AFMA recognises its responsibility and obligations as outlined in the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, and is committed to creating and maintaining a safe and healthy environment for all of its employees, contractors, consultants and visitors. Health and wellbeing is considered to be of utmost importance and the need to integrate health and safety into all aspects of our work, whether in the office or in the field is paramount.

The Work Health and Safety (WHS) Committee is a joint management and staff committee that is committed to creating and maintaining a safe and healthy environment for all of its staff, contractors, consultants and visitors.

The WHS Committee:

• assists with the development, implementation, review and update of policies and procedures in relation to WHS
• conducts incident reporting
• oversights the implementation of preventive measures
• assists in the distribution and awareness of WHS information to staff.

The WHS Committee met four times during the 2018-19 financial year.

HEALTH AND SAFETY INITIATIVES

We continued to recognise the importance for a healthy workplace including mental health and general wellbeing. The 2018-19 health and wellbeing program offered staff specific initiatives including onsite health checks and influenza vaccinations. The program also included various seminars and workshops on topics such as heart health, meditation and healthy eating. We also promoted R You OK Day, Movember and National Safe Work month.

As part of the AFMA Induction Program, all new employees are provided with information on workstation setup and access to the Work, Health and Safety Information including policies, guidelines and factsheets. As part of the Canberra office relocation project to Majura Park, we engaged a company to provide advice and information to staff regarding workstation set ups in an activity based environment and by providing well-being welcome packs.

AFMA has sit-stand workstations in the Canberra office and sit-stand workstations across all other AFMA offices which can be used by all staff on a booking basis.

ACCIDENT OR DANGEROUS OCCURRENCE STATISTICS

In 2018-19 AFMA recorded 26 incidents relating to accidents or near-misses (see Figure 2). This rate has increased from 21 in 2017-18.

There was an increase overall in the number of incidents reported in the category of falls/trips/slips. The agency monitors and assesses all incidents and hazards and reports to the AFMA Commission and the agency's WHS Committee. Where identified, modifications and changes to work practices and training and awareness programs are implemented.

AFMA work health and safety incidents reports comparison

NOTIFIABLE INCIDENTS DURING THE YEAR

In accordance with the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, AFMA is required to report ‘notifiable incidents' which include the death of a person, serious injury or illness, or a dangerous incident which arises out of AFMA conducting its business. In 2018-19 there were four incidents that were required to be notified to Comcare as they fell within the definition of a Dangerous Occurrence under the Work Health and Safety legislation. None of these incidents required Comcare to take any remedial action against AFMA.