Overview of national visions and targets
The National OHS Strategy 2002-2012 provides a basis for developing sustainable, safe and healthy work environments and for reducing the number of people hurt or killed at work.
As a step towards achieving its national vision of Australian workplaces free from death, injury and disease, the National OHS Strategy has set the following targets :
- to sustain a significant, continual reduction in the incidence of work-related fatalities with a reduction of at least 20 percent by 30 June 2012 (with a reduction of 10 percent being achieved by 30 June 2007), and
- to reduce the incidence of workplace injury by at least 40 percent by 30 June 2012 (with a reduction of 20 percent being achieved by30 June 2007).
The five priorities, identified by the National OHS Strategy, to achieve short and long-term OHS improvement, and to nurture longer-term cultural change are:
- reduce the impact of risk at work
- improve the capacity of business operators and workers to mange OHS effectively
- prevent occupational disease more effectively
- eliminate hazards at the design state, and
- strengthen the capacity of government to influence OHS outcomes.
The National strategy focuses on particular OHS risks and industry sectors to maximise the impact of its initiatives. The risks account for more than half of the workers' compensation claims across Australia.
There are five priority industries targeted in the National Strategy
- agriculture, forestry and fishing
- building and construction
- health and community services
- manufacturing
- transport and storage
These sectors were chosen because they were identified through data analysis as having the highest incidence rates and/or high numbers of workers' compensation claims compared with other industries. By working with these sectors, not only are lives being saved but these industries will set examples of OHS best practice for other employers to follow.
Page last updated: 08/09/2009