1. Keynote Address:
A regulator’s
approach to work
health and safety
in 2013
John Watson - General Manager,
Work Health and Safety Division, WorkCover NSW
1

2. 2 2
• Working in partnership with industry
• Increasing focus on customer needs
• Working closely with other jurisdictions
• Combined role as regulator of work health and safety,
and workers compensation
• Assisting business with work health and safety, injury
management and return to work obligations
WorkCover NSW

3. 3 3
• National OHS Strategy 2002-2012
• Safe Work Australia - Strategic Issues Group
• Heads of Workplace Safety Authorities
• Delivering advisory services in conjunction with
Victoria and Queensland
• NSW Cross Border Commissioner
National Harmonisation

4. 4 4
Changing role of WorkCover
Greater focus on:
• Providing guidance and support
• Building business capability
• Businesses managing health and safety
• Influencing improved health, safety and return to
work behaviours and practices

5. 5 5
Strategic Operating Model
• Risk based approach
• Focus on prevention of targeted illnesses/injuries
• Working with businesses to minimise risks
• Providing targeted response services
• Influencing development and implementation of
national programs and strategies
• Implementing best practice governance, building
organisational capability & measuring performance

6. 6 6
Regional Risk based strategy

7. 7 7
Simplifying SWMS
• Code of Practice
• Assisting industry
• Developing
guidance
• Easy to use
templates
• Workshops for
SMEs
Safe Design
• Code of Practice
• Design of
structures must
incorporate and
consider safety
through structural
life cycle
• Working party
Working with Industry

8. 8 8
Field and Phone
Services:
• advisory visits
• workshops
• technical advice
• training
• mentor program
• WorkCover
Assistance Service
Internet and Social
Media:
• website
• webinars
• Facebook
• You Tube
• Twitter
• WorkCover News
• WorkCover eNews
Advice and Assistance

9. 9 9
Approaches:
• Individual
employers or
workers
• Industries or
sectors
• Particular issues
highlighted by
industry
Working with Industry

10. 10 10
Return to Work – Engagement with
Workplaces
Program:
• Aims to help businesses
improve return to work
outcomes
Pilot involved:
• Workplace visits
• Increase awareness of
injury management and
return to work obligations
• Advice on ways to
provide suitable
employment

11. © Copyright Safety, Return to Work and Support Division
11
workplace safety- it affects your whole family
Thank you
Questions?
WorkCover Assistance Service
Ph:13 10 50
Email: contact@workcover.nsw.gov.au
WorkCover website
www.workcover.nsw.gov.au

12. © Copyright Safety, Return to Work and Support Division
SRWSD in confidence 12DRAFT
Disclaimer
This presentation may contain work health and safety and workers compensation information. It may include some of your obligations
under the various legislation that WorkCover NSW administers. To ensure you comply with your legal obligations you must refer to the
appropriate legislation in its most current form.
Information on the latest laws can be checked by visiting the NSW legislation website (www.legislation.nsw.gov.au) or by contacting the
free hotline service on 02 9321 3333.
This presentation does not represent a comprehensive statement of the law as it applies to particular problems or to individuals or as a
substitute for legal advice. You should seek independent legal advice if you need assistance on the application of the law to your
situation.
Although all care has been taken to ensure that the information is correct at the time of publication, the laws change over time and you
need to ensure that you are accessing the most current legislation to ensure that the information is up to date.
The information contained in this presentation is provided as a guide and it does not necessarily represent the views of WorkCover. You
may use this presentation for educational purposes in your organisation for internal training and development however, you are not
permitted to edit, change or add to this presentation in any way. You are not allowed to remove this disclaimer from the presentation and
you are not allowed to charge any fees for using this presentation.