The Central Safety Group is a networking group of safety professionals from the Melbourne Central Business District and surrounding areas which meets monthly for lunchtime presentations by specialist speakers.
Members have a common interest in improving all aspects of occupational health and safety in their workplace and keeping informed on key issues in their field.
The presentations are held every second Tuesday of the month from February to November, at Level 1, 333 Queen Street Melbourne. A networking Christmas lunch is held in December.
Meetings are scheduled to resume in May 2020.
Please see Events for May 2020 and upcoming meeting details.
Melbourne Water
12 May 2020
Topic: TBA
Speaker: From Melbourne Water
Venue: TBA
Details coming soon.
Note: When booking for the Event, please ensure you select the May Meeting from the dropdown list (shaded orange), to RSVP to this meeting.
Members & non-members welcome to attend.
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No April 2020 Meeting
April 2020
CSG will not be holding a meeting in April, due to Easter Holidays.
Become a member now:
Kenn Rogers
10 March 2020
Topic: Customer abuse: The Reject Shop’s frontline solutions
Speaker: Kenn Rogers, The Reject Shop
Venue: DXC Technology, Level 19 (Board Room 1), 360 Collins Street, Melbourne (Between Queen & Elizabeth Street)
Customer abuse is a growing problem in the retail industry that can take a heavy toll on workers’ confidence and wellbeing. Of the Reject Shop’s 6,000 team members, a majority are part-time and 60% are under the age of 25. This means many are inexperienced and particularly vulnerable when faced with customer aggression.. Read More.
Note: When booking for the Event, please ensure you select the March Meeting from the dropdown list (shaded orange), to RSVP to this meeting.
Members & non-members welcome to attend.
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Mary Kikas
11 February 2020
Topic: Rebuilding Safety Culture – a case study
Speaker: Mary Kikas, Action OHS Consulting
Venue: Room B411 – Level 4, CAE building, 253 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
AGM will be held after the February Meeting.
Rebuilding safety culture – a case study.
When employee morale, trust and job satisfaction plummet in the wake of major changes, how do you restore a strong safety culture? Mary Kikas faced that exact challenge when asked to help the Health and Safety team of a utilities company that had undergone a significant change management process and redundancies... Read More..
Members & non-members welcome to attend.
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Annual General Meeting
11 February 2020
Annual General Meeting 2020
AGM was held after the February Meeting.
Meeting minutes coming soon.
Members & non-members welcome to attend.
Become a member now:
Save the date for our 2019 Christmas networking lunch!
10 December 2019
Join us in the grand surroundings of Parliament House Victoria and enjoy a meal showcasing the state’s fresh produce.
When: Tuesday 10 December, 12:00pm
Where: Parliament House Dining Room, Spring Street, Melbourne
Cost: Members FREE; non-members & guests $55
Become a member now:
Nan Austin
12 November 2019
Topic: Safety Shake-up Across The Tasman
Speaker: Nan Austin
Venue: DXC Technology, Level 19 (Board Room 1), 360 Collins Street, Melbourne (Between Queen & Elizabeth Street)
The death of 28 miners in an underground explosion at New Zealand’s Pike River Coal Mine nine years ago led to anger, accusations and the call for a major inquiry into the country’s safety laws. The result was a major re-engineering of New Zealand’s safety systems with the introduction of the new Health and Safety Work Act in 2016. Read More..
Note: When booking for the Event, please ensure you select the November Meeting from the dropdown list (shaded orange), to RSVP to this meeting.
Members & non-members welcome to attend.
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Dr David Provan
THURSDAY 10 October 2019
Topic: Safety Clutter & What to do About It
Speaker: Dr David Provan, Managing Director, Forge Works, & Lecturer & Researcher, Griffith University, Queensland.
Does OHS in your workplace feel weighed down by paperwork, rules and procedures? Dr David Provan said this can be due to ‘safety clutter’, described in a study he co-authored as "the accumulation of safety procedures, documents, roles and activities that are performed in the name of safety, but do not contribute to the safety of operational work." Worse, this can create negative beliefs and attitudes to safety, according to the research.
David spoke about how to identify ‘safety clutter’, what to do about it and how to remove it in a lunchtime presentation to Central Safety Group on Thursday, 10 October.... Read More..
Members & non-members welcome to attend.
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Prof. David Caple
10 September 2019
Topic: Annual Address to the CSG:- When Workplace Changes Outpace OHS Standards
Speaker: Professor David Caple, OHS consultant and Adjunct Professor, Centre for Ergonomics & Human Factors, La Trobe University
Venue: DXC Technology, Level 19 (Board Room 2), 360 Collins Street, Melbourne (Between Queen & Elizabeth Street)
More and more jobs today require working on mobile devices including laptops, Surface Pros and tablets. Some workplaces ‘dock’ these with monitors and keyboards and others are being used as the primary input device. When it comes to assessing ergonomic risks linked to this, compliance is measured by long-established OHS Codes and Australian Standards Read More..
Note: When booking for the Event, please ensure you select the September Meeting from the dropdown list (shaded orange), to RSVP to this meeting.
Members & non-members welcome to attend.
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Dr Tracey Sletten
13 August 2019
The Real Impact of Shift Work and Workplace Fatigue
Speaker: Dr Tracey Sletten, Senior Research Fellow - Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University and Project Leader - Cooperative Research Centre for Alertness, Safety and Productivity
Venue: DXC Technology, Level 19 (Board Room 1), 360 Collins Street, Melbourne (Between Queen & Elizabeth Street)
It is estimated around 20% of the Australian workforce is involved in some form of shift work, many of them in roles critical for public safety. The challenges of shift work and occupational fatigue have long been acknowledged, but recent research has increased understanding of the negative consequences of working against the body clock.
Dr Tracey Sletten of Monash University and the Cooperative Research Centre for Alertness, Safety and Productivity will be presenting some of the latest findings and recommendations in this area to Central Safety Group on Tuesday, 13 August. Read More..
Note: When booking for the Event, please ensure you select the August Meeting from the dropdown list (shaded orange), to RSVP to this meeting.
Members & non-members welcome to attend.
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Michael Carley
9 July 2019
Safety and the Aged Care Sector
Speaker: Michael Carley, Manager, Safety and Risk at Villa Maria Catholic Homes
PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF VENUE
Venue: DXC Technology, Level 19 (Board Room 1), 360 Collins Street, Melbourne (Between Queen & Elizabeth Street)
The challenges of safety in the aged care & disability sectors
The aged care and disability sectors are among the fastest growing sectors in Australia. Employment in this area has exploded, growing 36% in the past five years – three times the rate of growth across all other occupations.
The particular OHS challenges for these industries will be discussed by Michael Carley, Safety and Risk, Villa Maria Catholic Homes, on Tuesday, 9 July at the Central Safety Group lunchtime meeting. Read More...
Members & non-members welcome to attend.
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Rohan Sykes
11 June 2019
The True Impact of Workplace Accidents
Speaker: Rohan Sykes, workplace accident survivor
PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF VENUE
Venue: DXC Technology, Level 19 (Board Room 1), 360 Collins Street, Melbourne (Between Queen & Elizabeth Street)
Safety Lapses and Real Life Consequences
Rohan Sykes was a healthy, active young family man when he suffered an horrific workplace injury that caused severe burns to 35% of his body. He was seriously injured by exposure to radiant heat from molten glass, despite wearing full PPE and following procedures.
He emerged from a long and painful recovery and rehabilitation with a strong passion to raise awareness about new approaches to safety that go beyond the standard thinking. Rohan will share his experiences and discuss his special insights and perspectives on safety at the Central Safety Group lunchtime meeting on Tuesday, 11 June. Read More...
Note: When booking for the Event, please ensure you select the June Meeting from the dropdown list (shaded orange), to RSVP to this meeting.
Members & non-members welcome to attend.
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Claire Nivarovich
14 May 2019
Prevention of mental injury at work – where can employers best direct their efforts?
Speaker: Claire Nivarovich, Director Mental Health Programs, WorkSafe Victoria.
Venue: Xchanging, Level 10, 390 La Trobe Street, Melbourne (near Queen Street)
Work-related mental injury is the second most common cause of workers' compensation claims in Australia, and accounts for around 13% of workers' compensation claims in Victoria.
What can employers do to prevent mental injury in their workplace? Where can they best direct their efforts?
Claire Nivarovich, Director Mental Health Programs, WorkSafe Victoria, will speak about this topic in a lunchtime presentation on 14 May...Read More
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Members & non-members welcome to attend.
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Kristen Richardson
9 April 2019
Managing Inappropriate Customer Behaviour
Speaker: Kristen Richardson, Wellbeing and Safety Business Partner Team Leader, ANZ.
Venue: Xchanging, Level 10, 390 La Trobe Street, Melbourne (near Queen Street)
Staff safety and difficult customer interactions
Many businesses have seen an upsurge in staff impacted by difficult customer interactions that may place them at risk of a physical or psychosocial illness.
This has particularly been the case in the banking industry and is varied across customer contact, whether it is face-to-face or telephone interactions...Read More
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Note: When booking for the Event, please ensure you select the April Meeting from the dropdown list (shaded orange), to RSVP to this meeting.
Members & non-members welcome to attend.
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Richard Greenwood
12 March 2019
An Explosive Hazard Hidden in Plain Sight
Speaker: Richard Greenwood, RG Chemical Safety.
Please note change of venue.
Venue: DXC Technology, Level 19 (Board Room 1), 360 Collins Street, Melbourne.
Combustible dust can be a hidden chemical hazard in workshops, factories, storage facilities and many other places. Because it’s not classified as a hazardous substance or as dangerous goods, it is often ignored in workplace procedures and risk control. The significance of this will be discussed by chemical hazards expert Richard Greenwood in a lunchtime presentation to Central Safety Group on 12 March.
The consequences of not recognising the presence of combustible dust were dramatically demonstrated recently when two workers doing routine maintenance were seriously injured in a workplace explosion in Victoria... Read more
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Rachel McGregor and Ebonie Martello
12 February 2019
OHS Careers & Recruitment - what’s hot and what’s not
Speakers: Rachel McGregor and Ebonie Martello of Safety People
Venue: Level 19, 360 Collins Street, Melbourne (Xchanging).
Key job market trends in safety in Australia will be the subject of a presentation at Central Safety Group’s first meeting for 2019 on 12 February.
OHS recruitment specialists Rachel McGregor and Ebonie Martello of Safety People will give a presentation followed by a Q&A session with the audience.
They will talk about:
-industry trends
-salary trends
-the world of safety consulting
-what employers are looking for in a safety professional
-what candidates are looking for in an employer
-other issues raised by the audience... Read more
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Save the date for our 2018 Christmas networking lunch!
10 December 2018
Join us in the grand surroundings of Parliament House Victoria and enjoy a meal showcasing the state’s fresh produce.
When: Monday 10 December, 12:00pm
Where: Parliament House Dining Room, Spring Street, Melbourne
Cost: Members FREE; non-members & guests $55
Become a member now:
Greg Splatt
13 November 2018
Construction safety during the boom
Speaker: Greg Splatt
PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF VENUE:
Venue: Masters Builders Association, Training Room 1, 332 Albert Street, East Melbourne.
Throughout Australia there is unprecedented growth in all areas of construction – commercial, civil and residential. This boom has created issues relating to knowledge, skills and competencies needed at all levels of the construction workforce.
The issue of safety in this climate will be discussed by Greg Splatt, a construction safety manager and trainer, in a lunchtime presentation for Central safety Group on 13 November... Read more
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Dr Ross Donohue
9 October 2018
A fresh look at safety inspections
Speaker: Dr Ross Donohue, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Business and Economics, Monash University.
There has been surprisingly little research done on how inspectors assess health and safety in workplaces. Although the inspectors’ task is grounded in rules and regulations, there are few standardised measures to assist them.
Dr Ross Donohue, our speaker on 9 October, has been doing ground breaking work on this.
As a result Ross has developed a 7-item generic OHS metric checklist as a standardised tool to assist inspectors and has conducted research to validate this measure in a study undertaken with WorkSafe Victoria.
Ross also sees the need for developing measures and training to assist OHS inspectors to assess psychosocial risk... Continue reading...
Note: When booking for the Event, please ensure you select the October Meeting from the dropdown list (shaded orange), to RSVP to this meeting.
Members & non-members welcome to attend.
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Professor David Caple
11 September 2018
Sit to Stand Desks - What's the verdict?
Speaker: Professor David Caple - OHS consultant and Adjunct Professor, Centre for Ergonomics & Human Factors, La Trobe University.
Many organisations have invested in sit-stand desks in response to experts’ claims about the benefits, ranging from reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes to solving back pain.
Professor David Caple will discuss the latest knowledge on the effectiveness of sit-stand desks and issues surrounding their use on 11 September in a lunchtime talk to the Central Safety Group. Continue reading...
Note: When booking for the Event, please ensure you select the September Meeting from the dropdown list (shaded orange), to RSVP to this meeting.
Members & non-members welcome to attend.
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John Naughton
15 August 2018 (Note change of date)
Taming Contractor Management
Speaker: John Naughton.
Contractor management is one of the most challenging areas of safety risk management. Contractor management systems can be onerous and complicated, leaving gaps when it comes to covering business and compliance requirements.
John Naughton and his team tackled this problem and transformed contractor management while he was Director of HSE at a major food company, and he will share his experiences at a lunchtime talk to Central Safety Group on Wednesday 15 August. Continue reading...
Members & non-members welcome to attend.
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Les Cameron
10 July 2018
A WorkSafe Inspector’s-eye view
Speaker: Les Cameron, WorkSafe Inspector, WorkSafe Victoria.
Things have been happening at WorkSafe Victoria, including the relocation this year of its head office along with several hundred roles from Melbourne CBD to Geelong.
This and other current changes, projects and priorities at WorkSafe will be outlined by seasoned WorkSafe Inspector Les Cameron in a lunchtime presentation on 10 July.
Les will also have something to say about his work on the front line, discussing incidents and some new intervention programs now being tested.
Questions, comments and discussion will be welcome during the session. Continue reading...
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Barry Naismith
12 June 2018
The State of OHS in Victoria
Speaker: Barry Naismith.
Injuries and fatalities from contact between people and animals are known to be a high risk in zoos worldwide.
t do the latest data and developments tell us about the current state of OHS in Victoria? Barry Naismith, who has done a keen-eyed independent analysis, will share his conclusions at the Central Safety Group lunch meeting on 12 June.
Barry was a consultant with the Victorian WorkCover Authority (now WorkSafe) for 14 years. Since then he has produced a number of independent reports into the operations and performance of WorkSafe Victoria.
He has just concluded his latest report, based on 2017, and will discuss his findings and spell out some trends and predictions that are likely to be of interest to those working in OHS in Victoria. Continue reading...
Members & non-members welcome to attend.
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Jason Hensel
8 May 2018
Safety and The Big Cats
Speaker: Jason Hensel, Senior Safety Advisor - Zoos Victoria.
Injuries and fatalities from contact between people and animals are known to be a high risk in zoos worldwide.
At Zoos Victoria a special program for working with dangerous animals is being supported by Jason Hensel, Senior Advisor, Health and Safety, who will give a presentation on this subject to Central Safety Group on 8 May.
Jason will discuss how he has drawn on safety programs from a number of industries to develop effective and consistent controls for the safe keeping of all animals likely to endanger human life, known as Category 1 Animals (CAT 1). Continue reading...
Members & non-members welcome to attend.
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Conor Healy
10 April 2018
Reducing Manual Handling Injuries
Speaker: Conor Healy, Manager, Work Health & Safety - Jetstar Australia New Zealand.
Manual handling injuries are some of the most common and costly injuries in the workplace.
An account of how Jetstar Airways reduced these injuries by 40% will be shared by Conor Healy, Manager, Work Health and Safety, Jetstar Australia New Zealand in a lunchtime presentation on 10 April.
Baggage handlers, cabin crews and engineering workshop teams all do a lot of manual handling at Jetstar, which now has 7,000 employees and is one of the world’s fastest growing airlines.
Conor developed a multi-pronged program to reduce manual handling injuries and the risk of musculoskeletal disorders for employees working in body stressing environments. In two years he has found that the program has already made a significant difference.
He will discuss the program and what the airline is doing to continue to gain improvements in this area.
Note: When booking for the Event, please ensure you select the April Meeting from the dropdown list (shaded orange), to RSVP to this meeting.
Members & non-members welcome to attend.
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Kevin Jones
13 March 2018
ISO 45001 is here - What now?
Speaker: Kevin Jones, editor of the SafetyAtWorkBlog.
The new international standard for OHS Management Systems – ISO45001 – has been finalised and is due to be published in mid-March 2018. Many are claiming this Standard is a “gamechanger”. Kevin believes it’s not, but it is important and it does include support for some of the OHS Principles which are now considered essential for effective safety and health management.
Kevin Jones, editor of the SafetyAtWorkBlog will be providing his perspective on ISP45001 and how it could fit with your safety management systems. He will be reviewing these features and inviting discussion, as well as providing handouts at the meeting.
Members & non-members welcome to attend.
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Frank Imbesi
13 February 2018
Mental/Psychological Conditions & Return to Work
Speaker Frank Imbesi, Managing Director of AMS Consulting.
Return to work for people who have suffered workplace psychological injury or illness can be a complicated and challenging process.
The best-practice approach and potential problems when helping employees recovering from mental health issues will be discussed by Frank Imbesi at Central Safety Group’s meeting on Tuesday, February 13 2018.
This area is of special interest to Frank, who has been working in in the field of return-to-work planning, management and support for many years and is Managing Director of an occupational rehabilitation company.
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Members & non-members welcome to attend.
Become a member now:
Save the date for our 2017 Christmas networking lunch!
11 December 2017
Join us in the grand surroundings of Parliament House Victoria and enjoy a meal showcasing the state’s fresh produce.
When: Monday 11 December, 12:00pm
Where: Parliament House Dining Room, Spring Street, Melbourne
Cost: Members free; non-members $50
Members & non-members welcome to attend.
Become a member now:
David Davis
14 November 2017
Working at heights - are the regulations safe?
Speaker David Davis, Director, Working at Height Association.
Falls are a major cause of death and serious injury in Australian workplaces. But are current safety standards and regulations adequate to ensure protection for workers?
This important issue was discussed by David Davis, a member of the Executive Committee of the Australian Working at Heights Association at the November meeting of Central Safety Group. David outlined a number of concerns the Association has about current industry guidelines and standards, as well as areas where there is a need to raise awareness.
This included his own review and critique of AS1657, the main Australian Standard covering fixed platforms, walkways, stairways and ladders, which was revised in 2013. David identified 20 shortfalls, omissions or areas of potential confusion in the revised standard. These were detailed in a report submitted to Standards Australia when the 2013 standard was released. He gave a number of examples where people working in OHS need to be aware that the current revised AS1657 is inadequate.
Members & non-members welcome to attend.
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Graham Dent, OHS Lawyer.
10 October 2017
OHS in Victoria … where are we going?
The impact of WHS, trends in penalties and Undertakings
Recent developments in some areas of OHS law in Victoria will be discussed by leading OHS lawyer Graham Dent at the CSG lunchtime meeting on 10 October 2017.
This will include the relevance of the harmonised WHS laws in Victoria, trends in cases, courts and penalties, and the use of Enforceable Undertakings.
Graham will give examples to illustrate these issues and the implications of changes we see going on around us. He will also discuss changes which may have quietly slipped past us.
NOTE: Presentation now available to members only.
Members & Non members welcome to attend CSG Meetings.
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Professor David Caple
12 September 2017
The future of OHS
What will OHS look like in the future? What jobs are likely to be available and skill sets required?
Professor David Caple, a close participant and observer in the safety industry for over 40 years will examine these questions in a lunchtime talk to the Central Safety Group on 12 September.
What will OHS look like in the future? What jobs are likely to be available and skill sets required?
Professor David Caple, a close participant and observer in the safety industry for over 40 years, examined those questions on 12 September 2017.
David talked about how the field of workplace safety has evolved, looking at the most important trends and changes over the years.
NOTE: Members only, Presentation and Transcript now available View Transcript.
Members & Non members welcome to attend CSG Meetings.
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Jacqui Bloink
8 August 2017
Peer Support Programs - tips for success
There is growing recognition of the value of workplace peer support programs in helping employees at times of critical work incidents.
The experience, learnings and benefits of a well-established peer support program will be discussed by Jacqui Bloink, Workplace Wellbeing Program Manager, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne.
The hospital this year is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its award-winning staff peer support program, marking it as an early supporter of the concept of a team of colleagues helping one another with typical reactions to stressful events.
Members & Non members welcome to attend CSG Meetings.
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Site Visit
11 July 2017
Safety Behind the Scenes
Site Visit: Melbourne Arts Centre
Join us for a special CSG exclusive backstage tour hosted by Chris Hayes, Senior Manager, Venue Operations - Production, Arts Centre Melbourne.
Members & Non members welcome to attend CSG Meetings.
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David Trembearth
RESCHEDULED TO JUNE 2017
Tuesday June 13 2017
Poorly designed work is unsafe work. Many times simple but important aspects are overlooked in the project planning stage, setting the scene for future problems.
Someone dedicated to spreading this message is David Trembearth, Safety Business Partner, People and Product Safety, Coles, who will speak to the Central Safety Group on Tuesday 13 June.
Members and non members welcome to attend CSG Meetings.
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Wayne Richards
Tuesday 9 May 2017
12:15 to 1:15pm (please note later start than usual)
Can leaders shape safety culture?
A lot is said about ‘safety leadership’.
But what specifically can leaders do to shape an organisation’s safety culture?
This was discussed by Wayne Richards, General Manager, Group Health Safety Environment & Quality, Transdev Australasia at a lunchtime presentation to the Central Safety Group at 12.15 pm on 9 May.
Wayne talked about what is being done in Transdev.
He also drew on his experience in senior safety roles with the MFB and the aviation and environmental services sectors.
Become a member now:
A leading safety commentator says:
The Central Safety Group meetings are like an OHS conference spread over the year. Ten top guest speakers on OHS matters with a conference (Christmas) dinner to round off the event. CSG seems to me to provide the best return on investment for professional development in my area. The organisation provides access to both important guest speakers and to the information opportunities from its varied members. There are different cost structures for non-members but membership is so cheap, why wouldn’t you join?
Kevin Jones, Life Member of the CSG, & author of the award-winning Safety at Work blog, writing on his blog
safetyatworkblog.com
View our recent presentations Members Only. Like to view presentations? Then join today & enjoy full access!
Members can view our library of recent presentations from the CSG monthly meetings.
Interesting topics and speakers such as:
Managing fatigue: getting it right
David Caple;
What safety success looks like – across industry sectors
Rocky Armstrong;
Rethinking incident investigation
Greg Splatt.
Like to view presentations? Not a member? Then join today and enjoy full access!
Annual Membership Fee:
View our Archive library of past Meetings, Presentations, Meeting & AGM Minutes
Missed a presentation, or just like to revisit a presentation from the past? Then look no further, all our archives are available to CSG Members.
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Get involved with our CSG Network. Join now and start networking today.
Exchange ideas with like-minded people, with a common interest in improving all aspects of occupational health and safety
within their organisations. Join now and start networking today.
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Enjoy full access to the CSG Archives, including past presentations and more
Membership costs $60 per calendar year ($300 corporate). Members have online access to the presentations, free attendance to meetings & presentations and a complimentary Christmas lunch for the December Meeting. To inquire contact: secretary@centralsafetygroup.com.
We welcome members from all sized businesses, organisations and industries.
Non-members are always welcome to our monthly meetings / presentations at a cost of $10 per meeting.
Annual Membership Fee:
