Meet the Regulators: Workcover Victoria

The Victoria Workcover Authority (trading name is Worksafe Victoria) is the state government body that monitors and regulates safety laws in the workplace. Its jurisdiction is restricted to Victoria but it is part of the broader Safe Work Australia framework. The goal of workcover Victoria is to promote safe workplaces for workers and employers, and ensure both parties have appropriate avenues for compensation and support.

The Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (the Act) outlines the system of laws, regulations and compliance measures that form the framework of the Victorian Workcover Authority (VMA). Broadly speaking, the role of Workcover in Victoria includes the monitoring and enforcement of OHS standards, the assurance of worker and employer rights and responsibilities, and workplace injury rehabilitation and compensation.

• Occupational health and safety: ensure the OHS regulations outlined in the Act are properly maintained and enforced. This VMA is also responsible for spreading workcover information to the public, licencing of high risk equipment/goods, offering advice on compliance to employers as well as forming policy interpretation should a case demand it.
• Workplace injury rehabilitation and compensation: the management of the Workcover workers compensation and other rehabilitation support services. Support services include not only compensation schemes but also healthcare and related support should it be required. Workcover insurance is funded by a percentage of the remuneration employers’ pay. In turn the Workcover claim form is also a process Workcover Victoria deals with.
• Worker and employer rights and responsibilities: under the Act both employers and employees are entitled to certain rights but also certain responsibilities. These include the respective duty of care, reporting of injuries, claims, representation in legal procedures, privacy and return to work information. For more information on workers rights and responsibilities, head to the Victorian Workcover Authority website. Alternatively, if you are an employer you can find more information here.

The Victorian Workcover Authority has many compliance and enforcement options at its disposal in the case of substandard safety conditions or a breach of the Act. These include:

• Conducting legal procedures (litigation and appeals) regarding decisions made after inspections
• Conducting prosecutions against those alleged to have breached Victoria’s occupational health and safety regulations
• The investigation of alleged breaches of the Act
• The Management of Victoria’s OHS emergency response unit

For more information on the Victoria Workcover Authority, you can visit their website at www.vwa.gov.au