The release of the 11th Edition of the Comparative Performance Monitoring (CPM) report on Australia's occupational health and safety (OHS) and workers' compensation outcomes was announced by Safe Work Australia Chair, Tom Phillips. The report was endorsed by Commonwealth, State and Territory Workplace Relations Ministers at a recent Workplace Relations Ministers' Council meeting.
Phillips said results indicate officials are taking steps in the right direction in some areas however, more needs to be done to ensure safer workplaces in Australia.
"While some areas are recording a reduction in incidents and deaths, we need this to be across the board. We should still be aiming towards the ambitious target of zero deaths in Australian workplaces," said Phillips.
Key Report Findings
1. The number of fatalities recorded for 2007-08 is slightly lower than in previous years. In 2007-08 there were 232 accepted compensated claims for a work-related fatality compared to 260 fatalities in 2006-07.
2. The reduction in the incidence rate of injury and musculoskeletal claims between 2000-01 and 2007-08 was 18%. This is well below the rate required to meet the National OHS Strategy long-term target of a 40% improvement by 2012.
3. Five jurisdictions met the required rate of improvement: Seacare with 46% improvement, South Australia with 33% improvement, the Australian Government with 30% improvement, New South Wales with 25% improvement and Victoria with 24% improvement. (workersxzcompxzkit)
The CPM report is complemented by the Compendium of Workers' Compensation Statistics, which provides more detailed analysis of national workers' comp data.
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