Central Safety Group Melbourne

The state of OHS in Victoria

Based on his forensic research and analysis of data from WorkSafe Victoria, Barry Naismith presented some measured and thought-provoking findings to a packed room. Some findings are somewhat dispiriting, including the fact that this data can be inaccurate, shallow and lagging. Nevertheless, his presentation provided some interesting insights into trends in injury rates and claims, including mental claims.  

He also took a clear-eyed look at the current push for wellbeing programs in the workplace and how these are grabbing the spotlight from OHS.  He discussed the issue of whether wellbeing included both the physical and mental, and how we embed wellbeing into injury prevention. 

Barry concluded with a call to OHS professionals to speak out if they see a need for things to change. "Don't just leave safety leadership to the regulator in these challenging and interesting times - times that are re-shaping OHS, hopefully for the better", he said.

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Date & Time: Tuesday 12 June 2018 at 12:00pm Venue: Level 1, 333 Queen Street Melbourne (AMS Consulting Group)

The State of OHS in Victoria

Barry Naismith.

What 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.

To quote leading blogger Kevin Jones, “This level of analysis and interpretation is rarely available outside of formal academic research, and Naismith provides the all-important social and political context from which much academic occupational health and safety (OHS) research shies.”

Questions, opinions and comments from the audience will be welcome.

Note: When booking for the Event, please ensure you select the June Meeting from the dropdown list (shaded orange), to RSVP to this meeting.

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Safety & the Big Cats

Jason Hensel, Senior Advisor, Health and Safety, at Zoos Victoria gave a fascinating insight into the work he has been undertaking, developing a program for working with dangerous animals. These animals are known as Category 1 Animals, because they are likely to endanger human life. Jason has been concentrating on Melbourne Zoo, where there are 20 species of Category 1 Animals. (At the Healesville site, the only Category 1 Animal is the cassowary!)

It is two years into the development of the program, which has proved to be much bigger than expected due to the many interconnected aspects. In the past, dealing with these animals relied on people making sound decisions and a number of ad hoc systems. Now this approach has been replaced with consistent streamlined processes and the introduction of engineering controls that are being tailor-made to suit this unique environment.

Jason is supported by a CEO with a strong interest in health & safety, which we all know is a key factor in successful programs.

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Reducing Manual Handling Injuries

Conor Healy was a very engaging speaker as he spoke enthusiastically about the program he has developed for Jetstar that has resulted in a 40% reduction in manual handling injuries and the risk of musculoskeletal disorders in just two years.

He spoke about the challenges of working within a regulatory framework (CASA + airports) that make it difficult to introduce design & engineering controls. As a result he has developed a multi-pronged program that includes onsite physiotherapy, particpatory ergonomics and a radical shift in their training approach.

While acknowledging that it is early days and there is still a way to go, he is rightly proud of what has been achieved so far. He offered quite a few practical strategies in his presentation that are applicable to many industries.

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Date & Time: Tuesday 8 May 2018 at 12:00pm Venue: Level 1, 333 Queen Street Melbourne (AMS Consulting Group)

Safety and The Big Cats

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).

Melbourne Zoo has 20 species of animal that fall into this category – ranging from the big cats to gorillas, hippopotamuses and African wild dogs. Jason has been working on risk assessments and safety systems for each of these, taking into account physical, mechanical, animal behaviour and human factors.

This initiative is part of Zoos Victoria’s aim to become a world leader in zoo safety. Zoos around the world put a sharp spotlight on safety following incidents such as a child falling into a gorilla exhibit at Cincinnati Zoo and the death of a keeper at New Zealand’s Hamilton Zoo

Note: When booking for the Event, please ensure you select the May Meeting from the dropdown list (shaded orange), to RSVP to this meeting.

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Date & Time: Tuesday 10 April 2018 at 12:00pm Venue: Level 1, 333 Queen Street Melbourne (AMS Consulting Group)

Reducing manual handling injuries

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.

About the Speaker

Conor Healy has been Manager, Work Health and Safety, Jetstar Australia New Zealand for three years. His background includes significant experience in areas ranging from transport with London Underground, defence with BAE Systems to logistics with Toll and working with aerospace organisations. He is a graduate of the University of Westminster in the UK and has attained an MBA in Strategy.

Note: When booking for the Event, please ensure you select the April Meeting from the dropdown list (shaded orange), to RSVP to this meeting.

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ISO 45001 is here – what now?

This was a well-attended meeting of great interest to all present. Kevin's presentation outlined the main aspects of the new Standard and he also provided a handout with a summary of the different sections of the Standard in comparison to AS 4801 & OHSAS 18001. 

The key message was to reassure organisations that the new Standard will not be overly disruptive; in fact, it can support and strengthen the work of OHS professionals within organisations. Kevin's advice is to start using the Standard now even if it is still a couple of years before it becomes an official element of Australian OHS systems.

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Psychological Conditions & Return to Work

As well as having a vast experience in this area, Frank was also the recipient of the National Outstanding Achievement in RTW Award in 2017, and so we were very fortunate to have him as our first speaker for the year.

He shared some very valuable information about the challenges associated with return to work for people who have suffered workplace psychological injury or illness.

Research data he presented showed how important it is to aim for a timely return to work. There has also been a recent increase in the reporting and acceptance of mental injury conditions and claims, which has found many employers unsure and unprepared when it comes to dealing with the challenges of rehabilitation and preventing recurrence of the problem.

Frank outlined a number of ways to assist employers -and consequently the workforce -with these challenges.

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At our AGM on February 13, members voted to adopt amendments to the Constitution.

To summarise the main changes in the new version:

• The sections about Individual & Corporate Membership have been altered to simplify the joining process and encourage growth of membership.
• All 3 levels of membership now include an outline of the benefits of each level.
• The composition of the Executive has been altered to reflect current practice, including the addition of the role of Membership Secretary, which was added in 2016.
• The duties of the position of Membership Secretary have been included.

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Networking at Parliament House

Members & guests of CSG enjoyed a wonderful Christmas networking lunch on Tuesday 11 December 2017 at Parliament House Victoria.

This new venue for our Christmas lunch proved a great success, not only for the excellent service and delicious food featuring seasonal Victorian produce, but also for the elegant surroundings. Being set up in our own private area in the dining room facilitated great conversation without having to compete with the usual clatter of a restaurant setting.

We hope to make this venue a regular fixture for our Christmas lunches in the future as we continue to offer this benefit to our members.

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