Broome Port Authority - Parliament of Western Australia

5.3. Safety Review
Commitment to Occupational Safety and Health
Broome Port Authority recognises its obligations to provide a safe and healthy work environment for
all employees, contractors, port users and visitors. We operate under a strong leadership based
safety culture which begins with management commitment from the Board of Directors through to
the shop floor. We believe that a successful safety management system must foster continuous
improvement principles to provide a safe and productive work environment that is fit for purpose,
therefore maintaining the welfare of our operators as the business grows.
BrPA has demonstrated its commitment to injury management as well as occupational safety and
health (OSH) by implementing a Workplace Injury Management Policy which has been distributed to
all employees. Injury management is raised as a topic during the induction process for new
employees, where the significance of accurate reporting and timely return to work programs are
discussed to assist employees with limited knowledge on the impact that injury management can
have within an organisation.
BrPA’s Health Safety and Environmental Activity Plan – 2011 outlines the organisation’s targets for
OSH and injury management performance:
• Total Recordable Frequency Rate: targeted at 0 per million man hours worked,
• Serious Injury Frequency Rate: targeted at 0 per million man hours worked, and
• Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate: targeted at 0 per million man-hours worked.
Formal Mechanism for Consultation with Employees on OS&H Matters
Consultation and communication are integral in achieving an accident and injury free environment
and this is manifested by OSH and injury management discussion during the induction process for
new employees.
BrPA has an effective Occupational Safety and Health Committee that plays an integral part in the
communication and consultation process within the organisation. To ensure timely communication
and consultation on safety issues BrPA has increased the number of safety and health
representatives from four to seven.
OSH information is made available to all staff via notice boards, electronic bulletins, flyers and via
safety meetings. For more complex information that requires investigation, our employees,
contractors and visitors are actively encouraged to seek the assistance of the Health Safety and
Environment Officer who will assist in researching the required information in a timely manner.
Injury Management and Workers Compensation
BrPA is committed to assisting injured workers return to their pre-existing duties as soon as
medically possible and in accordance with the Workers’ Compensation and Injury Management Act
1981. Management supports the injury management process and recognises that its success relies
on the active participation and cooperation of the injured worker and BrPA.
Where possible the agency actively seeks suitable or alternative duties internally whilst having
regard for injured workers’ medical restrictions. Injury management is outlined during the induction
process for new employees in conjunction with the Workplace Injury Management Policy.
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