Latest Productivity Commission data on Australia's OHS costs ...

On 15 May 2012, Australia?s Productivity Commission (PC) released its findings into ???the impacts of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Reforms: Business Regulation and Vocational Education and Training (VET)?. ?The report includes a chapter on Occupational Health and Safety?(OHS). That chapter states:

?Uncertainty exists over the implementation of the agreed [OHS harmonisation]reforms by the remaining three jurisdictions.

If implementation proceeds, and the agreed reforms become operational:

  • all employers are likely to face transition costs in the order of $850 million in aggregate (around $75 per worker);
  • multi-state businesses are likely to see compliance costs fall and safety outcomes improve, generating total possible net cost savings of $480 million per year; and
  • for single-state businesses, despite possible improvements in safety outcomes, additional compliance activities are likely to increase business costs in aggregate for this group by around $110 million per year.?

$A75 per worker seems an acceptable impact although, at first view, single-state businesses, the vast majority of Australian businesses, look to be disadvantaged. ?However, the report also states that

?Without full implementation [of OHS harmonisation], there is a risk that businesses will face significant transition costs without realising the possible cost savings from harmonised laws.? (emphasis added)

Here is the political and economic need to play well with each other.

South Australia?s Industrial Relation Minister, Russell Wortley, told SafetyAtWorkBlog this afternoon that

?The Productivity Commission reiterates what myself and SafeWork SA have said all along, that business and business owners will not be adversely impacted by this legislation? ?In fact, it estimates business will be up to $620 million better off under the new arrangements, particularly those operating in more than one state.

Importantly, the report also found that employers are no more likely to be prosecuted under the harmonised legislation than they are under current regulations.

The report dismisses fanciful claims by the Liberals that it will cost Victorian businesses alone $587 million annually to comply, based on the PricewaterhouseCoopers modelling commission[ed] by Ted Baillieu. ?What it will do is ensure South Australians have access to the same health and safety standards enjoyed by workers around the country. (link added)

It?s time the South Australian Liberal opposition stop opposing this important legislation.?

Wortley seems to aim his criticism at his political opponents because it is understood that he continues to meet with a range of business associations over the OHS issue.

On the costs of the OHS to business, the PC report noted the Safe Work Australia statistical estimate that in 2008-09 (only):

??five per cent ($3.2 billion) of the total [workplace injury and illness] cost was borne by employers through lost production, employer funded medical expenses and legal costs? (page 164)

The majority of costs (74%) was borne by injured workers and their families.

The Productivity Commission report needs careful attention as it is the most recent macroeconomic analysis of?workplace?health and safety costs, even though some of the data may already be familiar. ?The significance is that the report is by the Productivity Commission, a body still?perceived by all political parties,as able to provide independent economic costings of government?initiatives?and regulatory change.

Kevin Jones

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