Department of Tourism, Parks, Heritage and the Arts

1. WELCOME TO THE DEPARTMENT of TOURISM, PARKS, HERITAGE and the ARTS PRESENTATION ON OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY “Working together to achieve a safe and healthy workplace” Department of Tourism, Parks, Heritage and the Arts

2. The Department of Tourism, Parks, Heritage and the Arts comprises: • Tourism Tasmania • Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service • Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens • Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery • Arts Tasmania • Heritage Tasmania • Aboriginal Heritage Office • Corporate Services & the Office of the Secretary Department of Tourism, Parks, Heritage and the Arts

3. The Department is responsible for the sustainable management and promotion of the State’s unique natural, aboriginal, historic and cultural heritage assets. Department of Tourism, Parks, Heritage and the Arts

4. The Department is geographically diverse with work locations in six of the eight Australian States/Territories. • Staff are located in over 40 different work locations including off-shore islands and the sub-Antarctic. Department of Tourism Parks, Heritage & the Arts

5. Arthur River Bridport Burnie Coles Bay Cradle Mountain Devonport Hastings Caves Hobart (several sites) Huonville Lake St. Clair Launceston (several sites) Liawenee Lutana Mole Creek Moonah Locations include: Department of Tourism Parks, Heritage & the Arts

6. Mount Field Narawntapu New Town Perth, Tas Queenstown Rosny Sandy Bay Seven Mile Beach Smithton St. Helens Stanley Strahan Swansea Ulverstone Bruny Island Flinders Island King Island Maria Island Macquarie Island Department of Tourism Parks, Heritage & the Arts

7. Western Australia • South Australia • Victoria • New South Wales • Queensland • Representatives overseas Department of Tourism, Parks, Heritage & the Arts

8. The Department’s work force includes: • Senior Executives • Administrative & Clerical • Technical • Professional • Operational employees • Volunteers and contractors Department of Tourism, Parks, Heritage & the Arts

9. Staff include permanent and fixed term employees • Who work full-time, part-time and casual hours • Current employee head count is 780 with the workforce fluctuating depending on seasonal demands Department of Tourism, Parks, Heritage & the Arts

10. What we looked like • No consistent integrated Occupational Health and Safety Management System • No documented effective process for undertaking risk assessments • Many of the current policies & procedures were not being complied with • No consistent process for recording incident/accidents Department of Tourism, Parks, Heritage & the Arts

11. OHS training was spasmodic and generally not considered beneficial, practical or relevant • High number of workers compensation claims • 34 open workers compensation claims (26 of which related to PWS) • No accountability for health and safety within workplaces • Section 39 Notice issued by WST Department of Tourism, Parks, Heritage & the Arts

12. What we achieved • Implemented a consistent, practical, integrated OHSMS relevant to our operations • Identified and prioritised our risk exposure • Implemented an effective hazard, risk control and Job Safety Analysis process • Developed a intranet based JSA resource library Department of Tourism, Parks, Heritage & the Arts

13. Developed policies & procedures which resulted in safer systems of work • Developed a simple effective database for incident/accident recording • Undertook safety auditing (both internal and external) • Implemented an OHS committee structure Department of Tourism, Parks, Heritage & the Arts

14. Appointed 20 responsible officers • Business Unit Directors/GMs and Managers/Supervisors now responsible and accountable for health and safety • Workers compensation costs are met by Business Units • Developed a three tiered training model for Responsible Officers; Managers & Supervisors and employees which has resulted in 612 staff being trained to date. Department of Tourism, Parks, Heritage & the Arts

15. Training is directly linked to our OHSMS • It provides staff with practical skills in hazard identification and control • Provides staff with an understanding of the importance of health and safety and information in relation to their responsibilities Department of Tourism, Parks, Heritage & the Arts

16. Reporting to Executive on health and safety • Achieved a 21.5% reduction in workers compensation claims for 03/04. • Achieved a 34% reduction to date in workers compensation costs for 03/04 • Achievement recognised by winning two Workplace Safe Awards Department of Tourism, Parks, Heritage & the Arts

17. What can help • Listen to your employees • Ascertain what is working and what is not working • Learn from others • Making a difference on the ground is what is important • Developing policy and procedures that collect dust will not improve health and safety Department of Tourism, Parks, Heritage & the Arts

18. Policies and procedures are living documents – don’t carve them in stone! • Assessing and managing the risk should be a natural part of all activities • Everyone in an organisation has responsibility for health and safety – train them to do it effectively • OHSMS should be relevant to your business operations Department of Tourism, Parks, Heritage & the Arts