In accordance with section 16(3) of the Audit Act 1994, a copy of this report was provided to the Department of Health, WorkSafe and the four audited agencies.
The submissions and comments provided are not subject to audit nor the evidentiary standards required to reach an audit conclusion. Responsibility for the accuracy, fairness and balance of those comments rests solely with the agency head.
Collecting and analysing sector-wide information on existing occupational health and safety (OHS) risks and emerging trends is important in a hazardous workplace such as a public hospital. Regular monitoring can identify upward trends which can indicate risks are not being controlled and that staff are being placed at unnecessary risk while at work. Responding at a systemic level may be necessary where an OHS risk presents at many hospital worksites.
The management of staff safety in public hospitals should be systematic, and core safety elements—such as incident reporting, hazard assessment and control, and monitoring and review—should be integrated. This enables occupational health and safety (OHS) risks to be controlled effectively, particularly in a large and complex working environment such as a hospital.
A strong safety culture constantly places a high priority on worker safety in a hazardous environment such as a hospital. Leadership commitment and clear accountability also underpin strong occupational health and safety (OHS) performance.
 John Doyle
Auditor-General |
Audit team Michele Lonsdale—Acting Sector Director Michael Herbert—Team Leader Aina Anisimova—Analyst Dallas Mischkulnig—Engagement Quality Control Reviewer |
Ordered to be printed
VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT PRINTER October 2013
PP No 283, Session 2010–13
In accordance with section 16A and 16(3) of the Audit Act 1994, a copy of this report, or relevant extracts from the report, was provided to the Department of Health and named hospitals with a request for submissions or comments.
The submission and comments provided are not subject to audit nor the evidentiary standards required to reach an audit conclusion. Responsibility for the accuracy, fairness and balance of those comments rests solely with the agency head.
Responses were received as follows:
Responsibility of public sector entities to achieve their objectives, with regard to reliability of financial reporting, effectiveness and efficiency of operations, compliance with applicable laws, and reporting to interested parties.
The period over which an asset is expected to provide the entity with economic benefits. Depending on the nature of the asset, the useful life can be expressed in terms of time or output.
The fair value of a non-current asset on a particular date.
