The department continued to proactively apply strategies aimed at reducing workplace-related injuries. A strong focus continued on rehabilitation which included assisting staff to return to work in the shortest possible time.
The continuation of the following occupational health and safety initiatives was the primary focus for the 2005-06 year:
- further development of best practice policy
- commencement of a new reporting system to provide timely performance advice directly to schools.
Statistics for occupational health, safety and welfare, and workers compensation for the reporting year were as follows:
- A total of 501 compensation claims were received, which is a decrease of nine over the previous reporting year.
- The number of stress claims totalled 44, an increase of five from the previous year.
- The cost of all claims payments increased by $0.228m, up from $5.624m to $5.851m. This increase was attributed to costs associated with increases in wages.
Occupational health, safety and welfare, and workers compensation statistics
| |
Number of claims |
Referrals for rehabilitation |
| Injury type |
2003-04 |
2004-05 |
2005-06 |
2003-04 |
2004-05 |
2005-06 |
| Back |
105 |
77 |
95 |
37 |
22 |
30 |
| Head |
47 |
31 |
36 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
| Lower limbs |
107 |
131 |
119 |
20 |
32 |
22 |
| Multiple |
32 |
60 |
32 |
8 |
13 |
11 |
| Neck |
19 |
28 |
16 |
4 |
7 |
3 |
| Shoulder |
18 |
33 |
25 |
8 |
11 |
8 |
| Stress |
56 |
39 |
44 |
49 |
31 |
35 |
| Systemic |
8 |
10 |
6 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
| Trunk |
20 |
13 |
13 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
| Upper limbs |
91 |
88 |
115 |
28 |
12 |
24 |
| Total |
503 |
510 |
501 |
160 |
132 |
140 |
Employment