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 2006-07 year:
- further development of best practice policy
- introduction of a new web-based incident reporting system for students and staff, which enables immediate central response to health and safety events.
Statistics for occupational health, safety and welfare, and workers compensation for the reporting year were as follows:
- A total of 506 compensation claims were received, which is an increase of five over the previous reporting year.
- The number of stress claims totalled 48, an increase of four from the previous year.
- The cost of all claims payments increased by $0.342 million, up from $5.851 million to $6.193 million. This increase was attributed to additional costs associated with doctors, hospitals and rehabilitation expenses, as well as increases in wages.
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Occupational health, safety and welfare, and workers compensation statistics
| |
Number of claims |
Referrals for rehabilitation |
| Injury type |
2004-05 |
2005-06 |
2006-07 |
2004-05 |
2005-06 |
2006-07 |
| Back |
77 |
95 |
92 |
22 |
30 |
26 |
| Head |
31 |
36 |
52 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
| Lower limbs |
131 |
119 |
136 |
32 |
22 |
39 |
| Multiple |
60 |
32 |
16 |
13 |
11 |
3 |
| Neck |
28 |
16 |
34 |
7 |
3 |
10 |
| Shoulder |
33 |
25 |
17 |
11 |
8 |
9 |
| Stress |
39 |
44 |
48 |
31 |
35 |
36 |
| Systemic |
10 |
6 |
10 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| Trunk |
13 |
13 |
15 |
3 |
4 |
7 |
| Upper limbs |
88 |
115 |
86 |
12 |
24 |
25 |
| Total |
510 |
501 |
506 |
132 |
140 |
158 |
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Employment