Performance criterion 1

Activities in the operational plan are delivered to the expected quality, on time and within budget.

Performance criterion 1 relates to Safe Work Australia’s ability to deliver on the activities identified in the operational plan.

Under section 4 of the Safe Work Australia Act 2008 (Cth), the agency is required to prepare an operational plan outlining the activities that are to be undertaken to achieve its outcomes for the year. An agency work plan is also prepared which details the specific projects that will be undertaken in support of the operational plan activities. Both plans are prepared in consultation with Safe Work Australia Members.

Reports against the plans are prepared and provided to Members throughout the year via the Members’ project dashboard.

By working with our Members to agree the plans, and providing them with ongoing oversight, we ensure Members are across the activities of the agency and their expectations are managed accordingly.

As part of the 2018–19 annual performance reporting cycle, a survey of Safe Work Australia Members and the Chair was undertaken. They were asked to rate their level of satisfaction in relation to the agency achieving the activities outlined in the operational plan. Of responses received, all indicated they are either satisfied or very satisfied with the agency achieving the activities outlined in the operational plan.

Performance criterion 2

Reductions in the incidence of work-related death, injury and illness through:

• an improved and reformed WHS framework
• increased WHS awareness and skills
• developing and maintaining an evidence base which informs policy and practice
• reduced exposure to work-related hazards causing injury and illness, and
• improved quality of workplace controls.

The second performance criterion relates to Safe Work Australia’s ability to bring about a reduction in the incidence of work-related death, injury and illness. The agency does this by implementing the strategies identified in the corporate plan and completing the activities detailed in the operational plan. The targets for this criterion mirror the national targets outlined in the Australian Strategy.

The guide Measuring progress towards targets: reducing the incidence of work-related death, injury and illness explains how progress on the strategy’s targets is measured. Given the nature of the datasets and the processing of workers’ compensation claims, these data generally have a two- to three-year lag.

The latest available data demonstrates:

• a 36 per cent decrease in the number of traumatic injury fatalities, from 270 fatalities in the base period to 173 in 2016–18. The target for work-related fatalities was met in 2012–14, and the number of fatalities has continued to fall each year since then. If current trends continue, the reduction in work-related fatalities will exceed the reductions required to meet the target of at least a 20 per cent reduction by 2022.
• a 26 per cent decrease in the incidence rate of serious claims between the base period and 2016–17. The current rate is 9.3 serious claims per 1,000 employees down from 12.5. This decrease is on track to meet the target of at least a 30 per cent reduction by 2022.
• a 32 per cent decrease in the incidence rate of musculoskeletal claims between the base period and 2016–17. The current rate is 5.1 claims per 1,000 employees, down from 7.5. Progress against this target is on track for a reduction at least 30 per cent by 2022.

Further details of the activities that have contributed to the agency achieving its outcomes for the reporting period can be found in Part 4—Our achievements.