EMPLOYER AND

TRADE UNION REPRESENTATIVES TO PARTICIPATE IN ITS

DELIBERATIONS.

SECONDLY, AT THE NATIONAL LABOUR CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL, THE

EMPLOYERS PROPOSED -WITH THE SUPPORT OF EMPLOYEE INTERESTS,

- THE CREATION OF AN OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH COMMITTE

THE COUNCIL AGREED WITH THE PROPOSAL AND THIS COMMITTEE HAD

ITS FIRST MEETING ON 22 JULY 1982. THE'ESTABLISHMENT OF

THIS COMMITTEE WILL ENABLE TRIPARTITE CONSIDERATION OF.

ISSUES OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE IN THIS AREA. NLCC HAS

AGREED THAT REPRESENTATION SHOULD ALSO BE SOUGHT OF HEALTH

AND STATE INTERESTS ON THIS COMMITTEE.

ON THE HEALTH ISSUE, I SHOULD POINT OUT MY COLLEAGUE, THE

MINISTER FOR HEALTH, IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OCCUPATIONAL

HEALTH ISSUES AND, GIVEN THE WAY THAT SAFETY AND HEALTH

ISSUES SHADE INTO EACH OTHER, OF NECESSITY WE WORK CLOSELY

TOGETHER IN, THE RESOLUTION OF POLICIES AND PROBLEM SOLVING.

IT IS PROBABLY TOO EARLY TO PREDICT HOW EFFECTIVE THESE TWO

NEW CONSULTATIVE MECHANISMS WILL BE BUT I AM SURE THAT IT

IS ONLY BY THE PARTIES WITH PRIMARY INTERESTS AND

Ã¢ÂÂ¢  Â·  Â·  / 6 Â·

6.

RESPONSIBILITIES SITTING DOWN TOGETHER AND CO-ORDINATING

THEIR ACTIVITIES. IN THIS WAY THAT WE CAN EXPECT POSITIVE

AND MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL IMPROVEMENT IN AUSTRALIA'S

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH PERFORMANCE.

AS PART OF THE ONGOING CO-ORDINATION BETWEEN THE

COMMONWEALTH AND THE STATES THE COMMONWEALTH AND STATE

GOVERNMENTS HAVE BEEN EXAMINING FOR SOME YEARS THE RELEVANT

REGULATIONS FOR THE BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY,

CRANES, POWER TOOLS, MACHINE GUARDING, ETC. THE RESULT

HAS BEEN THE GRADUAL AMENDMENT OF THE REGULATIONS TO

EMBODY AGREED UNIFORM STANDARDS. THIS IS A SENSIBLE METHOD

OF ACHIEVING CHANGE AND IMPROVEMENT. WE SHOULD NOT BE

COMPLACENT IN THIS HOWEVER, PARTICULARLY BEARING IN MIND THE

ADVENT OF NEW TECHNOLOGY, MATERIALS AND PROCESSES.

A GREAT DEAL NEEDS TO BE DONE BY WAY OF TRAINING PERSONNEL

AND UNDERTAKING RESEARCH INTO POTENTIAL OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

PROBLEMS. THERE ARE PROBLEMS - SERIOUS PROBLEMS - IN

IDENTIFYING THE POSSIBLE RISKS TO EMPLOYEES INVOLVED IN NEW

PROCESSES OR THE USE OF POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS.

CLEARLY WE NEED TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEMS AND POTENTIAL ’

HAZARDS AND CONCENTRATE OUR RESOURCES IN A SYSTEMATIC

FASHION. TO RESOLVE THEM.

.. ./7

7.

By t h e p r o v i s i o n  of a p p r o p r i a t e  h i g h  l e v e l  n a t i o n a l

CONSULTATIVE FORUMS, ALL PARTIES HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO

CANVASS ISSUES AND REACH AGREEMENT ABOUT ORDERS OF PRIORITY

AND METHODS TO SEEK SOLUTIONS, PROBLEMS SHOULD NOT BE

TACKLED IN AN UNCO-ORDINATED AND AD HOC WAY, WITH THE -,

ATTENDANT WASTEFUL DUPLICATION OF RESEARCH AND EXPENDITURE

ON THE ONE HAND OR THE NEGLECT OF SOME OTHER IMPORTANT ,

PROBLEM BECAUSE OF IN S U FFIC IEN T RESOURCES ON THE OTHER,

I HAVE MENTIONED THAT ONE AREA WHERE THE COMMONWEALTH

Go v e r n m e n t  h as d i r e c t  r e s p o n s i b i l i t y  i s  i n  r e s p e c t  of i t s

OWN EMPLOYEES, I n TH IS  REGARD THE GOVERNMENT HAS

ADOPTED A CODE OF GENERAL PRINCIPLES ON OCCUPATIONAL

SAFETY AND HEALTH WHICH REQUIRES .ALL HEAD OFFICES TO ISSUE

A SAFETY POLICY AND TO ADOPT ARRANGEMENTS FOR JO INT CONSULTATION

WITH APPROPRIATE EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATIVES TO DETERMINE THE

SAFETY PROGRAMS TO BE IMPLEMENTED W ITHIN THAT DEPARTMENT OR

AUTHORITY, T he code was drawn up BY REPRESENTATIVES of

VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, THE ACTU AND C AGEO AND

REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENTS OF LABOUR AND '

I n d u s t r y , -

8

MY DEPARTMENT TOGETHER WITH THE PUBLIC SERVICE BOARD AND

THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERSIGHTING

THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CODE, AND DISCUSSIONS' ARE UNDERWAY

TO REINFORCE WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN UNDERTAKEN TO ENSURE

THERE IS A CONSISTENT PROGRAM OF PREVENTATIVE ACTION

THROUGHOUT THE COMMONWEALTH EMPLOYMENT AREA.

WITH SOME MINOR AMENDMENTS, THE GOVENMENTS OF WESTERN

AUSTRALIA, SOUTH AUSTRALIA, VICTORIA AND NEW SOUTH WALES

HAVE ADOPTED THE CODE IN RESPECT OF THEIR OWN EMPLOYEES.

GENERALLY SPEAKING, IMPLEMENTATION OF APPROPRIATE SAFETY '

AND HEALTH PROGRAMS HAS TAKEN PLACE IN MOST FEDERAL

GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND STATUTORY AUTHORITIES. NOT

UNNATURALLY THE ONES BEING PURSUED IN "INDUSTRIAL"

TYPE ACTIVITIES VIZ, GOVERNMENT FACTORIES, TELECOM, THE

AUSTRALIAN ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION - TO NAME A FEW - ARE

EXTREMELY DETAILED AND EFFECTIVE. >  .

THOSE AREAS WHERE ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITY PREVAILS HAVE

TENDED TO REGARD THE MATTER AS PERHAPS MORE PERIPHERAL,

DEPENDING ON THE HEAD OFFICER'S ATTITUDE. I AM BOUND TO

SAY HERE THAT PRACTICE HAS TENDED TO VARY FROM WORKPLACE

TO WORKPLACE - .  FROM THE ADOPTION OF WIDE RANGING PROGRAMS

TO, IN SOME CASES, NOT MUCH AT ALL. IN OUR OWN SPHERE OF

,../9

9

INFLUENCE THEREFORE THE COMMONWEALTH ITSELF STILL HAS

FURTHER WORK TO DO TO ENSURE THAT THOSE AT WORK REMAIN FIT

AND ABLE AND THAT THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH AVOIDABLE

ABSENCES ARE NOT INCURRED.

THE COMMONWEALTH WILL BE PURSUING THE TASK OF SETTING ITS

OWN HOUSE IN ORDER. Â·  WE WILL ALSOCONTINUE TO WORK WITH

THE STATE TO DEVELOP UNIFORM STANDARDS AND CODES OF PRACTICE

ON PHYSICAL WORKING CONDITIONS, PARTICULARLY THOSE RELATING

TO SAFETY, HEALTH AND WELFARE. Ã¢ÂÂ

FURTHERMORE THE COMMONWEALTH WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH

STATE GOVERNMENTS AND INFLUENTIAL INDUSTRIAL ORGANISATIONS

LIKE THE VCM, TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT

THE PROBLEM ON AN ENTERPRISE BY ENTERPRISE BASIS WITH A VIEW

TO EACH PUTTING HIS OR HER OWN.HOUSE IN ORDER. IN THIS

AREA THERE IS, OF COURSE, NO REASON WHY INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYERS

AND EMPLOYEES SHOULD WAIT FOR SOMEONE ELSE - E.G. THE .

GOVERNMENT, THE VCM OR TRADE UNIONS TO START URGING THEM

BEFORE THEY SET ABOUT IMPROVEMENT IN THE DAY TO DAY RISK

MANAGEMENT OF THEIR PARTICULAR ENTERPRISE.

..,/10

10

MUCH CAN BE DONE BY MANAGEMENT AND STAFF PARTICIPATIVE

PROCESSES TO CHANGE THE BEHAVIOUR AND ATTITUDES OF THE

PARTIES IN RELATION TO OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH.

BOTH EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES NEED TO BE INVOLVED IN '

RESOLVING DIFFICULTIES AND DEVELOPING BETTER PRACTICES.

BOTH HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN THE OUTCOME. THERE IS AMPLE

EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE VIEW THAT WHERE'MANAGEMENT AND

EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATIVES PARTICIPATE IN DRAWING UP POLICIES

AND PROGRAMS ON OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND'HEALTH THERE IS MORE

COMMITMENT TO THE OUTCOME. SUCH JOINT CONSULTATIVE

PROCEDURES APPLIED TO SAFETY AND HEALTH ISSUES WILL CREATE

AN ENVIRONMENT WHICH WILL SUPPORT VIGOROUS AND CONTINOUS

PROMOTION OF THE POLICIES AND PRACTICES ADOPTED.

THERE ARE MANY OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH PROGRAMS WHICH

CAN BE IMPLEMENTED WITHIN A FIRM WHICH WILL IMMEDIATELY

IMPROVE THE SITUATION. BUT A "ONE SHOT" PROGRAM OR CAMPAIGN

IS NOT THE ANSWER IN THIS AREA. TO BE OF LASTING BENEFIT

TO THE1EMPLOYER AND THE EMPLOYEES, OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND

HEALTH PROGRAMS REQUIRE CONTINOUS APPLICATION, REVIEW AND

EVALUATION. '  .

. . ,/ll.

Â« I

One t h i n g  i s  c e r t a i n , t h e c o s t of n e g l e c t i n g  o c c u p a t i o n a l

SAFETY AND HEALTH W ILL NOT LESSEN BY IGNORING I T ,  A s

MANAGERS, THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE OPERATION OF YOUR

ENTERPRISE RESTS SQUARELY WITH YOU, I URGE THOSE OF YOU

WHO MANY NOT HAVE DONE SO TO FIND OUT JUST WHAT YOUR PRESENT

COSTS ARE -  IN TERMS OF COMPENSATION, ABSENTEEISM AND SICK

LEAVE, I BELIEVE THAT AS A RESULT YOU W ILL REVIEW YOUR

PO LICIES AND PROGRAMS WITH A VIEW TO DRASTICALLY REDUCING

THE OCCUPATIONAL ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES OF YOUR WORKFORCE,

I HAVE ID E N T IF IE D -T H E  SMALLER EMPLOYER AS THE ONE WHO MAY

BE IN GREATEST NEED TO IMPROVE PERFORMANCE IN THIS AREA,

Giv e n  t h e  p r o b l e m s  t h a t  p r e s e n t l y  b e s e t  s m a l l  b u s i n e s s m e n , I

CAN UNDERSTAND AN INSTIN C TIVE REACTION AGAINST SUGGESTIONS

FROM ME THAT THEY SHOULD OUTLAY MORE OF THEIR PRECIOUS

RESOURCES ON IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF WORKLIFE OF THEIR

EMPLOYEES, I HOPE HOWEVER THAT ON REFLECTION THERE WILL

BE A REALISATION THAT PRODUCTIVITY IMPROVEMENT AND SAVINGS

WOULD MORE THAN OFFSET ANY I N I T IA L  INVESTMENT,

T he p u r p o s e  of t h i s  k i n d  of Co n f e r e n c e  i s  to t r y  and aw aken

THE INTERESTS OF THOSE IMMEDIATELY CONCERNED TO THE

MAGNITUDE OF THE PROBLEM; THE NEED TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO

AVOID THE COSTS IN HUMAN SUFFERING AND TO HIGHLIGHT NOT ONLY

THE MORAL OBLIGATION BUT THE SOUND BUSINESS COMMONSENSE IM P L IC IT

IN THE ADOPTION OF PROPER OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY PRACTICES,

