One of the Cardinia’s keys to success is its focus on continuous improvement reflected in its commitment to risk management and occupational health & safety.
Following a period of very poor annual risk liability ratings, last year Council set out to significantly improving its rating for 2000/2001. CEO Don Welsh set a very challenging target of improving Council’s risk management position with respect to all Victorian councils by 25 places. The target was incorporated in all manager performance plans and a full time Risk Management Coordinator was appointed to the Organisation Development Department.
A risk management strategy was developed and implemented that incorporated the following features.
- Development of a risk management policy
- Implementation of a risk management plan
- Development of treatment and control measures
- Implementation of training and education programs
- Development of risk management procedures.
The implementation of this strategy, together with cultural change outcomes, in just a short period of 12 months was outstanding. Following the insurer’s assessment in March this year, Cardinia moved a staggering 49 places to 25th place.
In respect to OH&S, Council formed a continuous improvement project group that has worked tirelessly over the past 12 months developing policies and procedures and delivering staff training. The hard work has reaped rewards as Council attained an externally accredited safety management system, known as SafetyMAP.
Cardinia is now the top rating Council within the 41 Victorian Council’s in the WorkCover Scheme run by Jardine Lloyd Thompson, with a premium rating of 1.0522% of Council’s payroll.
