Defence Occupational Health and Safety Strategy 2007-1 - Comcare

THE CHANGINGDEFENCE ENVIRONMENT:IMPLICATIONS FOR THEMANAGEMENT OF OHSThe primary role of Defence is to provide Governmentwith military options for the conduct of operationsto defend Australia and its national interests. Thisresponsibility, together with the demanding andcomplex nature of the Defence environment, givesrise to challenges in meeting our obligation to makeDefence a safe workplace for our people.First, there is the challenge created by the size andgeographic spread of the Defence workforce. TheDefence workforce is made up of over 100,000personnel, comprised of:>>permanent and reserve force members ofthe Navy, Army and Air Force, together withthe cadets from each of the Services;civilianemployees engaged in an ongoing or nonongoing(temporary) capacity under the PublicService Act 1999; andprivate sector contractors working throughout,and frequently embedded within, the Defenceworkforce.In addition to working throughout Australia, frommajor metropolitan and rural centres to remotelocalities, our people are deployed on operationsoverseas, and work in overseas missions,embassies and posts throughout the world.There is vast diversity in the nature of workperformed by Defence personnel. Militarypersonnel are engaged in ‘warlike’, ‘nonwarlike’and ‘peacetime’ operations, includingpeacekeeping and humanitarian relief operations,as well as training for such operations. Whileinitial operational training is conducted underthe auspices of the individual Services, we areincreasingly mounting joint ADF operations andfrequently in coalition with overseas military forces.Support activities performed across Defence byboth military and civilian personnel encompassan extensive range of functions and employmentcategories, including scientifi c, engineering, technical,logistical and administrative support together withpolicy development and planning. It is fair to saythat Defence has a greater range of employmentcategories than any other Australian employer.Overriding all of this, are the risks - in some cases,extreme risks - associated with the nature ofmilitary service. The principal distinguishing featureof military service is, of course, the obligation toserve in combat operations. No other employmentgroup has the same liability. Increased operationaltempo as a result of participation in peacekeepingand overseas coalition operations has highlightedthis obligation and the inherent risks involved indeployed operations.Despite our desire and best efforts to do so, therisks inherent in military service can never becompletely removed. Other than the obvious risksassociated with operational service, ADF trainingactivities are aimed at exercising military skills insimulated combat situations, which by necessityleads to elevated risk environments, albeit wherethe risks are controlled to the maximum extentpracticable. Moreover, many military activitiesrequire personnel to work long and irregular hoursof duty in adverse or arduous conditions, thuscompounding the risks.Within this large and diverse employmentenvironment the ability to sustain our mostimportant asset - Our People - is paramount.Accordingly OHS becomes a capability enhancerof crucial importance to all personnel. In addition,and notwithstanding the unique nature of militaryservice, Defence is not immune from complyingwith the OHS Act and related legislation. While thedemands made of Defence and its personnel mayat times be higher than for the rest of the Australianworkforce, the standards relating to OHS remainthe same as for the wider community.6