Central Safety Group Melbourne

October 2022

CSG 60th Anniversary Celebration Lunch

Presenters:

Dr Narelle Beer, Executive Director, Health and Safety, WorkSafe Victoria
Barry Naismith, Director, OHS Intros

CSG event video now available (members only)
Presentation package now available (members only)

For those who missed it, or others who would like to re-live this special occasion, we have produced a memorable package. There were a few technical challenges on the day, including our original plan for filming the speakers. However, our wonderful secretary Heather Turner saved the day by filming it with her phone and, while it will not be nominated for an Academy Award, it certainly captures the atmosphere well.

There were so many highlights of the day, not least of which was having David Caple AM as MC for the event. He features at the beginning of the video, along with President Nan Austin.

We were honoured to have Dr Narelle Beer from WorkSafe Victoria attend and give the keynote address. She had some very interesting things to say about future developments in OHS in Victoria. The transcript of her speech is available as part of this package. We also welcomed Narelle's commitment on behalf of WorkSafe Victoria to maintaining ties with our group.

Barry Naismith was our second speaker and gave a fascinating overview of the history of OHS in Victoria; his presentation slides are also included. Finally, our longest-serving president, Ollie Matthews, was honoured for his 22 years of service to the group (1998-2022).

A photo gallery of the event completes our package. (Members, go to Event video description and click on the photo-video icon, 1st icon shown, to view the Photo gallery.)

The presenter:

Narelle Beer commenced her role with WorkSafe Victoria in November 2021. It has enabled her to focus on enhancing workplace safety and embedding harm reduction processes, opportunities and strategies through engagement, education, compliance and enforcement. Prior to that, Narelle spent more than 35 years serving the community: 5 years as Assistant Commissioner, Regional and Remote Operations, with the Northern Territory Police, preceded by 30 years as a member of Victoria Police. Narelle has worked in criminal, corruption and collision investigations, education and in corporate/policy departments. She has managed and led a number of taskforces into corruption within Victoria Police. Narelle has undertaken extensive postgraduate study and been awarded a number of scholarships, which have enabled her to travel widely. This includes a Churchill Fellowship in 2013 to undertake specialist training in integrity testing and corruption investigations in the UK and USA. In 2008, Narelle was awarded the Vincent Fairfax Fellowship for Ethical Leadership.

The presenter:

Barry Naismith spent more than 14 years with the Victorian WorkCover Authority before working independently as an OHS consultant. This currently includes working with Uniting Victoria on a program to reduce the impact of work harms on the community. Barry has qualifications in science from Melbourne University and media studies from RMIT as well as practical qualifications in OHS/HSR. He has worked previously as a journalist and editor.

August 2022

OHS and social sustainability

Presentation by: Phil Lovelock, Senior Health, Safety and Wellbeing Consultant and Policy Advisor, VCCI

Presentation package now available (members only)

As the concept of social sustainability becomes more important, businesses and organisations are treating people more as an asset to be valued and looked after. How can OHS practitioners support their businesses in building and maintaining social sustainability? Phil Lovelock had some answers when he presented a model for doing this in a CSG lunchtime Zoom talk on 9th August.

He outlined a 5-point action plan with elements that reflect the growth and maturity of OHS as a profession. It covered people, workplace environment, systems, the organisation and external stakeholders. It is a new, broader approach to the OHS role that would be useful for anyone facing this challenge.

The presenter:

Phil Lovelock currently provides OHS and Workers’ Compensation training and consulting for Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) members and clients. He also represents VCCI on various WorkSafe Victoria Stakeholder Reference Groups and on other key industry forums and committees. Before joining VCCI in 2008, Phil spent many years as an occupational health and safety professional across a broad range of industries. He was Manager, Health, Safety & Environment for CSL Behring Ltd with responsibility for three Victorian and four Interstate sites. Prior to that, he spent a number of years providing training and consulting services to commercial and government organisations in the Northern Territory. Phil is a past President of the Australian Institute of Health & Safety (AIHS) and of the International Network of Safety and Health Professional Organisations (INSHPO). He holds both a Bachelors degree in Occupational Health & Environment and a Masters degree in Occupational Hygiene from the University of Western Sydney, along with several graduate diplomas.

June 2022

OHS without borders – helping overseas

Presentation by: Jason Green, President, Australian branch , Workplace Health Without Borders

Presentation package now available (members only)

There are 3 billion workers in the world - and around 2 billion of them work in unhealthy and unsafe conditions. Millions die each year from workplace causes, and hundreds of millions are incapacitated by occupational injuries and disease.

If you want an opportunity to make a difference, we now have an Australian branch of Workplace Health Without Borders (WHWB), which is seeking members and volunteers.
Jason Green, President of the Australian branch, spoke at a Central Safety Group lunchtime presentation on 14 June about the work done by WHWB around the world in countries where help is needed to create healthier and safer workplaces.

He discussed what the Australian branch is doing, and how people can support its existing programs. There is also a need to develop further projects, potentially in countries in the Pacific region.

The presenter:

Jason Green has over 27 years’ experience in the health, safety and environment fields in a variety of industries including construction, property, industrial, utilities, health, mining, education and consulting. He is currently a Principal Consultant with Greencap in Sydney as a specialist in occupational hygiene. Jason is a Certified Occupational Hygienist (COH)® and Full Member of the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygiene (AIOH). He holds a science degree and a master’s degree in Occupational Hygiene Practice.

April 2022

Psychological hazards regulatory approaches

Presentation by: Tracey Browne, Manager - National Safety & Workers' Compensation Policy and Membership Services, Australian Industry Group

CSG event video now available (members only)
Presentation package now available (members only)

Victoria has developed draft regulations for psychological health, and work is happening at the national level to develop Model WHS Regulations on this topic. What responsibilities will employers have under this new legislation? How might it affect the workplace? Will it have an impact on workers compensation?

These and other issues were discussed in a zoom presentation to Central Safety Group on 12 April by Tracey Browne, Manager, National Safety & Workers' Compensation Policy and Membership Services at Australian Industry Group (Ai Group).

Tracey represents peak national employer organisation Ai Group on a working group reviewing WorkSafe Victoria’s proposed OHS Amendment (Psychological Health) Regulations, which were released for public comment that closed on 31 March 2022. Tracey also represents industry as a member of Safe Work Australia, who are developing the Model Regulations and supporting Code of Practice.

The new WorkSafe regulations reflect the existing requirement in the Act to manage both physical and psychological health and safety. WorkSafe considers that they will provide clearer guidance to employers on their obligations to protect workers better from mental injury.

After her presentation Tracey invited questions and discussion.

The presenter:

Tracey Browne joined the national employers’ representative Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) in 2001. She has been their Manager of National Safety & Workers' Compensation Policy and Membership Services for the past 14 years. Tracey’s role includes representing employer views and interests to governments, regulators and other relevant bodies, when legislative and policy changes are being considered. She is also responsible for information, advice and training in relation to safety and workers' compensation for Ai Group membership and staff. Before joining AiG, Tracey worked in OHS and workers compensation roles in industry and lectured on safety and workers compensation at Ballarat University.

February 2022

New Perspectives on OHS

Presentation by: Kevin Jones, Editor, SafetyAtWorkBlog

CSG event video now available (members only)
Presentation package now available (members only)

Kevin Jones challenged his audience with new perspectives on very topical issues for OHS professionals at a lunchtime presentation to CSG on Tuesday 8 February.
He also discussed some of the latest ideas and information he has found in recently-published books by leading OHS experts, economists and political scientists in Australia and elsewhere.
Topics included the bystander effect, workplace mental health, ethical socialism, ‘dirty work’ and more, all of which had relevance to OHS.

The presenter:

Kevin Jones is well known for his award-winning SafetyAtWorkBlog (http://safetyatworkblog.com/). He has been a consultant, writer and commentator on OHS matters for many years. Kevin recently undertook some legal professional privilege work in Victoria and Darwin while working full time on a rail construction project. He is also a Life Member of Central Safety Group.