Print

Our People

PROFESSIONAL GROUPINGS

EMPLOYMENT BY AWARD OR AGREEMENT 1998/98 1999/00 2000/01
Administrative and Clerical Employees Award 205 228 250
Operational Employees Award 11 8 18
Professional Employees Award 71 87 81
Technical Employees Award 61 60 59
State Service Act 38(1)(b) 0 3 5
State Service S29 Contracts 2 3 5
Senior Executive Service 11 12 10
Miscellaneous Workers (Public Sector) Award 105 110 64
Federal Agreement 199 210 194
Shipping Award 1 1 0
Non Award 0 36 0
ETU Agreement 11 15 0
Totals 677# 772 682

# excludes Racing Services Tasmania and Forest Practices Board

The figures for 2000/01 exclude the following:

Fixed Term - Casuals 68
Board Members 37
Trainees 2
Secondments and Transfers - Out 8

LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT
Expenditure on Learning and Development at DIER this financial year was $769,155. This represents 2.3% of the total salary budget. A breakdown by Division is represented below:

graph_2001

 
The main focus of the generic learning programs, which account for about 25% of expenditure, has been on communication skills and specifically on negotiating and influencing skills. The communications programs have supported DIER's cultural change program, The Will and the Way.

The provision of professional development opportunities for employees was enhanced by DIER becoming a Registered Training Organisation (RTO). DIER is now able to offer nationally recognised Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualifications in Government, Frontline Management, Workplace Assessment and Training, Business Administration and Racing.

Whole-of-government professional development programs were again supported. Three scholarships were offered this year for the Public Sector Management Course and two places were offered for the Senior Women in Management program.

Technical or branch specific learning programs account for most expenditure on learning and development. Some highlights:

Roads and Public Transport has put considerable effort into updating project management skills to ensure a consistent approach across that Branch.
Information Management and Registration and Licensing Branches have rolled out client service training programs to a large number of staff who have an external public interface as well as internal consultancy roles.
Training efforts in most Branches have supported the cultural change program to support the adoption of the DIER Values and Charter.
DIER has worked with the Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers Australia (APESMA) to present opportunities to staff in engineering or technical roles to pursue an articulated further education stream from Frontline Management to Master of Technology.
Workplace Inspectors received extensive training in investigation skills as part of a three-year program to improve the effectiveness of the enforcement role of the Workplace Standards Inspectorate.
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY
While DIER continuously improves systems and processes to ensure a safe workplace, a major emphasis this year has been on prevention under the "Happy, Healthy, Hassle free" program.

Highlights included:

Forty-seven staff received Level Two First Aid training;
Staff accessed self-management training, personal coaching and used the Employee Assistance Program;
Videos were purchased for staff use on a diverse number of subjects from stress to illnesses that affect family members;
Flu inoculations were offered in one Division; and
Blood pressure and glucose/cholesterol tests were available to DIER staff as an initiative as part of the Department's participation in Workplace Safe Week.
A major program of ergonomic assessments was completed by the Departmental Occupational Health and Safety Consultant for the Registration and Licensing Branch, which had moved from 1 Collins St to 188 Collins. All recommendations were accepted, which resulted in a conspicuous improvement in housekeeping, appropriate work station set ups to meet individual needs and ergonomically sound work practices that will play a major role in preventing injury to workers in that area.

DIER trialled the use of rehabilitation coordinators in one Division. All coordinators received appropriate training and assisted in return to work programs for both work related and personal illness and injury. This has been successful in reducing time lost at work and has demonstrated a commitment to DIER's policy of early intervention and prevention of injury and illness.

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) was actively promoted across the Department with particular emphasis placed on the provision of counselling, advice and referral services accessible by staff and their immediate family members. Despite an increased promotion of the service, only 51 staff used the EAP service this financial year for a variety of personal and work-related issues, which is similar to the attendance profile of previous years.

WORKERS' COMPENSATION
Older claims continue to be settled with the rate of new claims remaining relatively stable. Although there has been a reduction of claims and premiums in the 2000-01 year, it is not statistically significant.

A comparison of data for claims lodged from 1999-00 and 2000-01 shows a decrease in claims from 21 in 1999-00 to 10 in 2000-01. In relation to this data, it should be noted that:

Differences between 1999-00 data shown in this and last year's Annual Report are due to receipt of claim information after the end of the financial year.
Forest Practices Board and Private Forests Tasmania are shown separately. Whilst they are administered by the Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources (DIER), they are separate Authorities.

The number of claims for each of the Divisions of DIER for 1999-00 and 2000-01.
Division 1999/00 2000/01
Workplace Standards Tasmania 4 4
Mineral Resources Tasmania 0 2
Land Transport Safety 8 3
Roads and Public Transport 4 1
Corporate Services 4 0
Infrastructure Policy 0 0
Office of the Secretary 0 0
Racing Services Tasmania 1 0
ALL DIVISIONS 21 10
Table 2:
The number of claims for Forest Practices Board and Private Forests Tasmania for 1999-00 and 2000-01.
Division 1999/00 2000/01
Forest Practices Board 4 1
Private Forests Tasmania 1 0

The following tables, broken down by Division, show the lost time in days caused by injuries.

Division Lost time(days)
1999/00		 Lost time
(days)2000/01
Workplace Standards Tasmania 149 0
Mineral Resources Tasmania 0 0
Land Transport Safety 23 0
Roads and Public Transport 31 4
Corporate Services 40 0
Infrastructure Policy 0 0
Office of the Secretary 0 0
Racing Services Tasmania 0 0
ALL DIVISIONS 243 4
Table 4:
The lost time rates for
Forest Practices Board and Private Forests Tasmania for 1999-00 and 2000-01.
Division* Lost time (days)
1999/00		 Lost time (days)
2000/01
Forest Practices Board 0 5
Private Forests Tasmania 0 0

The lost time injury frequency rates (LTIFR) as shown in the tables below, were calculated as follows:

T he number of hours worked was calculated by multiplying the employment numbers by the number of hours worked per week (38 hours), multiplied by the number of weeks in a year (52 weeks).
The number of hours worked was then divided by the number of lost time injuries. This number was then multiplied by 1 million to determine the LTIFR.
Table 5: The lost time injury frequency rates for DIER for 1999-00 and 2000-01.

The lost time injury frequency rates for DIER for 1999-00 and 2000-01.
Division LTIFR 1999/00 LTIFR 2000/01
Workplace Standards Tasmania 4 0
Mineral Resources Tasmania 0 0
Land Transport Safety 11.7 0
Roads and Public Transport 7 0
Corporate Services 7.5 0
Infrastructure Policy 0 0
Office of the Secretary 0 0
Racing Services Tasmania 0 0
ALL DIVISIONS 6.5 0
Table 6:
The lost time injury frequency rates for Forest Practices Board and Private Forests Tasmania for 1999-00 and 2000-01.
Division* LTIFR 1999/00 LTIFR 2000/01
Forest Practices Board 0 0
Private Forests Tasmania 0 0
The average lost time, as shown below, is calculated as follows: Total Lost Time (days), divided by the number of claims.

Table 7: The number of claims, total lost time (days) and average lost time for DIER for 1999-00 and 2000-01.

The number of claims, total lost time (days) and average lost time for DIER for 1999-00 and 2000-01.
Division Number of claims (days) Total lost time (days) Average lost time
1999/00 2000/01 1999/00 2000/01 1999/00 2000/01
Workplace Standards Tasmania 4 0 149 0 37 0
Mineral Resources Tasmania 0 2 0 0 0 0
Land Transport Safety 8 3 23 0 3 0
Roads and Public Transport 4 1 31 4 8 4
Corporate Services 4 0 40 0 10 0
Infrastructure Policy 0 0 0 0 0 0
Office of the Secretary 0 0 0 0 0 0
Racing Services Tasmania 1 0 0 0 0 0
ALL DIVISIONS 21 10 243 4 12 0.4
Table 8:
The number of claims, total lost time (days) and average lost time for Forest Practices Board and Private Forests Tasmania for 1999-00 and 2000-01.
Division Number of claims (days) Total lost time (days) Average lost time
1999/00 2000/01 1999/00 2000/01 1999/00 2000/01
Forest Practices Board 4 1 0 5 0 5
Private Forests Tasmania 1 0 0 0 0 0

The contribution paid rate is shown below. This was calculated by the premium divided by the wages.

Table 9: The contribution paid: rate per $100 of salary for DIER for 1999-00 and 2000-01.

The contribution paid: rate per $100 of salary for DIER for 1999-00 and 2000-01.
1999-00 2000-01
1.57% 0.7%

(This includes: Workplace Standards Tasmania, Mineral Resources Tasmania, the Transport Divisions, Corporate Services, Office of the Secretary and Forest Practices Board).

Table 10:

The contribution paid: rate per $100 of salary for Racing Services Tasmania for 1999-00 and 2000-01.
1999-00 2000-01
0.7% 0.5%
Table 10a:
The contribution paid: rate per $100 of salary for Private Forests Tasmania for 1999-00 and 2000-01.
1999-00 2000-01
0.8% 0.7%
Table 11:
The total amount of costs for claims paid by DIER for 1999-00 and 2000-01 (Claims year basis).
Division 1999/00 ($) 2000/01 ($)
Workplace Standards Tasmania 64,799 963
Mineral Resources Tasmania 0 776
Land Transport Safety 26,070 0
Roads and Public Transport 10,531 3,234
Corporate Services 9,928 0
Infrastructure Policy 0 0
Office of the Secretary 0 0
Racing Services Tasmania 0 0
ALL DIVISIONS 111,328 4,973
Table 12:
The total amount of costs for claims paid for Forest Practices Board and Private Forests Tasmania for 1999-00 and 2000-01.
Division 1999/00 ($) 2000/01 ($)
Forest Practices Board 4,916 1,160
Private Forests Tasmania 598 0
Table 13:
Workers' Compensation claims for DIER 1999-00, shown by the nature of the claim.
Nature of the claim Number of claims Total cost ($) Average cost ($)
Sprains and strains 11 34,132 3,103
RSI/Synovitis 1 8,614 8.614
Disorder of the spinal vertebrae 1 54,925 54,925
Stress 4 12,599 3,150
Contusion with intact skin 3 1,058 353
Foreign body 1 0 0
ALL CLAIMS 21 111,328 5,301
Table 14:
Workers' Compensation claims for DIER 2000-01, shown by the nature of the claim.
Nature of the claim Number of claims Total cost ($) Average cost ($)
Sprains and strains 6 3,253 542
RSI/Synovitis 1 246 246
Superficial injury 2 530 265
Contusion with intact skin 1 944 944
ALL CLAIMS 10 4,973 497
Table 15:
Workers' Compensation claims for Forest Practices Board for 1999-00, shown by the nature of the claim.
Nature of the claim Number of claims Total cost ($) Average cost ($)
Sprains and strains 4 4,916 1,229
ALL CLAIMS 4 4,916 1,229
Table 15a:
Workers' Compensation claims for Forest Practices Board 2000-01, shown by the nature of the claim.
Nature of the claim Number of claims Total cost ($) Average cost ($)
Sprains and strains 1 598 598
Table 16:
Workers' Compensation claims for Private Forests Tasmania for 1999-00, shown by the nature of the claim.
Nature of the claim Number of claims Total cost ($) Average cost ($)
Sprains and strains 1 0 0
ALL CLAIMS 1 0 0
Table 16a:
Workers' Compensation claims for Private Forests Tasmania 2000-01, shown by the nature of the claim.
Nature of the claim Number of claims Total cost ($) Average cost ($)
Sprains and strains 0 0 0
Table 17:
Workers' Compensation Claims for DIER for 1999-00, broken down by the part of the body injured.
Part of Body Number of claims Total cost ($) Average cost ($)
Back 7 14,460 2,066
Wrist 1 922 922
Neck and trunk 1 695 695
Knee 2 415 207
Elbow 1 8,614 8,614
Fingers 1 1,020 1,020
Shoulder 1 931 931
Lower limb-multiple locations 1 611 611
Psychological system in general 4 9,224 2,306
Trunk and limbs 1 54,925 54,925
Neck bones, muscle and tendons 1 19,511 19,511
ALL CLAIMS 21 111,328 5,301
Table 18:
Workers' Compensation claims for DIER for 2000-01, broken down by the part of the body injured.
Part of Body Number of claims Total cost ($) Average cost ($)
Ankle 2 892 446
Knee 1 0 0
Upper leg 1 944 944
Fingers 1 530 530
Shoulder 1 246 246
Head and other 1 134 134
Back 2 2,227 1,113
Eye 1 0 0
ALL CLAIMS 10 4,973 497
Table 19:
Workers' Compensation claims for Forest Practices Board for 1999-00, broken down by the part of the body injured.
Part of Body Number of claims Total cost ($) Average cost ($)
Hip 1 53 53
Knee 1 991 991
Trunk and limbs 1 46 46
Psychological system in general 4 9,224 2,306
ALL CLAIMS 4 4,916 1,229
Table 19a:
Workers' Compensation claims for Forest Practices Board for 2000-01, broken down by the part of the body injured.
Part of Body Number of claims Total cost ($) Average cost ($)
Back 1 1,160 1,160
ALL CLAIMS 1 1,160 1,160
Table 20:
Workers' Compensation claims for Private Forests Tasmania for 1999-00, broken down by the part of the body injured.
Part of Body Number of claims Total cost ($) Average cost ($)
Knee 1 598 598
ALL CLAIMS 1 598 598
Table 20a:
Workers' Compensation claims for Private Forests Tasmania for 2000-01, broken down by the part of the body injured.
Part of Body Number of claims Total cost ($) Average cost ($)
ALL CLAIMS 0 0 0