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$500,000 Package to Tackle Work Safety in the Car Industry

Staff, Friday March 18, 2005.

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Ford Australia this week hosted the launch at its Broadmeadows Assembly Plant of a $500,000 government package to improve workplace safety in the automotive industry. Following is the media release issued by the Minister for Workcover, John Lenders, for the launch plus the speech delivered by Ford Australia President, Tom Gorman, in support of the initiative.

Media release
From the Minister for WorkCover

$500,000 PACKAGE TO TACKLE WORK SAFETY IN CAR INDUSTRY

The Minister for WorkCover, John Lenders, was in Campbellfield today to launch a $500,000 package to make Victoria?s car manufacturing industry safer for workers.

Mr Lenders said the new Guide to Manual Handling in the Automotive Industry and the Safe Handling of Chemicals in the Automotive Industry project were part of $6 million WorkSafe program to improve occupational health and safety in workplaces across Victoria.

?The motor vehicle manufacturing and parts industry is a major employer in Victoria and a significant contributor to the state?s economy,? Mr Lenders said.

?However, more needs to be done to prevent workplace injuries in the sector.

?There are about 1000 serious workplace injuries each year resulting in more than $40 million in WorkCover claims ? or about two per cent of the industry?s total $2 billion annual output.

?While workplace injuries can significantly impact on a person?s quality of life, it is important to remember that it can also adversely effect a company?s viability, particularly smaller manufacturing companies that make up a majority of the industry?s 600 workplaces.?

Mr Lenders said about two thirds of workplace injury claims in the car manufacturing industry were for musculoskeletal injuries, such as sprains, strains and joint disorders, caused by poor manual handling.

Speaking at Ford Australia?s Campbellfield car assembly plant, Mr Lenders said the industry?s support for the two projects demonstrated its commitment to workplace safety.

He said the new Guide to Manual Handling in the Automotive Industry provided information on how to safely carry out a range of activities, including lifting, pushing, pulling, holding and carrying.

?In vehicle manufacturing, many injuries are caused by repetitive tasks such as packaging, assembling, using hand tools and operating machinery and equipment,? Mr Lenders said.

?The simple fact is that manual handling injuries are not acceptable when the majority of them are preventable ? something this guide will go a long way towards doing.?

Mr Lenders said the Safe Handling of Chemicals in the Automotive Industry, was the 19th project to be funded under WorkSafe?s $6 million WorkSafe Safety Development Fund, launched in 2001.

?The safe handling and management of chemicals in vehicle manufacturing and parts is crucial to preventing serious injury and disease caused by exposure to or handling of chemicals,? Mr Lenders said.

?This project will help industry develop better risk management approaches to the safe handling, purchasing and control of chemicals in the automotive industry.

?Over the next two years, businesses, employer groups and unions will investigate injuries and diseases caused by manual handling of - and exposure to - chemicals, including chemical reactions.

?This includes sprains and strains related to chemical handling and acute and chronic illnesses such as skin diseases, respiratory illnesses, motor neurone diseases and cancers.?

Mr Lenders said the WorkSafe-funded project would be lead by the National Union of Workers and the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (Vehicle Division) in conjunction with other unions and employer groups that form the Motor Vehicle and Parts OHS Industry Forum.

Delivered on 15 March 2005 at Ford Training Centre, Broadmeadows

Speech by Ford Australia President, Tom Gorman at the Launch of New Manual Handling Guidelines for the Automotive Industry

Minister, Ladies and Gentlemen.

Thank you for joining us today at Ford.

We are very proud to be hosting the Seminar and Launch of Worksafe Manual Handling Guidelines.

At Ford there is nothing more important to us than the health and safety of our people.

Health and safety affects the quality of our people's lives, the quality of our products and, inevitably, the financial strength of our business.

The great attendance here today is recognition of the importance we all place on these issues, regardless of the size of our business.

In particular, the focus on manual handling is critical for our industry because the related injuries present very real challenges to our business ? both personal and financial.

Manual handling injuries can often be the most debilitating for the employees affected, with employees off work for months, placing strain on their families, workplaces and the broader community.

And the cost to our industry is substantial.

Manual handling injuries result in 80 percent of workers' compensation costs in manufacturing.

One of the major challenges facing us in reducing such injuries is the complexity of our manufacturing operations.

At Ford alone, we have identified over 45,000 potential hazards in the workplace and drawn up over 300,000 risk assessments to cover the gamut of our activities.

We believe the most effective way to reduce these potential risks is to get process input at the earliest possible stage.

In our business, this occurs when our designers first put pen to paper.

At Ford, the early development and engineering of a new vehicle goes hand-in-hand with designing safe, ergonomically appropriate work practices.

Consideration is given to how new components will be built and assembled safely by employees well before a vehicle begins its journey down the assembly line.

At Ford we call this the "Process Safety Review". This initiative was developed by Ford Australia and has won national and international recognition.

The "Process Safety Review" has also proved an export success for Ford Australia with many Ford plants around the world implementing similar programs.

Another initiative that has been crucial to our reduction in workplace injury is placing responsibility for health and safety practices on the shop floor.

We recognise that each employee is an expert at his or her job and is best placed to develop solutions to risks in their immediate workplace.

We are very proud of the results that have been achieved -- an 87 percent reduction at Ford Australia in manual handling injuries over the past five years.

So, what's next?

At Ford, a key next step is to seek support from our suppliers in this area.

We are encouraging them to benchmark our practices that may fit their operations.

We are looking forward to supporting the new manual handling guidelines outlined by the Minister today and the initiative to improve work practices relating to safe handling of chemicals in manufacturing.

Workplace health and safety is an area in which we can all work together ? government, unions, manufacturers, occupational health and safety experts, industry bodies ? to make a real difference in the quality of the lives of our employees and I congratulate you all on your efforts.

Thank you very much for allowing me to join you today and I hope you enjoy the rest of your day at Ford.

For further information, please contact:
Ford Australia Public Affairs
Phone: 03-9359 8491
Fax: 03-9359 8900

Subscribe to Fords News feed.

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