WorkSafe Victoria
Encyclopedia
WorkSafe Victoria is the trading name of the Victorian Workcover Authority
, a statutory authority of the state government of Victoria
, Australia
.
Also formerly known (from most recently) as WorkCover, VWA, WorkCare and the Department of Labour, all past incarnations since 1985, WorkSafe became the trading name in mid 2008.
The organisation reports to a Minister, Gordon Rich-Phillips, has a Board of Management (Chair Elana Rubin), Chief Executive (Greg Tweedly), Deputy Chief Executive & Executive Director Health and Safety (Ian Forsyth) and Executive Director Rehabilitation and Compensation (Len Boehm).
Each of the WorkSafe Executive Directors has a series of business units which report to them.
WorkSafe aims to take a constructive, accountable, transparent, effective and caring approach to all its operations.
A significant focus of WorkSafe's activity includes communication with internal and external stakeholders, media (including publishing details of significant incidents and prosecutions)and the wider community though advertising, face-to-face briefings, road shows and events such as farming sector field days and conferences.
They are employed in a range of specialist teams: Public Sector; Construction and Utilities; Manufacturing, Logistics and Agriculture; and Hazard Management Divisions.
Project officers who manage specific projects identified by the organisation develop enforcement activity in industries where there is a history of poor performance or where safety improvement has stalled.
WorkSafe promotes to employers, injured workers and the people who treat them, the idea of an early and sustainable return to work. This helps keep business and premium costs down and benefits injured workers. Where it is not possible for a worker to return to their old workplace, WorkSafe's support program, WISE, which encourages other employers to step in and take advantage of their skills.
Accident Compensation (WorkCover Insurance) Act 1993; Workers Compensation Act 1958;
Occupational Health and Safety Act 1985; Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004;
Dangerous Goods Act 1985; Equipment (Public Safety) Act 1994; Road Transport (Dangerous Goods) Act 1995; Road Transport Reform (Dangerous Goods) Act 1995 (Commonwealth)
Mines Act 1958.
Regulations set out mandatory requirements under the Acts and are linked to copies held at Victorian Law Today.
Accident Compensation Regulations 2001; Dangerous Goods (Explosives) Regulations 2000;
Dangerous Goods (HCDG) Regulations 2005; Dangerous Goods (Storage and Handling) Regulations 2000; Dangerous Goods (Transport by Rail) Regulations 1998; Equipment (Public Safety) Regulations 2007; Magistrates' Court (Occupational Health and Safety) Rules 2005; Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2007; Road Transport (Dangerous Goods) (Licence Fees) Regulations 1998; Road Transport Reform (Dangerous Goods) Regulations 1997.
.
The Act was reviewed, by Chris Maxwell
QC (Queens Counsel) now a Judge of the Court of Appeal becoming the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004.
The 'new' Act broadly reflected the requirements of the OHS Act 1985.
The most basic of duties requires employers to provide a safe workplace for employees and people other than employees (Sections 23 and 24).
The 2004 Act greatly increased potential fines from a maximum of $250,000 to more than $900,000. The highest fine yet was imposed in August 2008 when the brewer, Fosters was convicted and fined $1.125 million for two breaches of the Act.
A range of alternate penalties have also been introduced and are sought in some cases. These include adverse publicity orders (Section 135), safety improvement projects (Section 136), and enforceable undertakings (Section 137).
The Duties of Directors and company officers (Section 144) have also been included along with new powers to obtain information (Section 9), the creation of ARREOs (Authorised Representatives of Employee Associations)(Sections 87-94), a duty to consult on matters affecting health and safety(Sections 35 and 36) and a significant change which allow for the internal review of inspectors decisions (Sections 127 to 129).
Victorian Workcover Authority
The Victorian Workcover Authority is a government authority established by the State Government of Victoria, Australia. It has three functions:* Policing occupational health and safety legislation* Providing worker's compensation...
, a statutory authority of the state government of Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Also formerly known (from most recently) as WorkCover, VWA, WorkCare and the Department of Labour, all past incarnations since 1985, WorkSafe became the trading name in mid 2008.
The organisation reports to a Minister, Gordon Rich-Phillips, has a Board of Management (Chair Elana Rubin), Chief Executive (Greg Tweedly), Deputy Chief Executive & Executive Director Health and Safety (Ian Forsyth) and Executive Director Rehabilitation and Compensation (Len Boehm).
Each of the WorkSafe Executive Directors has a series of business units which report to them.
WorkSafe aims to take a constructive, accountable, transparent, effective and caring approach to all its operations.
A significant focus of WorkSafe's activity includes communication with internal and external stakeholders, media (including publishing details of significant incidents and prosecutions)and the wider community though advertising, face-to-face briefings, road shows and events such as farming sector field days and conferences.
Workplace health and safety
WorkSafe employs safety inspectors based at 12 offices in Melbourne (City, Dandenong, Preston, Mulgrave) and regional Victoria (Geelong, Warrnambool, Traralgon, Mildura, Bendigo, Ballarat, Shepparton and Wangaratta).They are employed in a range of specialist teams: Public Sector; Construction and Utilities; Manufacturing, Logistics and Agriculture; and Hazard Management Divisions.
Project officers who manage specific projects identified by the organisation develop enforcement activity in industries where there is a history of poor performance or where safety improvement has stalled.
Workers compensation and return to work
WorkSafe oversees Victoria's workers compensation system which provides financial as well as health and related supoport to people who have been hurt in the course of their work. The system is funded by Victorian employers who pay a percentage of their total renumeration which provides the insurance cover. The premium is Australia's second lowest (after Queensland)at 1.338%. The amount paid by employers varies depending on their personal claims performance and that of their industry - i.e. a 'good' performing employer in an industry with many claims may pay rather less than others. Around 29,000 people a year make a workers compensation claim (10.58/1000 employees in Victoria).WorkSafe promotes to employers, injured workers and the people who treat them, the idea of an early and sustainable return to work. This helps keep business and premium costs down and benefits injured workers. Where it is not possible for a worker to return to their old workplace, WorkSafe's support program, WISE, which encourages other employers to step in and take advantage of their skills.
Legislation and regulation
WorkSafe is regulator of a wide range of Acts of Parliament including the Accident Compensation Act 1985; Accident Compensation (Occupational Health and Safety) Act 1996;Accident Compensation (WorkCover Insurance) Act 1993; Workers Compensation Act 1958;
Occupational Health and Safety Act 1985; Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004;
Dangerous Goods Act 1985; Equipment (Public Safety) Act 1994; Road Transport (Dangerous Goods) Act 1995; Road Transport Reform (Dangerous Goods) Act 1995 (Commonwealth)
Mines Act 1958.
Regulations set out mandatory requirements under the Acts and are linked to copies held at Victorian Law Today.
Accident Compensation Regulations 2001; Dangerous Goods (Explosives) Regulations 2000;
Dangerous Goods (HCDG) Regulations 2005; Dangerous Goods (Storage and Handling) Regulations 2000; Dangerous Goods (Transport by Rail) Regulations 1998; Equipment (Public Safety) Regulations 2007; Magistrates' Court (Occupational Health and Safety) Rules 2005; Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2007; Road Transport (Dangerous Goods) (Licence Fees) Regulations 1998; Road Transport Reform (Dangerous Goods) Regulations 1997.
Occupational Health and Safety Act
The Occupational Health and Safety Act was enacted in 1985 as a major reform of the Labor government of John Cain IIJohn Cain II
John Cain , Australian Labor Party politician, was the 41st Premier of Victoria, holding office from 1982 to 1990.-Biography:...
.
The Act was reviewed, by Chris Maxwell
Chris Maxwell
Chris Maxwell BA , LLB , BPhil , QC is an Australian jurist.Maxwell has been President of the Victorian Court of Appeal since 16 July 2005, succeeding Justice John Winneke....
QC (Queens Counsel) now a Judge of the Court of Appeal becoming the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004.
The 'new' Act broadly reflected the requirements of the OHS Act 1985.
The most basic of duties requires employers to provide a safe workplace for employees and people other than employees (Sections 23 and 24).
The 2004 Act greatly increased potential fines from a maximum of $250,000 to more than $900,000. The highest fine yet was imposed in August 2008 when the brewer, Fosters was convicted and fined $1.125 million for two breaches of the Act.
A range of alternate penalties have also been introduced and are sought in some cases. These include adverse publicity orders (Section 135), safety improvement projects (Section 136), and enforceable undertakings (Section 137).
The Duties of Directors and company officers (Section 144) have also been included along with new powers to obtain information (Section 9), the creation of ARREOs (Authorised Representatives of Employee Associations)(Sections 87-94), a duty to consult on matters affecting health and safety(Sections 35 and 36) and a significant change which allow for the internal review of inspectors decisions (Sections 127 to 129).