Additional safety metrics
The additional safety metrics of severity rate (lost days) and occupational disease rate have been calculated by gender and region for our Australian and New Zealand employees, who comprise 99 per cent of our workforce (excluding Spotless).
Both the TRIFR and severity rate is higher, for our male employees in New Zealand than in Australia. The TRIFR and severity rate for our female employees, who account for 13 per cent of our workforce, is considerably lower than that of their male counterparts in both Australia and New Zealand, consistent with the type of work more typically performed by these workers. The occupational disease rate is similar for male and female employees in New Zealand, whereas in Australia it is significantly lower for males than for females.
The principal cause of occupational diseases that resulted in medical treatment or lost days (total recordable injuries) was musculoskeletal disorders, which comprised 25 per cent of all occupational diseases reported. This is consistent with trends published for Australian workplaces and is due to the type of physical work often undertaken in engineering, construction and mining, such as manual handling, twisting, bending, repetitive work and working with vibrating machinery. We are continuing to implement initiatives that are aimed at reducing the incidence and severity of these types of injuries.
Health and Safety
(Employees and Contractors)
