Annual report [1997-98] - Family Court of Australia

The Family Court of Australia – annual report 1997-98
Occupational health and safety
The Court conducted a Quality of Working Life Survey in 1997-98. This led to a number
workplace planning sessions where interested staff used the survey information to develop
local initiatives to improve their working environment. The results, to be implemented in
1998-99, will enable staff to become further involved in Occupational Health and Safety
(OH&S) improvements. Office/registry managers and OH&S representatives also carried
out inspections on all workplaces, with reports from these used for ongoing improvement.
The Court has 14 designated work groups with elected OH&S representatives and six
deputy representatives. Measures taken in 1997-98 to ensure the health, safety and welfare
at work of Court employees and contractors include the continuing OH&S committees
which meet regularly throughout the year to monitor health and safety issues and procedures,
maintaining the Employee Assistance Program, organising ergonomic inspections of
workplaces and individual workstations, providing eye tests, maintaining first aid officers
and equipment at all locations, and developing policies specific to the Court’s requirements.
Test and investigations undertaken in 1997-98
■ Regular legionella testing on all properties in accordance with the legislation.
■ Full technical assessment on one existing property (Launceston) and two proposed
properties (Townsville, Canberra).
■ Annual property inspection by the Court’s agent KFPW on all leased properties to
check compliance with Commonwealth and industry accommodative standards – all
defects found were promptly rectified.
■ AS1428 compliance review regarding access and modifications for people with
a disability.
■ Review of all properties to determine impact of the Millennium Bug on building
services systems (for example lifts and air conditioning) was commenced and should
be completed early in 1998-99.
There were no Provisional Improvement Notices issued under s47 of the Occupational
Health and Safety (Commonwealth Employment) Act.
Comcare Australia conducted a Planned Workplace Investigation on Brisbane Registry. The
resulting recommendations, which included continuation of training programs and increasing
staff awareness of manual handling processes and injury prevention, were put into effect.
Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences reported under s68 of theOccupational Health and
Safety(Commonwealth Employees) Act 1991 to Comcare are as follows:
Incident NSW ACT VIC SA QLD NT TAS
Body stress 6 0 1 3 0 0 0
Mental stress 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
Falls, trips and slips 4 0 0 0 5 0 0
Hit by moving object 1 0 0 2 0 0 1
Back injury 1 1 1 0 0 0 0
Electricity 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 12 1 3 5 5 0 1
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