The federal work health and safety regulator, Comcare, has outlined its Work Health and Safety Plan for the current financial year, with the agency saying it will target bullying, drug and alcohol harm at work.

 

The Plan commits to improving work health and safety across federal employers by focusing on four key priority areas: worker health, preventing harm, stronger enforcement, and a smooth transition to national work health and safety laws.

 

Comcare’s Work Health and Safety General Manager, Neil Quarmby, says this is a major change in the way Comcare delivers its services.

 

“Our new regulation model highlights the importance of preventing workplace injuries. This year we’ll deliver strong enforcement outcomes, but also commit to stopping workers getting harmed in the first place.”

 

This includes an initiative to target federal employers with poor workplace cultures with relation to drug and alcohol harm.

 

Also on the agenda is a workplace bullying campaign which will address the recent growth in mental stress claims.

 

“We’re targeting workplaces where bullying is just ‘how things work’, and we’ll be working with employers where alcohol harm is a known risk in the workplace. We’re sending the message that it’s not OK, that it’s unacceptable,” Mr Quarmby says.

 

Harmonised work health and safety laws due to start on 1 January 2012 are also a major priority. Comcare will re-train its inspectors to exercise new powers under the laws, such as providing assistance to victims and families involved in workplace harm.

 

The full report can be downloaded here