Vocational rehabilitation Counselling - Case Study Analysis

  Background: You have been approached by a Victorian-based manufacturing organisation, ACE Engineering (see below information) to review their occupational injury and workplace health standards. You have been asked to provide advice and recommendations about the adequacy or otherwise of their approach to matters of occupational illness, injury and rehabilitation. It is important to note that ACE Engineering was previously a Commonwealth Government business enterprise and was covered for Workers’ Compensation by the Comcare system. The organisation has recently been privatised and the employees and business operations now come under the Victorian Legislation. For Workers’ compensation and related matters of occupational health, safety and rehabilitation, ACE Engineering is now covered by legislation relating to the Victorian WorkCover Authority. Part 1: i) Provide an overview of the Victorian WorkCover system of workers’ compensation. Refer to the Victorian WorkSafe website for assistance. Include information about key parties and their obligations within the system. ii) A) What will be different for ACE Engineering now they are insured under the Victorian WorkCover system and not Comcare? B) What are the similarities and dissimilarities between the Victorian WorkCover system and the Comcare system (this can be completed in a table format). iii) What are the limitations of the Victorian WorkCover system in ensuring the expectations and requirements of all key parties (including employer, worker, insurer, occupational rehabilitation providers) are met and performed to promote employee health, safety and rehabilitation.   Part 2: ACE Engineering acknowledges that the long term viability of the company is threatened by rising costs associated with employee injury and ill-health. In addition to meeting legislative requirements of the Victorian WorkCover system, the employer is interested in further strategies to reduce the cost of work injury and maximise employee productivity. Refer to the organisational profile of ACE Engineering, information below, to complete part 2. i) Describe essential features of a Workplace Disability Management approach. ii) Specify what organisational and employee variables need to be considered in the development of a Workplace Disability Management approach specific to ACE Engineering. iii) Provide recommendations for how ACE Engineering could improve both the physical and psychological health of their employees within the workplace. Organisational profile with respect to occupational health and rehabilitation: 1) The organisation: ACE Engineering is a medium sized manufacturer in the automotive industry. ACE Engineering currently have 258 employees across two factories, one in Melbourne (N=120 employees) and the other in a rural location (N=138 employees). The overwhelming majority of ACE Engineering employees, more than 80%, are semi-skilled or unskilled. 2) The workforce: The percentages of English-speaking and non-English speaking employees at the metropolitan and rural sites, based on country of origin are provided below: Metropolitan Site Australia 23% Greece 7% Italy 10% Lebanon 6% Turkey 11% Vietnam 8% Former Yugoslavia 11% Other 24% Rural Site Australia 60% England 7% Italy 4% Former Yugoslavia 9% Other 20% 3) Claims: Metropolitan Rural Total number of claims per year 2014 33 20 2015 30 19 2016 30 20 Number of claims greater than 5 days 2014 14 5 2015 13 4 2016 12 5 Number of claims under 5 days in duration 2014 19 15 2015 17 15 2016 18 15 Number of long term claims (>12 months) 2014 - 2016 5 2 4) Types of injuries/ occupational illness over three-year period (2013 – 2015) Metropolitan Rural Bruise 6% 7% Disease 7% 4% Industrial deafness 16% 7% Laceration 7% 8% Sprain/strain 52% 57% Stress/mental health issues 12% 17% 5) Number of clients who had undertaken a rehabilitation program with an approved OR provider: • 2014 = 8 • 2015 = 7 • 2016 = 8 • 2017 = 10 6) Current arrangements: The Personnel Manager is responsible for matters of occupational health and rehabilitation. At each factory the Personnel Manager is responsible for management of claims and associated liaison with internal and external parties. ACE Engineering is concerned that the premium (based on claim history) is considerably higher than (about double) that of comparable organisations.