Managing the work health, safety and wellbeing effects of technological advancements in the workplace is front and centre at the 2018 WorkSafe Conference program which I opened today.
The Conference also provided the backdrop to an official launch of a new five year strategic plan to help make Tasmania’s workplaces among the nation’s safest.
The WorkSafe Tasmania Strategic Plan 2018-2023, developed as a joint initiative with the WorkCover Tasmania Board, outlines the priority action areas to advance work, safety and wellbeing in the State.
It builds on the work already done by the Hodgman Liberal Government to improve workplace health and safety through our nation leading PTSD reforms, award-winning asbestos awareness and education campaign and reduced red tape in the administration of the Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988.
Most pleasingly, there has been a 26 per cent drop in the number of workplace injuries over the last seven years, decreasing from 9,712 in 2010, to 6,941 in 2017.
As encouraging as these signs are, as long as Tasmanian workers continue to be injured in the workplace, there is still work to be done.
The WorkSafe Conference will examine the future risks our workers and workplaces face, including increased use of digital technologies and changing employment patterns.
More information can be found at: www.worksafe.tas.gov.au.
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