05:48 pm, Tuesday 9 April, 2013

WorkCover Queensland will conduct a free mining forum on Thursday, 18 April 2013, from 9.00am to 11.30am. Issues specific to the mining industry as well as issues pertaining to workplace safety and injury management will be discussed.

Topics will include:

• Overview of IPaM program and tools to assist with injury prevention by Suzanne Johnson, WHSQ
• Common law: Liability considerations – do we have to pay? By Michael Bannister, WorkCover Queensland
• Injury management roundtable discussion (opportunity to share ideas on current best practice)

Details:

Thursday 18 April 2013

9am to 11.30am, morning tea provided

WorkCover East Customer Service Centre, 99 Southgate Avenue, Southgate Corporate Park, Cannon Hill

A live webinar will be provided to those who cannot attend in person.

To RSVP, contact jane.stevens@workcoverqld.com.au by 12 April 2013.

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10:23 pm, Thursday 14 March, 2013

Staying up to date with what’s happening to your industry while learning injury prevention and management strategies is important. Taking that on board, WorkCover Queensland created the industry sites to provide employers with relevant information on compensation and injury management, as well as industry specific news, events and resources.

Industry sites now available are Agriculture; Construction; Education; Manufacturing; Mining; Health and Community Care; Tourism; and Transport with more to come throughout the year.

WorkCover Queensland’s Communications Advisor, Sarah McAtamney, said they have been working on the idea of the sites from about February 2012. The first site was launched in late May and three more sites were introduced in the two months that followed.

“The idea came about because of the need to get relevant information to an industry,” Ms McAtamney told SafetyCulture. “Different industries have different needs – the industry sites allow us to give specific industry relevant articles and information to our customers without them having to go looking through our website for this.”

“There was also a need for us to integrate our tools and communication. The website is our base of information, however the sites link what’s relevant from the website for that particular industry. These articles are then available in the online services as an RSS linking back to the relevant microsite. People can subscribe to the RSS feed, which means they’ll always know when new content has been added to their industry site.”

She said they want to highlight that work is beneficial for people’s health and wellbeing, and when incorporated into an injured worker’s rehabilitation process, can result to a prompt and sustainable return to work.

“Preventing workplace injuries is fundamental, however, if someone is injured, it’s important to aim for a stay at, or prompt return to work outcome,” she said.

“We also recognise each industry has its own challenges and needs, so the sites are a platform where our customers can access information, tools and resources to help them achieve positive injury management outcomes for injured workers, as well as access general news and events specific to their industry.

“We hope that our employer and provider customers will go to the page, sign up to the RSS so they know when new articles are added. We’re working towards becoming paperless and are working more online, and we’re encouraging our customers to use our online services, which are free, quick and easy to use,” she said.

Those who want to have their event or industry-specific information published on the sites are encouraged to contact their WorkCover Queensland relationship manager or email communications@workcoverqld.com.au.

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02:00 pm, Tuesday 11 December, 2012

A free forum for employers in the passenger transport industry will be hosted by WorkCover Queensland and Workplace Health and Safety Queensland on 23 January 2013.

Topics to be discussed will include injury prevention and management, workplace health and safety harmonisation laws, and promoting wellness at work.

Customer Services Manager (North), Matt Cross, who manages the transport industry says the activity also provides a platform to network with other employers.

“The feedback from previous employer forums has been guests appreciate the opportunity to meet their industry peers, hear how they prevent and manage injuries, and generally discuss what’s happening in their industry.

“We’ll also invite an employer to present a case study to the group – discuss what strategies they implement and how these achieve positive outcomes. We hope guests will leave the forum with ideas and possible ways they can improve workplace safety, injury management and wellness at work,” said Mr Cross.

Interested participants are advised to call 1300 362 128 and ask to be transferred to the North Customer Services Centre.

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11:00 am, Tuesday 21 August, 2012

In the ACT public servants have claimed almost $90 million in workers compensation in the last three years for illnesses and injuries in the workplace.

According to the Chief Minister Katy Gallagher the ACTPS workers compensation and work safety improvement plan is designed to take the burden of injury away from workers whilst decreasing the “whole of government” premium paid to Comcare by 10%.

The Minister said focus of the ACTPS workers compensation and work safety improvement plan is to effect improvement on the health of workers as well as improve the outcomes of returning to work for workers that are injured.

One of the changes that can be seen as a result of the plan is that injury management staff have been moved from the directorates to a central unit located in shared services in an effort to share knowledge, build capacity and capability to improve case management for the injured workers.

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11:25 am, Thursday 2 August, 2012

The WorkCover Safety Bus will visit western NSW to render work health and safety advice to local workers and businesses.

The Bus will tour Forbes, Parkes and Condobolin from Monday, 6 August and will offer practical advice on new work health and safety laws, changes to high-risk work licences and WorkCover’s Small Business Rebate Program.

Director of Operations for WorkCover’s Work Health and Safety Division, Peter Dunphy, encouraged businesses and workers to learn more from WorkCover’s health and safety experts.

“There are a number of changes to NSW work health and safety laws and licensing currently underway,” said Mr Dunphy.

“This includes the start of harmonised national work health and safety laws on 1 January 2012 and the requirement to review, and if necessary renew all high-risk work licences by 1 January 2013 as part of a national approach to uniform licensing.

“The tour is part of WorkCover’s comprehensive efforts to support NSW business and will provide an opportunity for local businesses and workers to ask questions and learn more about the new laws and licensing changes.

“WorkCover understands the difficulties some businesses face in addressing safety and injury management.

“The Small Business Rebate Program offers small business owners and sole traders rebates of up to $500 to help purchase and install safety improvements that they otherwise might not be able to afford.

“I encourage anyone wanting to learn more about work health and safety to approach our staff when the bus visits next week,” he said.

WorkCover Safety Bus Tour dates and locations:

9:30 – 11am, Tuesday, 7 August, Harold Street, Forbes (adjacent to the Town Hall)

9:30 – 11am, Wednesday 8 August, Bathurst & McDonnell St, Condobolin

9:30 – 11am, Thursday, 9 August, Clarinda Street, Parkes (Central Business District)

Further information can be obtained through the WorkCover NSW website.

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11:12 am, Friday 22 June, 2012

Comcare will be facilitating forums throughout the month of July to introduce and inform the jurisdiction on the new Section 41 Rehabilitation Guidelines which will start on 1 July 2012.

These forums will be approximately 90 minutes in duration and will include a presentation followed by a question and answer session. Representatives from Comcare’s Compensation Policy and Injury Management Advisory Service teams will be present during the forums.

The Rehabilitation Guidelines issued under section 41 of the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 was created to assist employers in developing an effective approach to the rehabilitation of their injured employees.

There is no cost to attend the forums. Interested participants can register using Comcare’s registration page. 

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11:59 am, Thursday 19 April, 2012

The 2012 Seacare Conference and Awards, which provides a unique opportunity for scheme participants to gather and learn about effective injury management and to celebrate the achievements of stakeholders will be held 24-25 October 2012 at Crystal Palace Luna Park in Sydney.

This year’s theme is Seafaring safety, navigating change, and will focus on the health and wellbeing of seafarers. It will also highlight key changes to the industry including scheme coverage and the harmonisation of occupational health and safety (OHS) laws. The Seacare Awards will be presented at a gala dinner on Wednesday 25 October. Nominations for the award will open in May.

The Seacare Conference and Awards are held every two years with the main purpose of engaging employers, seafarers and other scheme stakeholders with the mission of the Seacare Authority, which is to minimise the human and financial costs of workplace injury in the Australian maritime industry.

Those who want to participate in this event are invited to register their interest. For more information, visit the 2012 Seacare Conference and Awards website.

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