The Western Australian Government is committed to the Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy 2012-2022, which builds on the previous National Occupational Health and Safety Strategy 2002-2012.
The 2012-2022 Strategy is underpinned by two key principles:
- All workers regardless of their occupation or how they are engaged have the right to a safe and healthy working environment.
- Well-designed safe and healthy work will allow workers in Australia to have more productive working lives.
The Strategy sets three national targets to be achieved by 2022:
- A reduction in the number of worker fatalities due to injury of at least 20%.
- A reduction in the incidence rate of claims resulting in one or more weeks off work of at least 30%.
- A reduction in the incidence rate of claims for musculoskeletal disorders resulting in one or more weeks off work of at least 30%.
Public sector agencies that improve their workplace safety, health and injury management performance benefit from:
- higher employee retention rates
- enhanced organisational profile
- increased employee morale
- improved health and wellness
- decreased absenteeism
- reduced expenditure on and prevention of the further escalation of workers' compensation costs.