Brief overview of current developments within the WorkSafe environment
Comcare
• Labor government has put a moratorium on businesses applying to self insure under Comcare, as promised before the federal election. The moratorium took effect on 11 December 2007 was necessary to enable the Government to examine whether the Comcare scheme provides workers with access to appropriate workplace safety and compensation arrangements.
• The previous Liberal government broadened the Comcare scheme. The Labor government has subsequently argued that this caused significant concern about occupational health and safety coverage for workers, particularly contractors.
• Questions have also been asked about the protections available to workers in the Comcare scheme compared with those available under state and territory law.
• The moratorium has allowed the Rudd Government to work with the state and territory governments to resolve those issues in consultation with employees and employers.
• Companies that have already been declared eligible to apply for a self-insurance license by the previous Liberal government were not affected by the moratorium.
• Comcare report finding are expected to be known soon
• Comcare market will be potentially expanded thus is an obvious growth area
RECESSION
US Recession increased w/comp costs (Worksafe British Columbia corporate planning and development director Terry Bogyo)
• US recession “will push up recovery times” for w/comp cases because more injured workers will be encouraged to delay RTW for fear of not having jobs to return to.
• This would be tempered by fewer people working which would lead to fewer claims
• Advised that workplaces could expect increase in medical costs but not an increase in the injury ratio
• Training costs would need to be considered when jobs become available again after the recession.
AGEING POPULATION
• Bogyo predicted that Australian life expectancy for current 30-year olds was 84, with 80 year olds expected to be more numerous than any other age group by 2030.
• He predicted 60% of the working population would retire by 2010.
• Terry Bogyo also advised that Australia was heading for an ageing work population crisis similar to US and Canada and that workplaces would need to adapt for older workers ie/
o Ensuring eyesight health
• Keep people working by adapting jobs properly
• Older workers have longer recovery rates thus likely to injure due to wear and tear thus would need to make work places safer for them
• This would potentially minimize any w/comp and rehab costs
• Australia would need to undergo a sea change
• In US employers already need to go to great lengths to get and retain staff. The population like Australia was ageing and a health crisis loomed.
On the plus side
• A Wadell and Burton study showed working longer improved physical function and mortality.
• He also referred to a HSBC global survey that found 80% of workers planned to work after retirement in flexible work arrangements, not full time.
• A quarter of respondents advised that they needed to work for money. Others factors were mental stimulation, social needs, fulfilling and meaningful activity, and wanting to keep physically active.
• In Australia, the ABS reported older people who returned to work did so for financial reasons (35%).
- Others said there former bosses called them back.
- Some people advised that they initially retired and then returned to work at a later date when health issues had improved
- Others said they were bored with retirement and enjoyed the identity associated with work and experienced better self esteem
The information in this document was presented by Ira Galushkin of Nabenet at the
Douglas training day 12 November 2008 – to learn more about Nabenet please visit www.nabenet.com.au