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Hydro Tasmania maintains its safety vision of 'no harm to anyone at any time'.
Staff rated Hydro Tasmania’s safe working environment as the top strength of the business again this year in the annual Staff Feedback Survey. Hydro Tasmania remains committed to ongoing improvements of the management of health and safety and continues to target a Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate of less than 2, despite a disappointing result of 4.1 for the 2006/07 year.
Employee Safety
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Sarah Poulson participates in the Cancer Council Relay for Life |
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In the 2007 Staff Feedback Survey, employees returned the highest score to the query 'my line of business supports me being safe at work'.
An external assessment of the Hydro Tasmania Safety Management system, Hydrosafe, was carried out in May 2006 against AS 4801 and was the catalyst for a number of key safety projects and initiatives introduced in 2006/07. These included further improvements to the incident reporting system (IQMS), improvements to the Contractor Safety Management process, training in Job Hazard Analysis procedure, a review of the Permit to Work and implementing a Workplace Hazards Register. Hydrosafe is not accredited or independently certified.
Hydro Tasmania’s safety governance committee system was reviewed to provide a closer link between staff and executives on issues concerning safety and to ensure communication links between all levels. Responsible officers were reassigned as part of the organisational restructure, and a training program ensured individuals understand the responsibilities of the role.
A revised policy and procedure for alcohol and other drugs became effective in March 2007 to introduce compulsory testing after a significant incident.
An extensive training and education program followed, continuing into July, and causal and self testing are planned to begin in August 2007.
An extensive asbestos audit was conducted during 2006/07 to update site registers. A draft asbestos management plan has been developed which includes the eventual removal of asbestos from all sites.
Hydro Tasmania participated in the development of a statewide multi-stakeholder pandemic management strategy for the electricity industry. A draft agreement and plans for a pandemic drill were agreed.
Table 15 Hydro Tasmania Safety Key Result Areas
Note: Frequency rates do not include contractor incidents and hourNote: Frequency rates do not include contractor incidents and hours
The lost-time injuries experienced during the reporting period, which included back and hand injuries, were all relatively low severity. This is reflected in our continued downward trend in severity rate over the last three reporting periods. All lost-time injuries, including those for contractors, were thoroughly investigated with no pattern of common underlying causes. In each case, the investigations identified corrective actions to prevent further recurrence. The Medical Treatment Injury Frequency Rate increased for the reporting period compared to 2005/06 but was lower than 2004/05. It is believed that the increased rate in 2006/07 is due to improved awareness of the need to ensure employees with the potential for injury are assessed by medical experts. Awareness has been raised by improved processes, such as the Electric Shock Procedure and incident reporting. Improved use of the Job Hazard Analysis process will also contribute to reductions in injuries over the longer term.
Employee Health and Wellbeing
Hydro Tasmania offers flexible working arrangements to balance work and lifestyle. In 2006/07, the Enterprise Partnership Agreements formalised options for part-time, home-based work and eight or nine-day fortnights.
The absentee rate for 2006/07 is low at an average of 3.95 days per employee. The organisation operates a no debit sick leave policy and provides return to work programs for employees after a significant illness or long-term absence.
The policies also provide for compassionate and carers’ leave.
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