WorkCover Annual Report shows fewer workplace accidents

The number of deaths and traumatic injuries in Victorian workplaces continued to fall during 1997-98 while Victoria's worker compensation scheme moved closer to regaining full funding.

The total of 2991 traumatic injuries in Victorian workplaces during 1997-98 was eight per cent lower than in 1996-97 and the lowest level since WorkCover began in 1992.

The number of reported claims and lost time claims also fell, with both categories 5.7 per cent lower than the previous year.

Total claims of 31,369 compares with 40,881 in 1993-94.

Time spent in workplaces by field staff increased by 39 per cent to almost 100,000 hours and the number of workplaces visited rose 30 per cent to more than 58,000.

The annual report also showed the funding position had risen from 92.2 per cent at December 31, 1997, to 96.1 per cent at June 30, 1998.

The Minister for Finance, Mr. Hallam, said recent changes had helped to combat the effects of rising common law liabilities and other factors to reduce WorkCover's operating deficit from $292 million at half-year to $153.5 million for the full year.

The authority suffered a $414 million rise in net claims liability during 1997-98.

"This result reinforces the need for the comprehensive reforms introduced late last year,"Mr. Hallam said.

WorkCover listed net assets of $3709 million as at June 30, 1998, against net liabilities of $3859 million. This compares with assets of $3449 million and liabilities of $3445 million as at June 30, 1997.

Mr. Hallam said the report also outlined key safety initiatives, which included -

· a three-year, $900,000 investment in the Monash University Accident Research Centre to provide research on injury prevention in the workplace;

· two major multi-media advertising campaigns achieving high levels of public awareness - 87 per cent for the back injury management series and 97 per cent for the "black spots" campaign; and

· a $2 million subsidy program for rollover protection on tractors resulting in the installation of ROPs on 14,000 tractors.

(News Release, Minister for Finance, October 21, 1998)