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.
Professor David Caple - OHS consultant and Adjunct Professor, Centre for Ergonomics & Human Factors, La Trobe University
Date & Time: Tuesday 11 September 2018 at 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Venue: Level 1, 333 Queen Street Melbourne (AMS Consulting Group)
Sit to Stand Desks – What’s the verdict?
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.
David is presenting two papers on this topic at the International Ergonomics Association Congress in Florence, Italy in August. He will be part of a group of 16 presenters from around the world sharing the latest research relating to sit to stand desks.
There can be confusion about how much to use these desks while working, and whether a certain duration or pattern of standing should be prescribed. “In some places they are using them very well, but in other places employees and their managers are unclear about how to benefit from them. As a result, you’ll sometimes find people feeling guilty for not using them,” says David. “A lot of factors can affect how successful these desks are in the workplace. This includes things like the change management process, job design, employee education and work culture.”
About the Speaker
David Caple, who has a background as an ergonomist, has been a leading figure in occupational health and safety in Australia for many years. He has advised a wide range of businesses, industry groups and public sector organisations, and worked with Australian and overseas governments on work health and safety strategy. He is an OHS consultant and Adjunct Professor, Centre for Ergonomics & Human Factors, La Trobe University.
David was awarded the AM – Member of the Order of Australia – in the 2018 Queens Birthday Honours list. The honour is in recognition of his “significant service to community health through workplace health and safety reforms and ergonomic policy development."
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.
Become a member now:
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.
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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.
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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.
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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. I don’t know anywhere that offers access to OHS experts and regulators for minimum of $70 a year. 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!
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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.
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