LA7: Rates of injury, occupational diseases, lost days, and absenteeism, and total number of work related fatalities, by region and by gender
Risk management has been a core focus for Westfield globally over many years, and the Group began publicly reporting its safety data in 2010.
Operating in 2012 across four countries with more than 140 different sites including 105 shopping centres, more than 4200 employees and more than 6,200 contractors managing cleaning, security, maintenance and construction services Westfield Group regards risk management as an essential element of its management processes. It has linkages to every part of the business including the health and safety of employees, contractors and visitors, the acquisition of new shopping centres, development of existing centres, expansion into new markets, relationships with major tenants and suppliers, and treasury and capital management activities.
Risk management is a key component of Westfield’s duty of care and safety performance has been embedded in the business operations for many years. The Group began publicly reporting its safety data in 2010, aided by the Global Safety Reporting (GSR) system that is aligned to the Group’s unique business model, enabling key life safety indicators to be monitored so that safety performance can be assessed and improved.
Since its adoption the GSR has continued to be refined in order to improve and automate data consolidation from assets in Australia. The ability to include third party data means that critical contractor data, which accounts for around 70% of Westfield’s total injuries, can be input by the contractors themselves, who are able to access the system and submit information which is then rolled into the overall reporting workflow.
The two key indicators Westfield uses to measure the safety performance of its employees and contractors are Lost Time Injury Frequency Rates (LTIFR) and Average Lost Day Rate (ALDR). These indicators capture both the frequency of lost time and the severity of lost time injuries.
The statistics do not include minor (first aid style) injuries and exclude members of the public.
In 2012 Westfield achieved a slight reduction in LTIFR, from 5.92 in 2011 to 5.71. The absentee rate of Westfield employees increased marginally to 1.41%, while the average lost day rate moved from 11.55 in 2011 to 12.94 in 2012. The shifts in 2012 are attributed to a more rigorous reporting procedures and a greater understanding by contractors to deliver accurate and timely reporting.
Westfield believes that the injury and absentee rates can be linked to positive trends in staff morale and productivity. At the same time the Group has direct managerial control over approximately 40% of workers across the Westfield portfolio (direct employees) with the balance being contractors. The Group is committed to reducing the frequency and severity of injuries amongst all employees and contractors by maintaining focus on injury prevention, early intervention and return-to-work programs.