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Emerging
OHS
Challenges
CSG March 2024 speaker:Kevin Jones

Emerging OHS Challenges

Presentation by: Kevin Jones, Editor, SafetyAtWorkBlog

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

Some of the hot topics in OHS at the moment are not directly about work health and safety. Kevin Jones discussed this at a CSG lunchtime presentation on Tuesday 12 March 2024. He covered what’s new, what’s getting attention, and some of the latest and re-emerging challenges in OHS.

His talk included comments, and recommendations of books on issues including work psychology; the management of time; troublemakers; corporate values and leadership.

The presentation was followed by a question and discussion session.

The presenter:

Kevin Jones is a consultant and advisor in a wide range of OHS projects. He is internationally recognised for his commentary and analysis on safety-related matters in his popular award-winning SafetyAtWorkBlog (safetyatworkblog.com). Kevin is a Life Member of Central Safety Group.

 
OHS
Job Market
Analysis
CSG February 2024 speaker:Helen O’Keefe

OHS Job Market Analysis

Presentation by: Helen O’Keefe, Director, HOK Talent Solutions

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

Those interested in what’s happening in the current OHS job scene, either as a job seeker or employer, appreciated this presentation by Helen O’Keefe on 13 February 2024.

Helen is the Managing Director of HOK Talent Solutions, exclusively specialising in health and safety recruitment. She shared her insights about the OHS job scene from 2023, and talked through some of the challenges and opportunities she predicts will emerge for both hiring managers and job-seekers the year ahead.

Helen also shared data her company has collected, which details the number of OHS jobs advertised across SEEK and LinkedIn (the two most popular job boards) in 2023, and how that compares to 2022. This data is cross-checked against reports released from the ABS, SEEK and other sources to understand the “why” behind it.

Helens’ presentation included questions and discussion.

The presenter:

Helen O’Keefe is the founder of HOK Talent Solutions, which specialises in national HSE recruitment. Helen has a passion for the health and safety industry, and had been working in recruitment for this sector before founding her own agency in 2015. Prior to this, her background includes working as National Recruitment Manager for the Australian Red Cross, and as an HR consultant with pharmaceutical company GSK.

 
Recent OHS
Research
Results
CSG November 2023 speaker: Marilyn Hubner: Recent OHS research results

Recent Research Results

Presentation by: Dr Marilyn Hubner, Manager, OHS Body of Knowledge

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

Some recent research findings in OHS and their relevance in the workplace were discussed by Dr Marilyn Hubner in a presentation to Central Safety Group on Tuesday, 14 November.

Marilyn is Manager of OHS Body of Knowledge (OHS BoK) with the Australian Institute of Health & Safety (AIHS), which publishes collective knowledge that should be shared by generalist OHS professionals. A leading professional in safety education and training, Marilyn promotes the importance of safety professionals being engaged in evidence-based research and applying it in their workplace programs.

Her talk was followed by questions and discussion.

Further reading provided by Dr Marilyn Hubner:

 

 

 

The presenter:

Dr Marilyn Hubner has been developing and delivering safety training programs for over 20 years, and was appointed OHS Body of Knowledge Manager with the AIHS in January 2023. Marilyn’s background includes Managing Director of Buildup Research, and eight years as National Research and Training Support Co-ordinator for the National Safety Council of Australia (NSCA). She has also been an Awards Judge with NSCA for the past 11 years. Marilyn’s PhD thesis, completed in 2016 from Victoria University, is titled "Constructing Safety Training: Foundations of Attitudes and Perceptions of the Construction Site Supervisor".

 
Changing
OHS Culture
in Construction
CSG October 2023 speaker:Helen Lingard

Changing OHS culture in construction

Presentation by: Professor Helen Lingard, Director, Construction Work Health and Safety Research, RMIT University

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

In the past the construction industry has been known for being resistant to improvements affecting worker safety and wellbeing. However, the situation is now changing, according to Professor Helen Lingard, a leading expert in construction safety, whose research over the years has been widely translated into improved work health and safety policy and practice in the construction industry.

This was the topic of Professor Lingard’s lunchtime presentation to Central Safety Group on Tuesday 10 October. Helen discussed some of the main health and safety issues affecting workers in the construction industry, and changes in practices and culture that are now making a difference. This included some of her work on the effect of long and non-standard work hours on workers' health and wellbeing.

Her presentation was followed by questions and discussion.

The presenter:

Helen Lingard is a Distinguished Professor of Construction Management in the School of Property, Construction and Project Management at RMIT University, Melbourne. She has a PhD in construction safety, and has been with RMIT for 15 years. Having started her career working for a contracting organisation in the civil engineering sector, Helen has undertaken extensive applied research in the areas of workplace safety and workers’ health and wellbeing in the construction industry. Helen has also provided consulting services in the infrastructure, telecommunications and mining sectors. Helen has authored or co-authored numerous papers and books. Her most recent book is "Work, Health and Wellbeing in the Construction Industry", with co-author Michelle Turner, which was published in May 2023.

 
New Thoughts
on the Role of
Ergonomics
CSG September 2023 speaker: David Caple: New thoughts on the role of ergonomics

New thoughts on the role of ergonomics

Presentation by: Professor David Caple AM, Centre for Ergonomics & Human Factors, La Trobe University; David Caple & Associates

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

On 12 September Professor David Caple AM shared some of the key issues and new findings from two international conferences he had just attended.

The question of what systems performance is and how it can be achieved was the subject of a number of sessions at the July conference of Organizational Design and Management in Bordeaux, France.

David outlined insights from this conference on how ergonomics can adapt to improve wellbeing and systems performance across multiple industries. The conference’s aim was to provide ‘insights, revelations and recommendations’ on the role of ergonomics.

Australia’s approach to prevention of manual handling injuries was under the spotlight at the Human Factors and Ergonomics Malaysia conference in August. It included a comparative review of Australian and Malaysian approaches.

David Caple gave a presentation there on the subject of 'Sustainable ergonomics interventions to MSD risks in industries'. He outlined some successful programs in different industries in Australia and shared those with us as well.

The presenter:

Professor David Caple AM is a leading figure in occupational health and safety here and overseas, and has led his ergonomics practitioner company in Australia since 1985. He is a Certified Professional Ergonomist (CPE) in Australia, UK, and USA. 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 was involved in the development of legislation relating to the prevention of MSD for the Australian government and led multiple industry-based MSD prevention projects. David was the 16th President of the International Ergonomics Association (IEA) 2006-2009 and represented the IEA at conferences and meetings in 30 countries. He is currently an OHS consultant and Adjunct Professor, Centre for Ergonomics & Human Factors, La Trobe University.

 
Facing
Customer
Aggression
CSG July 2023 speaker: Amy Lynes: Facing a rise in customer aggression

Facing a rise in customer aggression

Presentation by: Amy Lynes, Senior Workplace Relations Consultant, National Retail Association

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

Retail workers are currently confronted by a trend of rising bad behaviour from customers, manifest as frustration, anti-social behaviour and aggression, which is affecting employees’ workplace safety and wellbeing.

This issue was discussed in a presentation on 11 July by Amy Lynes, Senior Workplace Relations Consultant with the National Retail Association (NRA). She spoke about the impact of customer aggression on frontline retail employees, both in large retailers and small local businesses.

The industry is focused on how to manage this trend, alongside other workplace health and safety obligations, including controlling psychosocial risks and proactively preventing sexual harassment, to keep their employees safe and properly supported.

Amy said the NRA has seen a huge increase in demand from their members for training courses on dealing with aggressive customers, as well as members accessing their guides on topics such as preventing workplace sexual harassment.

Her presentation was followed by questions and discussion.

The presenter:

Amy Lynes joined the National Retail Association (NRA) in 2022, where she is a Senior Workplace Relations Consultant. NRA is a not-for-profit peak industry body that represents the interests of over 40,000 shop fronts across Australia. Prior to that Amy, who has a law degree, led a Human Resources team for over a decade with a national retail and manufacturing business. This included overseeing areas such as learning and development, industrial relations and work health and safety.

 
Victorian
Tunnelling
Centre Tour
The Victorian Tunnelling Centre (VTC) at Holmesglen Institute’s Drummond Street campus in Chadstone

Site Visit: Victorian Tunnelling Centre

Presentation by: Holmesglen Institute , Drummond Street campus, Chadstone

Presentation package now available (members only)

The Victorian Tunnelling Centre (VTC) at Holmesglen Institute’s Drummond Street campus in Chadstone offers specialist training to workers in the construction and operation of a variety of tunnels including rail, road, and utilities tunnels.

Central Safety Group was given a tour of this unique facility on Wednesday 14 June 2023.  The facility includes a replica mined tunnel and a replica rail/Tunnel Boring Machine tunnel similar to the Metro Tunnel, with a full-height entrance, two multi-purpose engineering workrooms and training facilities, including tunnel shaft and concrete lining spray simulators, as well as augmented and virtual reality experiences. A cutterhead, a refuge chamber and the only four-motion bridge and gantry crane located in a TAFE also form part of the facility.

The Australian-first tunnelling training centre is training thousands of workers as part of the Victorian Government's rail projects.Tours are designed to raise awareness of what it is like to work in tunnel construction and tunnel operations, and are led by industry experts with extensive knowledge in civil and tunnelling construction and operations, and virtual and augmented reality.​

 
HSRs -
Partners
in safety
CSG May 2023 speaker: Mike Craig: HSRs - partners in safety

HSRs - Partners in safety

Presentation by: Mike Craig, HSR Support Officer, WorkSafe Victoria

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

Health And Safety Representatives (HSRs), elected to represent their fellow employees, along with workplace Health and Safety Committees can make an important difference to workplace safety culture and outcomes.
Mike Craig, Health and Safety Representative Support Officer with WorkSafe Victoria, discussed how Safety Managers can assist in making these workplace safety roles and relationships as productive and constructive as possible in a lunchtime CSG presentation on 9 May.
Mike spoke about his role, which includes training, coaching and providing OHS legislative advice to Victorian HSRs as well as liaising and networking with a wide range of stakeholders.
Working inside a wide variety of workplaces, Mike witnesses the positive difference in safety outcomes from good collaboration and consultation between those representing the employers and those representing the employees.
His talk was followed by questions and discussion.

The presenter:

Mike Craig has had over 13 years’ experience in the area of health and safety as a manager, HSR and safety professional dealing with workplace health and safety matters. He joined WorkSafe Victoria four years ago, and prior to that his work included roles with Medibank, Origin Energy and Telstra.

 
Designing a
Sustainable
Workplace
CSG April 2023 speaker: Rosie O'Halloran: Green ergonomics

Green ergonomics: Designing a sustainable workplace

Presentation by: Rosie O’Halloran, Ergonomist, University of Melbourne

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

How do you gain a green star rating for ergonomic design? We learned what’s involved from Rosie O’Halloran, an award-winning Human Factors and Ergonomics practitioner, in her presentation to Central Safety Group on Tuesday 4 April.

She presented a methodology she developed for evaluating and certifying the interior of buildings with a green star rating credit for ergonomic design. Following her success with this at the University of Melbourne, Rosie won the 2022 University Safety Association’s Safety Professional of the Year award.

Rosie said incorporating ergonomics and human factors principles and practice into the interior design of buildings comes down to three fundamental principles, and stakeholder engagement is key to getting it right. The outcome is work spaces that promote physical well-being and perceived environmental comfort.

Rosie explained that, while the green star ergonomics credit rating for interior design requires certification by a Certified Professional Ergonomist, her method offers a verified, quality benchmark that can be used with confidence by all safety personnel.

The rating is awarded by the Green Building Council of Australia for interior design that meets selected ergonomic criteria. It is given in recognition of the substantial health benefits afforded by designing spaces and interfaces that provide optimum user comfort, safety and wellbeing and prevent or limit the risk of illness or injury.

The presenter:

Rosie O’Halloran is a Certified Professional Ergonomist with over 35 years’ experience in the field as a Human Factors and Ergonomics (HFE) practitioner. She is employed in a part-time capacity at the University of Melbourne as well as working privately as an HFE consultant. Rosie has extensive experience in HFE across a broad range of industries. A focus of her work is designing workplace environments, systems and tasks to match the capabilities, needs and limitations of people, with the goal of maximising health, safety, wellbeing, productivity and satisfaction.

 
The hot
topics of
OHS today
CSG March 2023 speaker: Kevin Jones: The hot topics of OHS today

The hot topics of OHS today

Presentation by: Kevin Jones, Editor, SafetAtWorkBlog

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

Some of the latest books on workplace OHS were discussed by Kevin Jones in a lunchtime presentation on Wednesday 15 March. Attendees learned about what’s new, what’s getting attention, and some of the fastest growing trends in OHS.
Kevin is internationally recognised for his commentary and analysis on safety-related matters and is involved in different areas of safety.
Some of the hot topics discussed were burnout, mental health, professional services, working hours, systems thinking and more.
The talk was followed by a question and discussion session.

The presenter:

Kevin Jones is currently a Senior Health and Safety Advisor and has been involved as a consultant and advisor in a wide range of OHS projects. For the past 15 years he has provided news, commentary and opinion on workplace health and safety in his popular award-winning SafetyAtWorkBlog (safetyatworkblog.com). He is a Life Member of CSG.

 
Recruiting &
Retaining
OHS Staff
CSG February 2023 speaker: Helen O'Keefe: Recruiting and retaining OHS staff

Recruiting and retaining OHS staff in an inflated job market

Presentation by: Helen O'Keefe, Director, HOK Talent Solutions

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

Like many areas of the current job scene, employers looking for quality OHS professionals are finding themselves in an inflated job market, where there are more roles available than suitable applicants.

So what’s required to attract and retain OHS talent when good candidates are spoilt for choice? What do you need to be doing differently? Some useful advice was offered by Helen O’Keefe, who runs a leading national health & safety executive search agency, at a presentation for CSG on Tuesday 14 February.

Helen spoke about the current OHS job market, giving tips for both job seekers and employers looking to recruit. She also discussed post-pandemic changes in OHS roles and where she sees new trends emerging.

The presentation was followed by a discussion with attendees.

The presenter:

Helen O’Keefe is the founder of HOK Talent Solutions, which specialises in national HSE recruitment. Helen has a passion for the health and safety industry, and had been working in recruitment for this sector before founding her own agency in 2015. Prior to this, her background includes working as National Recruitment Manager for the Australian Red Cross, and as an HR consultant with pharmaceutical company GSK.

 
5 Top Tips for
Successful
Auditing
CSG November 2022 speaker: Ross Macfarlane: 5 top tips for successful auditing

Five top tips for successful auditing

Presentation by: Ross Macfarlane, Director, RM The Risk Manager

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

Ross Macfarlane has extensive experience conducting successful OHS audits for a wide range of companies and organisations. Since 2008 he has conducted over 1,000 audits and has an audit log of over 1,350 days. Based on this wealth of experience, Ross shared his top 5 tips for a successful audit program in a lunchtime Zoom talk on 8 November.

Ross discussed how to develop and implement an audit schedule based on risk and then how to plan and prepare for the audit itself. Other topics covered were: putting auditees at ease during interviews, the rules of evidence, and strategies for corrective actions that actually work.

The presenter:

Ross Macfarlane is a highly experienced consultant and auditor who has conducted external and internal audits for a number of JAS-ANZ accredited certification bodies. Ross has assisted many organisations achieve and maintain certification to occupational health and safety, environment and quality management standards. He has also assisted them whilst undergoing internal and external audits, and has helped them to improve their safety performance and business effectiveness. Prior to forming his own business RM The Risk Manager, Ross spent 14 years with Castrol and BP in roles that included HSSEQ Manager, and Project and Plant manager. He has a Bachelor of Applied Science from Melbourne University, and other qualifications including a Diploma of OHS and SAI Global courses in auditing.

 
CSG
60th
Celebration
CSG October 2022 Hosted by: David Caple AM. Speakers: Dr Narelle Beer, ED WorkSafe Victoria and Barry Naismith

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.

 
Small Companies
with High
Risks

CSG September 2022 speaker: Ben Thomson: Small Companies with High Risks

When a company is small and risks are high

Presentation by: Ben Thomson, Safety Manager, Flight Academy Australia (FAA)

Presentation package now available (members only)

Aviation demands particularly sound safety management systems and behaviours. Ben Thomson, Safety Manager for Flight Academy Australia (FAA), a light aircraft pilot training business, faces special challenges with instructors and students from a wide range of backgrounds.

In a zoom talk to Central Safety Group on 13 September, Ben discussed his approach and actions that could be applied equally to other small companies wanting to refresh and strengthen their safety management systems.

Ben found it was important to customise and go beyond the safety templates provided by CASA (Civil Aviation Safety Authority), thereby creating safety management systems with performance indicators and responses tailored to his workplace. “We’ve changed the way we look at safety – we’re now more action-oriented and proactive,” he explained. “For example, teaching people to report incidents that they’d otherwise regard as routine. This is giving me useful data to measure what’s working.”

He also spoke about a range of OHS issues that can be problematic for small businesses, including the loss of ‘safety corporate memory’ when people leave.

The presenter:

Ben Thomson has been an aviation safety manager for the last four years and a flight instructor since 2015. He holds a Commercial Pilot License, Multi-engine Aeroplane Rating, Instrument Rating and Flight Instructor Rating, with training approvals for airline cadet training. He has trained a wide variety of students from basic flight sequences to airline cadet training in multi-engine aircraft. His role includes developing company safety policy and objectives, developing and monitoring safety performance objectives, managing aviation fatigue management and safety management systems, and investigating incidents. He is also involved in the writing of aviation operations manuals and flight training syllabi. Prior to becoming a pilot, Ben worked as a public servant, including as a data analyst for the Australian Bureau of Statistics, and in the Planning Decisions Unit for the Greater London Authority.

 
OHS &
Social
Sustainability

CSG August 2022 speaker: Phil Lovelock: OHS and Social Sustainability

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.

 
Return to Work –
What research
Is telling us
CSG July 2022 presentation: Dr Carys Chan: Return to Work – What research is telling us

Return to Work – What research is telling us

Presentation by: Dr Carys Chan, Research Fellow, Centre for Work, Organisation and Wellbeing, Griffith University

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

What are the psychological effects of workplace injury? How can an understanding of this help employers support workers’ return to work? Research findings on this were discussed in a presentation to Central Safety Group on 12 July by Dr Carys Chan of Griffith University, one of the authors of a recent paper commissioned by Safe Work Australia.

The aim was to advance knowledge and generate recommendations for Safe Work Australia’s National Return to Work Strategy 2020-2030. Safe Work Australia develops national policy to improve WHS and workers’ compensation arrangements across Australia.

Carys and her team of fellow researchers did a detailed investigation of both published scientific literature and current organisational practices regarding employees’ psychological responses to injuries and illnesses resulting in an absence from work. The paper on their findings was published last year.

Her presentation highlighted the main findings on the types and prevalence of psychological reactions by workers, who have sustained an injury or illness. She discussed what can increase the risk of these reactions, as well as practical processes employers can put in place to support workers in this situation.

The presenter:

Dr Carys Chan holds a PhD in Organisational Behaviour & Human Resources from the ANU and is a Research Fellow with the Centre for Work, Organisation and Wellbeing (WOW) at Griffith University, Brisbane. Carys is also a Senior Lecturer in Human Resources and Organisational Behaviour at the Department of Employment Relations and Human Resources (ERHR) within Griffith University. Her research interests include work-life balance, flexible/remote working, self-efficacy, work-related stress and burnout, and leader–subordinate interactions. Alongside her research, she teaches postgraduate and undergraduate courses at the interface of business and psychology.

 
OHS without
Borders -
Helping
Overseas

CSG June 2022 presentation: Jason Green: OHS without borders – helping overseas

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.

 
Ethics
in
Safety
CSG May 2022 presentation: Keith Govias: Ethics in Safety

Ethics in Safety

Presentation by: Keith Govias, Principal Consultant, Workplace Risk, Gallagher

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

As an OHS practitioner, how important is it to have an ethical approach in your role? And what is involved? This was the topic of Keith Govias' presentation to Central Safety Group on Tuesday, 10 May.

Keith is the first OHS professional to become a Vincent Fairfax Fellow in Ethical Leadership, and is also a peer-reviewer of the Ethics and Professional Practice chapter for the Body of Knowledge produced by the Australian Institute of Health and Safety.

Keith discussed the ethical challenges in our profession and how an ethical framework can be applied to OHS decision making, performance measurement, injury management and other areas, and gave examples from his own professional experience.

The ethics section in the Body of Knowledge was also discussed (https://www.ohsbok.org.au/chapter-38-3-ethics-and-professional-practice/#1548328004981-b89ce6eb-6a9a)

Following the presentation, Keith welcomed questions and discussion.

The presenter:

Keith Govias has been a Principal Consultant with the Gallagher Risk Advisory Team for the last two years, specialising in Safety Systems and Workplace Culture programs. Prior to that, his background included managing safety, worker compensation and public liability for some of Australia’s most iconic brands including Myer, The Reject Shop and Kraft Foods. Keith sits on a number of Regulatory reference panels advising on policy and legislative change. He is the current Chair of the Australian Retail Association WorkWell Mental Health intervention into prevention of occupational violence. He is also the recently retired Chair of the Health Benefits of Good Work Signatory Steering Group. He holds a Masters in Occupational Health, Safety and Environment (OHSE) Management from Australian Catholic University, a Graduate Certificate in OHS Management from RMIT and a B.A. from La Trobe University.

 
Psychological
Hazards
Regulatory
Approaches

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.

 
Changing
Role of the
OHS Professional


The Changing Role of the OHS Professional

Presentation by: Pam Pryor AO, Manager OHS BoK Development, Australian Institute of Health and Safety

Presentation package now available (members only)

OHS is now suffering from 'disciplinary ambiguity' according to a recent international study. Pam Pryor, Manager OHS Body of Knowledge Development for the Australian Institute of Health and Safety, discussed this as well as other changes affecting the OHS profession at a zoom lunchtime presentation for Central Safety Group on 8 March.

These changes include the COVID-19 pandemic opening new ground on workplace safety, the growing discussions around psychological health and safety, and the fact that many OHS professionals now include ‘wellness’ as part of their role. Pam discussed how all of these highlight the lack of clarity around the role of the generalist OHS Professional. She also illustrated this with some interactive online polling of the participants.

Pam offered insights and perspectives on the current status of the generalist OHS professional in Australia, why it is now seen to be in some respects an ‘emerging profession’, and where it is headed.

The presenter:

Pam Pryor is an internationally recognised specialist in OHS capability and related aspects of OHS professionality. She is currently responsible for the development and ongoing maintenance of the Australian OHS Body of Knowledge (BoK). Bok is the collective works developed by a range of specialists that informs OHS education, certification and further development of OHS professionals. (See www.ohsbok.org.au) Her work with the International Network of Safety and Health Professionals developing the OHS Professional Capability Framework earned Pam the 2017-18 President’s Award from the American Society of Safety Professionals. In 2018 she was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for her contribution to OHS Professionals, through her leadership and advisory roles, particularly in developing standards for education frameworks.

 
New
Perspectives
on OHS
CSG February 2022 presentation: Kevin Jones: New Perspectives on OHS

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.

 
Psychosocial Risk of
RTW in COVID
Times

CSG November 2021 Presenter: Dr Natasha Lazareski, Managing Director, PsyFlex

Return to work in COVID times: managing psychosocial risk

Presentation by: Dr Natasha Lazareski, Managing Director, PsyFlex

Presentation package now available (members only)

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a drastic impact on workplace conditions and work arrangements with new psychosocial risks that can affect the health and wellbeing of workers. Occupational health expert Dr Natasha Lazareski discussed this issue, along with strategies to manage it, in a presentation to Central Safety Group on 9 November 2021.
She said that, if not appropriately assessed and managed, psychosocial risks increase stress levels and can lead to physical and mental health problems. Psychological responses may include low mood, low motivation, exhaustion, anxiety, depression and burnout. Insurers are reporting that active psychological claims against employers have risen during the pandemic and are expected to continue to increase.  
Natasha spoke about how workplace stresses and psychosocial risks are arising as people return and readjust to their previous workplace settings and systems, across a wide range of occupations.
Natasha also discussed the impact of confusing and misleading information surrounding the COVID-19 crisis and how to manage this risk in your workplace.

The presenter:

Dr Natasha Lazareski is a medical doctor, specialising in occupational health, with over 20 years’ experience working with Australian organisations. She is founder and Managing Director of workplace wellbeing and resilience specialist PsyFlex. Prior to this she held positions in a range of organisations including the National Australia Bank, Ambulance Victoria and CGU. Her recent work has been with government organisations, educational institutions, healthcare providers and a number of other industries.

 
The current
OHS job
scene


CSG October 2021 Presenter: Helen O'Keefe

The current OHS job scene

Presentation by: Helen O'Keefe, Principal Consultant, HOK Talent Solutions

Presentation package now available (members only)

What’s the current job scene for OHS? The news is that at the moment there are more roles on offer than candidates, according to Helen O’Keefe, who runs a leading national health & safety executive search agency. This was the subject of her zoom presentation for Central Safety Group on 12 October.
Helen discussed the reasons for the current shortage of applicants happening across the board in a range of industries, as well as in different levels and roles in the OHS field.
She offered advice to recruiters, current job seekers and people trying to decide whether to move in the current job climate. She spoke about how, when you have a candidate-led market, the traditional recruitment methods may not work. She also outlined aspects that candidates need to consider carefully before accepting a new role.
Helen spoke about how workplace changes during the pandemic have led to some organisations creating different OHS roles or adding new requirements.

The presenter:

Helen O’Keefe is the founder of HOK Talent Solutions, which specialises in national HSE recruitment. Helen has a passion for the health and safety industry, and had been working in recruitment for this sector before founding her own agency in 2015. Prior to this, her background includes working as National Recruitment Manager for the Australian Red Cross, and as an HR consultant with pharmaceutical company GSK.

 
Manual Handling
Injuries in
Healthcare
CSG September 2021 Presenter: Professor David Caple

New research into manual handling injuries in healthcare

Presentation by: Professor David Caple AM, Adjunct Professor, Centre for Ergonomics & Human Factors, La Trobe University

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

Work-based musculoskeletal injuries remain a major issue, but research is telling us more about how and why these injuries occur, along with better prevention and management strategies.
Professor David Caple AM has recently been involved in a range of projects related to manual handling injury prevention in hospitals. These injuries account for around 70% of Workcover claims in hospitals for both clinical and non-clinical staff.
He discussed interesting results from a couple of studies in a zoom presentation for Central Safety Group on 14 September.
One of these is a study done with La Trobe University’s Biomechanics laboratory that focused on shoulder injuries in clinical staff. These account for 40% of their musculoskeletal injuries, while 60% are back injuries.
David also spoke about work being done to address the increase in injuries involving the handling of a range of patients, including those with co-morbidities such as dementia, those who present fall risks and bariatric patients.

The presenter:

Professor David Caple AM, is a leading figure in occupational health and safety here and overseas. He has advised a wide range of businesses, industry groups and public sector organisations, and has worked with Australian and overseas governments on work health and safety strategy. He is currently an OHS consultant and Adjunct Professor, Centre for Ergonomics & Human Factors, La Trobe University.

 
Managing the
Healthcare
Challenge
of COVID-19

Managing the healthcare challenge of COVID-19

Presentation by: Alison Hunt-Sturman, Group Manager, WHS, Mercy Health Australia

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

When the Covid-19 crisis arrived, organisations everywhere were hit with a massive task without warning and precedent. The healthcare industry faced significant challenges in managing and implementing new and complex requirements.
Alison Hunt-Sturman, Group Manager, WHS, at Mercy Health Australia, presented a compelling account of what happened across the healthcare industry as well as within her organisation. Mercy Health manages four public hospitals, 30 aged care homes, in-patient and outpatient mental health services, and home care services around Australia.
“We are serving some of the most vulnerable members of the community. We couldn’t just shut down,” said Alison. In addition to the many thousands of clients in its care, Mercy Health has a workforce of 9,000 people.  
There was a great deal for Alison's team and other sections to care about, learn, plan, organise and manage carefully to ensure everything was kept functioning safely, all the while dealing with the impact of the unknowns. Alison discussed the issues they faced, how it affected their operations and people, and how they responded.

The presenter:

Alison Hunt-Sturman is a safety professional with more than 25 years' experience in leadership and strategic oversight of health, safety and workers compensation. She started her career at the University of Melbourne where, after working for almost 10 years in a research capacity, she moved into the role of Environment Health and Safety Manager for the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, which she held for 9 years. Alison was Manager of Safety & Wellbeing at the Department of Justice from 2011-2017, before joining Mercy Health Australia in 2018. Alison has a Masters Degree in Occupational Health and Safety, and an undergraduate Diploma in Medical Laboratory Science.

 
COVID-19
in Victoria:
A union
perspective

CSG July 2021 Presenter: Dominic Melling, Lead Organiser, OHS Team, VTHC

COVID-19 response in Victoria: A union perspective

Presentation by: Dominic Melling, Lead Organiser, OHS Team, Victorian Trades Hall Council, Victorian Trades Hall Council

Presentation package now available (members only)

The COVID-19 crisis brought some major challenges to unions affiliated with the Victorian Trades Hall Council (VTHC), their members and workers. These challenges, along with lessons learned and solutions, were discussed by Dominic Melling, Lead Organiser of the OHS Team at the VTHC in a zoom presentation to Central Safety Group on Tuesday, 13 July.
Dominic’s talk covered essential workers who reported to their usual workplaces throughout the lockdowns as well as people working from home. He reviewed the structural problems that facilitated the spread of COVID-19 and the Union’s role in advising Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) and members. Using case studies from high risk industries, he discussed what happened when OHS structures and procedures failed and what lessons can be learned from these failures.
The presentation outlined VTHC initiatives to support HSRs and workers, and Unions’ lobbying efforts that led to changes in Government policy designed to protect workers and the community and to eliminate the spread of COVID-19.

The presenter:

Dominic Melling has been the Lead Organiser of the OHS Team at the Victorian Trades Hall Council since January 2020. In this role he works with affiliated unions in their collective efforts to campaign for safer workplaces and better conditions for workers. Recent examples of campaigns include the introduction of industrial manslaughter as an offence; exposure standards to crystalline silica and the introduction of psychological health regulation. Dominic also assists WorkSafe Victoria by liaising with relevant VTHC affiliates in relation to health and safety and workers’ compensation matters. After graduating in law from Monash University, he had extensive experience representing workers in both industrial and health and safety matters. Prior to working at VTHC, Dominic worked with the National Union of Workers as an Industrial Officer, Organiser and Trainer.

 
Human
Factors &
Human Error
CSG June 2021 Presenter: Dr Kate Branford, Senior Human Factors Specialist, V/Line

Human factors and human error

Presentation by: Dr Kate Branford, Senior Human Factors Specialist, V/Line

Presentation package now available (members only)

Human Factors issues constitute a significant source of risk in many industries. Human error contributes to an estimated 60-80% of incidents, while other Human Factors issues also play a part in a large proportion of incidents.
Understanding human error, how it contributes to safety incidents and how it can be managed, was the subject of a zoom talk by Dr Kate Branford on 8 June, 2021.
Kate is the Senior Human Factors Specialist at V/Line, which operates Victoria’s regional public transport network, and has worked in this role for seven years.She spoke about what Human Factors is, how it relates to human error and how it can be applied in the workplace to help improve health and safety performance.
The rail industry attracted her due to its collaborative approach to safety and the many opportunities for improvement; she gave examples of these in her talk.

The presenter:

Dr Kate Branford studied at the ANU, majoring in Sociology, with a focus on industrial accidents. She wrote her Honours thesis on the role of blame in accident investigation and then completed an industry-based Doctorate in Human Factors with the Defence Science and Technology Organisation. Her supervisor was Professor Andrew Hopkins, who is internationally recognised for his ground-breaking work in industrial safety and accident analysis. Before joining V/Line in 2014, Kate worked as a Human Factors consultant focusing on defence, aviation and nuclear power projects. At V/Line her role includes error management, incident investigation, Rail Resource Management and supporting Human Factors integration into rail projects and changes.

 
Safety
Benefits
of Technology
CSG May 2021 Presenter: Gavin Kenny, Manager SHEQ-Service Delivery, Melbourne Water

Using technology to make work safer

Presentation by: Gavin Kenny, Manager SHEQ-Service Delivery, Melbourne Water

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

Melbourne Water shared how technology has improved its safety systems and performance in a zoom presentation to Central Safety Group on Tuesday, 11 May. Gavin Kenny, Manager SHEQ - Service Delivery at Melbourne Water, has introduced a number of digital technology improvements to safety processes there.
Melbourne Water is a statutory body which supplies high-quality water, provides reliable sewerage services, integrates drainage systems to prevent flooding and enhances waterways and land for Melbourne and its surrounds. Gavin spoke about the changes involved, how they were introduced and the resulting efficiency gains.
These new systems are integrated with and supported by the organisation’s existing IT systems and range from large-scale solutions, such as VR design, to the smaller-scale, where policies are adapted to a simple app. Gavin described the transition from using cumbersome, paper-based processes to easy-to-use digital systems. Among other things, this has made safety data at Melbourne Water more transparent and easy to access, making it easier to analyse trends.

The presenter:

Gavin Kenny has been with Melbourne Water since 2016, where he has held a number of specialist safety improvement roles. Before that, his career included senior roles in HSE at Worley Parsons and ABB. He has an honours degree in science from Deakin University and qualifications in OHS and Project Management. It is never too late to join and support Central Safety Group. At $75 per calendar year.

 
Musculoskeletal
Issues -
What’s New
CSG April 2021 Presenter: David Trembearth, Safety Business Partner, Coles

Musculoskeletal issues – what’s new in risks and prevention

Presentation by: David Trembearth, Safety Business Partner, Coles

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

Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs), often referred to as ‘Body Stressing’, are the highest category of serious workers’ compensation claims for Australian workers, representing 36% of all claims in 2017-18.
Research and experience show there is a lot can be done to prevent these injuries, which will be the topic of a talk by David Trembearth to Central Safety Group via Zoom on Tuesday, 13 April at noon.
David chaired the working group that developed a position statement on WMSDS for the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society in 2020. He will provide an overview of this and talk about evidence-based causes of WMSDs as well as intervention strategies for the prevention and management of these injuries.
Musculoskeletal injuries can affect any worker, not just manual labourers, says David. It can happen in any workplace and cover a wide range of life-changing lower back and repetitive strain injuries.
Significantly, these injuries can result from both physical and psychological hazards in the workplace. They also present psychosocial hazards and are recognised as critical workplace risk factors.

The presenter:

David Trembearth has had a long career providing expertise in ergonomics and human factors to small industry, government and large commercial enterprises. He is currently Safety Business Partner with Coles, providing technical and operational safety support to diverse business units. He also teaches Occupational Ergonomics to students in RMIT’s postgraduate OHS Management program. David is a Certified Professional Ergonomist with the Human Factors & Ergonomics Society Australia Inc. and a Certified Chartered Generalist OHS Professional and Fellow of the Australian Institute of Health & Safety.

 
Hospital Safety
during the
Pandemic

CSG March 2021 Presenter: Christina Rennick, General Manager Health, Safety and Wellbeing, St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne

Hospital safety during the pandemic

Presentation by: Christina Rennick, General Manager, Health Safety & Wellbeing, St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne

Presentation package now available (members only)

When the Covid-19 crisis exploded just over a year ago, the demand for special safety measures in our hospitals was massive, sudden and urgent. Christina Rennick, General Manager Health, Safety and Wellbeing at Melbourne’s St Vincent’s Hospital, gave a presentation via Zoom on 9 March about how her workplace responded.
The hospital has a big and complex structure, a workforce of 7,000, and a large number of patients and visitors to protect. Beyond implementing large-scale basic requirements for Covid protection, the safety team had to develop new rules and systems, learn from experience and adapt. This has been ongoing as knowledge of the coronavirus unfolds and the situation in the community changes.
Christina spoke not only about physical safety measures, but also the need to monitor and manage the wellbeing of people in the hospital system during this time.

The presenter:

Christina Rennick has worked in the Occupational Health and Safety field for over 25 years. She has been in her current role as General Manager Health, Safety and Wellbeing at Melbourne’s St Vincent’s Hospital for nearly six years. Before that, she was with Mercy Health and held different roles in a number of other organisations, starting out in the health industry then later returning to it. Christina started her career as an Occupational Therapist and, with the ergonomic work she still undertakes, has retained her registration. She is also a Committee member of Central Safety Group.

 
Covid-19 and
Workplace
Safety

CSG December 2020 Presenter: Professor David Caple OM

What Covid-19 means for workplace safety

Presentation by: Professor David Caple AM, OHS Consultant and Adjunct Professor, Centre for Ergonomics & Human Factors, La Trobe University, David Caple & Associates

Presentation package now available (members only)

2020 – what a year! Central Safety Group wrapped it up with the subject that has had such an impact on our lives and work these past eight months.
Professor David Caple discussed Covid-19 and workplace safety via zoom on Tuesday 8 December. David has been working on Covid-related projects with the healthcare and government sectors during the crisis.
He reflected on the psychological and physical risks, ways these can be managed and what long-lasting impacts coronavirus could have on the workplace. He then opened the session for questions and discussion, in which participants were encouraged to talk about what is being done in their own industry or workplace. It was a great session!

The presenter:

Professor David Caple AM, is a leading figure in occupational health and safety here and overseas. He has advised a wide range of businesses, industry groups and public sector organisations, and has worked with Australian and overseas governments on work health and safety strategy. He is currently an OHS consultant and Adjunct Professor, Centre for Ergonomics & Human Factors, La Trobe University.

 
Web
Safety
Risks
CSG November 2020 Presenter: Speaker: Michael Connory, CyberCertified

Web safety – are you taking risks?

Presentation by: Michael Connory, CEO, CyberCertified

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

Cyber crime is at an all-time high with so many people working from home and shopping online. Most of us could do a lot to improve our cyber security.
Michael Connory of CyberCertified gave invaluable advice and answered questions on this topic during a lunchtime zoom presentation to Central Safety Group on Tuesday 17 November.
As one of Australia’s leading voices in cyber security, Michael’s session gave viewers a practical demonstration and plenty of useful tips.

The presenter:

Michael Connory of CyberCertified has had over 20 years’ experience in the global security sector, and has held a number of senior roles with companies specialising in this field. He is a strong advocate for better privacy protection for individuals and businesses, and is often called upon to give expert commentary in the media.

 
Victorian
OHS Data
Analysis

CSG July 2020 Presenter: Barry Naismith, OHS Intros

What does the data reveal about the state of OHS in Victoria?

Presentation by: Barry Naismith, OHS Intros

Presentation package now available (members only)

CSG Talks LogoWelcome to the fifth in a series of videos exclusive to Central Safety Group while normal physical meetings are suspended.

What does the data reveal about the state of OHS in Victoria?
Barry Naismith has once again produced a fascinating and frank analysis of the current state of OHS in Victoria.
Should we stay the course or shoot the rapids? That’s the question Barry poses, offering some invaluable insights and assessments based on his review of the latest full-year data from WorkSafe Victoria and other sources.
You can enjoy it here in PowerPoint form, provided by Central Safety Group as part of our video series during the Covid shutdown.
Says 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."
This presentation is based on Barry’s most recent research paper "Deaths at Work in Victoria 2019", available to financial members.

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.

 
Safety Shake-up
across the
Tasman -Update

 CSG July 2020 Presenter: Speaker: Nan Austin, Nan Austin, Consultant, Management Systems Consulting & Auditing

Safety Shake-up Across The Tasman Update

Presentation by: Nan Austin, Management Systems Consultant & Auditor

CSG Talks LogoWelcome to the fourth in a series of videos exclusive to Central Safety Group while normal physical meetings are suspended.

Safety shake-up across The Tasman-update.
An interesting insight into OHS in New Zealand is provided by Nan Austin, who recently spent almost four years as Manager, Health and Safety at the University of Waikato on New Zealand’s North Island.
The death of 28 miners in an underground explosion at New Zealand’s Pike River Coal Mine ten years ago led to 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.
Nan gives a first-hand account of some of the safety reforms in New Zealand, and how the new system is working out. This talk is of particular interest to anyone who works for an organisation with operations in New Zealand or, indeed, to anyone contemplating a move across the Tasman and looking for job opportunities in the field of health and safety.
Note: This video is an abridged and updated version of a presentation Nan gave to CSG in November 2019.

The presenter:

Prior to her time in New Zealand, Nan Austin held a number of senior national safety roles in Australia. This included Manager, Work Health and Safety at the Red Cross Lifeblood and National OHS Manager at Healthscope. Throughout her career Nan has specialised in the development of auditable systems for safety and injury management. Her work experience has been complemented by studies at Masters level in Business Administration and Personal Injury Management. Nan is also Vice-President of Central Safety Group.

 
Workplace
Safety in
Pandemic
Times

CSG June 2020 Presenter:  Dr Natasha Lazareski, Managing Director, PsyFlex

Building safety consciousness in pandemic times – How to ensure people follow OHS guidelines in your workplace

Presentation by: Dr Natasha Lazareski Managing Director, PsyFlex

CSG Talks Logo 2Welcome to the third in a series of videos exclusive to Central Safety Group while normal physical meetings are suspended.

Building safety consciousness in pandemic times – How to ensure people follow OHS guidelines in your workplace.
Returning to the workplace after the Covid-19 shutdown presents OHS challenges from both a physical and psychological perspective.
In this video, Dr Natasha Lazareski talks about how OHS managers can help employees adjust to the new reality and pandemic-safe workplaces. She outlines an easy to apply guide for employees to embrace the new safety requirements and interact with respect and tolerance towards others. As an occupational health and behavioural science specialist, Natasha offers six helpful points in this video for managing occupational and psychosocial risk in a post-lockdown workplace that requires everyone to comply with Covid-19 guidelines.
Natasha explains that we all feel differently about this new situation, and while we cannot control our feelings, we have control over our actions. At work our actions should show respect, compassion, caring and understanding towards those who have different feelings about the impact of Covid-19.

The presenter:

Natasha Lazareski is a medical doctor, specialising in occupational health, with 21 years of experience in Australian organisations. She is also trained in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a mindfulness-based cognitive behavioural therapy. In 2006, in the wake of the SARS pandemic, as medical and injury management services manager at IAG, Natasha was actively engaged in developing an organisational response to a possible influenza pandemic. At the time, medical experts knew that another airborne or droplet-borne pandemic was imminent. Natasha has been following COVID 19 developments closely since January and has been supporting workplaces worldwide with their response to infection control and occupational stress management.

 
A Very
Public
Tragedy

CSG May 2020 Presenter: Sue Bottrell, Lawyer, Contractor Safe

A very public tragedy – but who is really responsible?

Presentation by: Sue Bottrell, Lawyer, Contractor Safe

CSG Talks Logo 2Welcome to the second in a series of videos exclusive to Central Safety Group while normal physical meetings are suspended.

This presentation should not be missed by anyone responsible for safety and risk management in transport, logistics or supply chain operations. In an incident that sent shockwaves through the community, four Victorian police officers parked beside Melbourne’s Eastern Freeway were killed when hit by a truck on 22 April this year.
When looking at who is potentially liable for prosecution for the incident, lawyer and safety specialist Sue Bottrell has some interesting answers. Sue says a range of regulations and several prosecuting bodies, including WorkSafe Victoria, the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator and Police, could potentially become involved. They could commence prosecutions of the truck driver and others, including the transport operator who employed the driver, under the WHS regulation, Heavy Vehicle National Law and Criminal law.

The presenter:

Sue Bottrell has worked in occupational health and safety and workers compensation rehabilitation for the past 20 years. Sue has postgraduate qualifications in OHS and law, and is a practising lawyer in safety and employment law. She was the first safety professional in Australia to become a Certified Chartered Generalist OHS Professional Member of the Australian Institute of Health and Safety. She is a specialist in the legal and safety aspects of the management of contractor safety, and regularly speaks and publishes on this topic and acts as an expert witness. Sue is also a specialist in the application of the National Heavy Vehicle Law under Chain of Responsibility obligations. She is the AIHS representative for the current review of the Heavy Vehicle National Law being undertaken by the National Transport Commission.

 
A Look
at some
New Thinking

CSG May 2020 Presenter:  Kevin Jones, safetyatworkblog.com

A look at some new thinking

Presentation by: Kevin Jones Freelance writer, SafetyAtWorkBlog

CSG Talks Logo 2Welcome to the first of a series of videos exclusive to Central Safety Group while normal physical meetings are suspended.
Some new books about key OHS issues are discussed in this 10-minute video by Kevin Jones, author of the influential SafetyAtWorkBlog.

The Bystander Effect: The Psychology of Courage and Inaction
Author: US psychologist Professor Catherine Sanderson
This book deals with the psychology and context of expecting people to intervene in unsafe workplace situations. Kevin says it includes some useful insights and advice on dealing with bullying.

The COVID19 Pandemic: Lessons on building more equal and sustainable societies
Authors: Professor Michael Quinlan and a dozen of his global colleagues
Kevin discusses this highly topical research paper that examines whether things could, and should, change in the workplace because of the current situation, and the potential implications for OHS.

Michael Tooma on Mental Health
Author: Michael Tooma
Kevin mentions several topics of interest in this book: the legal implications of workplace bullying; industrial manslaughter, and the importance of both managerial and organisational approaches to mental health in the workplace.

We hope you enjoy Kevin’s discussion. Details of the publications can be found under Further Reading in the Members section of our website: www.centralsafetygroup.com.

The presenter:

Kevin Jones has been a consultant, writer and commentator on OHS matters for many years, and is a Life Member of Central Safety Group. He is well known for his award-winning SafetyAtWorkBlog.com, as well as a podcast series of interviews with leading safety experts safetyoz.podbean.com

 
Dealing with
Customer
Abuse
CSG March 2020 Presenter: Kenn Rogers, Safety Team Leader, The Reject Shop

Dealing with Customer Abuse

Presentation by: Kenn Rogers, Safety Team Leader, The Reject Shop

Presentation package now available (members only)

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.
Kenn Rogers, Safety Team Leader of the Reject Shop, outlined a new approach to the problem in a lunchtime presentation to Central Safety Group on 10 March. This included a trial program the variety discount retailer has been helping to pilot. Known as the Respect and Resilience program, it has proved a great success in reducing incidents at the stores where the trial was implemented.
Kenn spoke about how the program helps team members manage themselves and respond better to customer aggression, as well as how changes to a store environment can help influence customer behaviours.
Kenn also outlined an in-house program he has developed to make staff more aware and responsive to manual handling issues.

The presenter:

Kenn Rogers moved to a career in safety 16 years ago after working as a store manager with Dan Murphy’s. He joined the Reject Shop three years ago after working in safety roles with Dan Murphy’s, Myer and Woolworths.

 
Rebuilding
Safety
Culture
CSG February 2020 Presenter:  Mary Kikas, Action OHS Consulting

Rebuilding safety culture - a case study

Presentation by: Mary Kikas, Action OHS Consulting

Presentation package now available (members only)

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.
She outlined what happened in a presentation to Central Safety Group at its first meeting for 2020 on 11 February.
Mary discussed the principles and approach adopted and the setbacks and obstacles that had to be overcome. In addition, she described step-by-step what it took to drive effective risk management and improve safety culture.

The presenter:

Mary Kikas has had a long career in health and safety management, working both in-house and as a specialist consultant. Her background includes roles across a range of industries including manufacturing, rail, construction, aged care and disability. Mary also conducts work as an expert witness in matters of Common Law, Public and Product liability, failures in building regulations and TAC accidents. She is currently an OHS and Ergonomics Consultant with Action OHS Consulting. Initially qualified as a physiotherapist, Mary has obtained tertiary qualifications in Occupational Health and Safety Management and in Ergonomics. She is a certified OHS Management System Auditor and has held office with a number of professional committees.

 
Safety
Shake-up
across the
Tasman
CSG November 2019 Presenter:  Nan Austin, Management Systems Consulting & Auditing

Safety Shake-up across The Tasman

Presentation by: Nan Austin, Consultant, Management Systems Consulting & Auditing

Presentation package now available (members only)

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.
Nan has just returned to Melbourne after three years as Manager, Health and Safety at the University of Waikato on New Zealand’s North Island. She gave a first-hand account of the safety reforms in New Zealand, and how the new system is working out, concluding that there is still a long way to go in achieving an effective proactive approach.

The presenter:

Prior to her three years as Health and Safety Manager at the University of Waikato in New Zealand, Nan held a number of senior national safety roles in Australia. This included Manager, Work Health and Safety at the Red Cross Blood Bank and National OHS Manager at Healthscope. Throughout her career Nan has specialised in the development of auditable systems for safety and injury management. Her work experience has been complemented by studies at Masters level in Business Administration and Personal Injury Management.

 
Dealing
with Safety
Clutter
CSG October 2019 Presenter: Dr David Provan, Managing Director, Forge Works, & Lecturer & Researcher, Griffith University, Queensland.

Safety Clutter and What to do About it

Presentation by: Dr David Provan, Managing Director, Forge Works

Presentation package now available (members only)

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.
He said that clutter can take the form of too many rules and procedures, duplication and ‘tick the box’ safety activities. This can include meetings, audits, observations and investigation processes that are not actually reducing the risk of safety incidents. David explained how to ‘de-clutter’ without affecting legal compliance and certification.

The presenter:

Dr David Provan, a leading safety thinker and practitioner, is the former General Manager, Health, Safety and Environment for Origin Energy. He has more than 20 years of safety management experience across several high-hazard industries with international operations. David is the founder of safety consultancy firm Forge Works, and also a part-time lecturer and researcher at Queensland’s Griffith University. He has a Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology), Masters of Health Science (Risk Management and OHS), Masters of Business Administration (Finance) and a PhD in Safety Science, where his research thesis was titled, “What is the role of a Safety Professional? The identity, practice and future of the profession”.

 
Workplaces
Outpacing
OHS Standards
CSG September 2019 Presenter: Professor David Caple AM

When Workplace Changes Outpace OHS Standards

Presentation by: Professor David Caple AM, OHS Consultant and Adjunct Professor, Centre for Ergonomics & Human Factors, La Trobe University, David Caple & Associates

Presentation package now available (members only)

More and more jobs today require working on mobile devices including laptops, Surface Pros and tablets. When it comes to assessing ergonomic risks linked to this, compliance is measured by long-established OHS Codes and Australian Standards. But how relevant and effective are the current Standards?
Professor David Caple discussed this issue in a lunchtime presentation to Central Safety Group on 10 September, 2019. David explained that today we have ‘agile work’ in offices while Australian Standards and equipment have been designed for static workplaces. The term ‘agile’ describes the fact that a lot of computer work now is not done at conventional office workstations. This means existing Australian Standards for task chairs and workstations are potentially based on assumptions that, in many instances, are no longer appropriate. David looked at the current gaps and the need for change and offered some recommendations.

The presenter:

Professor David Caple AM 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.

 
The Real
Impact of
Shift Work
CSG August 2019 Presenter: 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

The real impact of shift work and workplace fatigue

Presentation by: Dr Tracey Sletten, Senior Research Fellow - Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University and Project Leader - Cooperative Research Centre for Alertness, Monash University

Presentation package now available (members only)

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 presented some of the latest findings and recommendations in this area at the August meeting of Central Safety Group.
Tracey has been working closely with several industries including aviation, transport and healthcare, researching the effects of shift work and sleep loss on workers in their operations. This work has included interventions to improve alertness, health and safety.
As well as the best way to manage shift work, Tracey discussed the need for cultural change to address the growing incidence of sleep loss in the general population linked to modern lifestyles.

The presenter:

Dr Tracey Sletten is a Senior Research Fellow with the Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, and serves as a Project Leader with the Cooperative Research Centre for Alertness, Safety and Productivity. She has also held research positions in the US and UK. Dr Sletten frequently consults nationally and internationally, conducting training and education, analysing work schedules and conducting fatigue assessments for industry. She holds a PhD in Psychology from the University of South Australia.

 
Safety & the
Aged Care
Sector
CSG July 2019 Presenter: Speaker: Michael Carley, Manager, Safety and Risk at Villa Maria Catholic Homes

Safety and the aged care sector

Presentation by: Michael Carley, Manager, Safety and Risk, Villa Maria Catholic Homes

Presentation package now available (members only)

The aged care sector is amongst 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 this industry were discussed by Michael Carley, Safety and Risk, Villa Maria Catholic Homes at the July meeting of Central Safety Group.
Michael spoke about the common hazards and risks in safety management in aged care. He also discussed current trends, gaps and recommended solutions.

The presenter:

Before taking up his role in Villa Maria Catholic homes in mid-2018, Michael was Health and Safety Manager at ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission) and Manager, Health and Safety for Macquarie University. Before that, his career included roles in Ageing, Disability and Home Care in the Department of Human Services. Michael holds a Bachelor of Science (Psychology) from Curtin University, WA, a Masters of Occupational Health and Safety and a Postgraduate Diploma in psychology rehabilitation.

 
Real Life
Consequences
of Workplace
Accidents
CSG June 2019 Presenter: Rohan Sykes, Phoenix Workplace Safety

Safety lapses and real life consequences

Presentation by: Rohan Sykes, Phoenix Workplace Safety

Presentation package now available (members only)

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 shared his experiences and discussed his special insights and perspectives on safety at the Central Safety Group lunchtime meeting on Tuesday, 11 June.
He spoke about the real life consequences of a workplace accident and outlined a model for safety and ‘safety psychology’ he believes should be adopted. In Rohan’s view, with the right habits and attitudes to safety, most accidents are preventable.

The presenter:

Rohan Sykes started his career as an apprentice fitter and turner with ALCOA. He immediately showed a passion for workplace safety and safe work practices, becoming an apprentice safety rep. Soon after that he started work as a multi-skilled operator at a glass bottle factory where the serious injury occurred. After his recovery Rohan founded Phoenix Workplace Safety with a mission to encourage industrial workplaces and individuals to completely re-think the way they approach safety. Through his presentations he has had a positive impact on the safety culture of many organisations, including major companies in the mining, defence, packaging and food industries and bodies such as local councils.

 
Preventing
Mental
Injury
CSG May 2019 Presenter: Claire Nivarovich, Director Mental Health Programs, WorkSafe Victoria

Prevention of mental injury at work - where can employers best direct their efforts?

Presentation by: Claire Nivarovich, Director Mental Health Programs, WorkSafe Victoria

Presentation package now available (members only)

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, and where can they best direct their efforts?
Claire Nivarovich, Director Mental Health Programs, WorkSafe Victoria, spoke about this topic in a lunchtime presentation on 14 May, 2019.
She outlined common causes of mental injury at work, as well as employers’ obligations under Victorian legislation to manage and control the risk. Information was given on WorkSafe programs supporting prevention of mental injury and promotion of mental health and wellbeing at work. This included the WorkWell Toolkit, launched last year for small and medium businesses, with a version for larger organisations launched in early April 2019.

The presenter:

Claire Nivarovich is the Director of Mental Health Programs in the Health and Safety Business Unit at WorkSafe Victoria. This role involves delivery of programs designed to prevent mental injury and illness and promote mental health in Victorian workplaces. Claire originally trained as a physiotherapist but learned quickly that working 1:1 with patients did not allow her to feel as though she was making a significant contribution to improving the health of the community at a system level. Claire has since worked within government and the insurance sector on initiatives to ensure delivery of good quality health and disability services.

 
Managing
Customer
Behaviour
CSG April 2019 Presenter: Kristen Richardson, Wellbeing and Safety Business Partner Team Leader, ANZ

Staff Safety and Difficult Customer Interactions

Presentation by: Kristen Richardson, Wellbeing and Safety Business Partner Team Leader, ANZ

Presentation package now available (members only)

Many businesses have seen an upsurge in staff impacted by difficult customer interactions that may place them at risk of a physical or psycho-social 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.
ANZ Bank has a strategy in place to keep their staff safe from this risk and this was presented by Kristen Richardson, Wellbeing and Safety Business Partner Team Leader, at a lunchtime presentation to Central safety Group on 9 April, 2019.
The strategy looks at all aspects of staff safety – physical, psycho-social and most importantly the leadership culture shift required to enable this strategy to be successful. This strategy was developed using external consultancy expertise and research across other industries.

The presenter:

Kristen Richardson joined ANZ in mid-2014 and has been in her current role providing Business Partnering wellbeing and safety support across ANZ Australia Division for two years. Prior to that, she was Retail Wellbeing and Safety Business Partner at ANZ. She spent over seven years in senior HR roles with infrastructure company Golder Associates after being with Coles Supermarkets for 10 years as National HS Manager. Kristen started her career in nursing before studying OH&S at RMIT and doing further studies in change management.

 
A Hidden
Explosive
Hazard
CSG March 2019 Presenter: Richard Greenwood, RG Chemical Safety

An explosive hazard hidden in plain sight

Presentation by: Richard Greenwood, RG Chemical Safety

Presentation package now available (members only)

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 was 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. The result was an Enforceable Undertaking for the company involved, including preparation of basic workplace training materials and a video for awareness of the hazard. Richard spoke about this case as part of its compliance with WorkSafe’s Enforceable Undertaking.
He explained how fine combustible dusts are likely to form and potentially explode when disturbed in an enclosed space. He also discussed how to detect and manage risks associated with this.

The presenter:

Richard Greenwood has spent over 25 years working in chemical safety training and consulting and has been involved in the development of some key chemical safety regulations. His career includes 15 years as Manager, Compliance and Training with Chemwatch, an international company with its headquarters in Australia. He now has his own business, RG Chemical Safety.

 
OHS Careers -
What's Hot &
What's Not
CSG February 2019 Presenter: Rachel McGregor and Ebonie Martello, Safety People

OHS Careers and Recruitment - what’s hot and what’s not

Presenters:

    Rachel McGregor, Safety People
    Ebonie Martello, Safety People

Presentation package now available (members only)

Key job market trends in safety in Australia were the subject of a presentation at the Central Safety Group’s first meeting for 2019 on 12 February.
OHS recruitment specialists Rachel McGregor and Ebonie Martello of Safety People gave a presentation followed by an extensive Q&A session with the audience.
They spoke about how employment trends are matching the industries experiencing a boom and presented a table of salary trends for various OHS positions in the Melbourne market. They noted that the demand for consultants is increasing and talked about the reasons for this as well as the implications for those seeking OHS roles.
They concluded by discussing what employers are looking for in a safety professional and what candidates are looking for in an employer.

The presenter:

Before joining Safety People, Rachel McGregor worked in WorkCover/Return-to-Work roles.

The presenter:

Before joining Safety People, Ebonie Martello was an OH&S Advisor with John Holland.

 
Construction Safety
during the
Boom
CSG November 2018 Presenter: Greg Splatt

Construction Safety During the Boom

Presentation by: Greg Splatt

Presentation package now available (members only)

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 was discussed by Greg Splatt, a construction safety manager and trainer, in a lunchtime presentation for Central safety Group on 13 November.
Greg said that many people are coming into the industry with the promise of long-term work, long hours and good pay packets. But without the necessary industry experiences and know-how, what risk do they present on job sites? Challenges with safety understanding and experience can also exist at supervisor and manager level.
Greg also spoke extensively about his experiences with the unique OHS challenges during extensive construction rebuilds after major events such as cyclones and bushfires.

The presenter:

Greg Splatt has spent many years as a Safety Manager in the construction industry, and is also a trainer in various OHS courses with the Master Builders Association. He has experience in all areas of construction and is an experienced safety systems auditor and incident investigator. Prior to working in OHS, Greg was a detective in the Victorian Police Force.

 
Fresh Look
at Safety
Inspections
CSG October 2018 Presenter: Dr Ross Donohue, Senior Lecturer, Monash University

A Fresh Look at Safety Inspections

Presentation by: Dr Ross Donohue, Senior Lecturer, Monash University

Presentation package now available (members only)

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 done ground-breaking work on this. He shared his research findings with us and outlined the 7-item generic OHS metric checklist he developed as a result of this research, in order to create a standardised tool to assist inspectors.
Ross also talked about the need for developing measures and training to assist OHS inspectors to assess psycho-social risk.

The presenter:

Dr Ross Donohue, Senior Lecturer, Monash University. Dr Ross Donohue works in the Faculty of Business and Economics at Monash University as a Senior Lecturer. He is currently working on a program to improve the training, competency assessment and development of safety inspectors. His other work includes developing a competency-based framework and continuing professional development program for OHS regulators.

 
Sit-Stand
Desks
CSG September 2018 Presentation: Professor David Caple, OHS consultant and Adjunct Professor, Centre for Ergonomics & Human Factors, La Trobe University

Sit to Stand Desks – What’s the verdict?

Presentation by: Professor David Caple AM, OHS Consultant and Adjunct Professor, Centre for Ergonomics & Human Factors, La Trobe University, David Caple & Associates

Presentation package now available (members only)

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 discussed the latest knowledge on the effectiveness of sit-stand desks and issues surrounding their use on 11 September, 2019 in a lunchtime talk to Central Safety Group.
David recently presented two papers on this topic at the International Ergonomics Association Congress in Florence, Italy in August. He was 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. David spoke about a range of factors that can affect how successful these desks are in the workplace, including the change management process, job design, employee education and work culture.

The presenter:

Professor 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."

 
Taming
Contractor
Management
CSG August 2018 Presenter: John Naughton

Taming Contractor Management

Presentation by: John Naughton

Presentation package now available (members only)

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 shared his experiences at the August meeting of Central Safety Group.
He described the journey from a manual spreadsheet-based contractor management system to an easy-to-manage, efficient and flexible system embracing modern technology. This change also brought crucial new dimensions and features to the company’s system for managing contractors, and significantly, reduced administrative time and costs.

The presenter:

John Naughton has over 20 years’ experience designing, implementing and managing safety and environmental management systems for large companies. In his recent role as Director of HSE at George Weston Foods, he was responsible for a team of over 50 HSE professionals in Australia, New Zealand and the Asia Pacific region. Prior to that he was National SH&E Manager for the Baking Division of Goodman Fielder.

 
A WorkSafe
Inspector’s
-Eye View
CSG July 2018 Presenter: Les Cameron, WorkSafe Inspector, WorkSafe Victoria

A WorkSafe Inspector’s-eye view

Presentation by: 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 were outlined by seasoned WorkSafe Inspector Les Cameron in a lunchtime presentation on 10 July.
Les shared his experiences of working on the front line and discussed incidents and some new intervention programs now being tested.

The presenter:

Les Cameron has spent over 20 years with WorkSafe as a dangerous goods and general inspector. He has also taught OHS/WHS for 10 years at Victoria University and Kangan Tafe. Before that he was with the Board of Works and Melbourne Water in a range of roles, including deep sewer maintenance and Training and Rescue special operations. He has also worked as an occupational diver. Les started work as a young teenager in the wool and mining industries in the NT, and went on to “railways, skinning rabbits and roofing” before he settled into a career in safety and related areas.

 
The State
of OHS in
Victoria
CSG June 2018 Presenter: Barry Naismith

The State of OHS in Victoria

Presentation by: Barry Naismith

Presentation package now available (members only)

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, shared 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 discussed 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 were welcomed.

The presenter:

Before a career in OHS, Barry Naismith worked as a journalist and editor. He spent more than 14 years with the Victorian WorkCover Authority and then worked independently as an OHS consultant. Recently this led to a position with Uniting Victoria, working 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.

 
Safety
and the
Big Cats
CSG May 2018 Presenter: Jason Hensel, Senior Advisor, Health and Safety, Zoos Victoria

Safety and The Big Cats

Presentation by: ason Hensel, Senior Advisor, Health and Safety, Zoos Victoria

Presentation package now available (members only)

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 gave a presentation on this subject to Central Safety Group on 8 May.
Jason discussed 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.
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.

The presenter:

Jason Hensel has been in his present role with Zoos Victoria since 2016. Before that, he worked in safety roles with Veolia Environmental Services and in OHS, process improvement and project management roles with Visy Industries. He began his career as an electrical engineer with Southcorp Packaging, having graduated in this field from RMIT. He also has an Advanced Diploma in HS&E from RMIT.

 
Reducing Manual
Handling
Injuries
CSG April 2018 Presenter: Conor Healy, Manager, Work Health and Safety, Jetstar Australia New Zealand

Reducing Manual Handling Injuries

Presentation by: Conor Healy, Manager, Work Health and Safety, Jetstar Australia New Zealand

Presentation package now available (members only)

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% was 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 discussed this program and what the airline is doing to continue to gain improvements in this area.

The presenter:

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.

 
ISO 45001
is here -
What Now?
CSG March 2018 Presenter: Kevin Jones, Editor, SafetAtWorkBlog

ISO 45001 is here – what now?

Presentation by: Kevin Jones, Editor, SafetyAtWorkBlog

Presentation package now available (members only)

The new international standard for OHS Management Systems – ISO 45001 – has been finalised and was published the day before Kevin’s presentation on 13 March. Kevin Jones has been following the evolution of this new Standard closely and considering its implications for Australia. He provided his perspective on ISO 45001 and how it could fit with your safety management systems.
Many are claiming this Standard is a “game changer”. 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. He reviewed these features as well as providing a handout that summarised the different sections, comparing the new standard against AS4801 & OHSAS 18001.

The presenter:

Kevin Jones is well known for his award-winning SafetyAtWorkBlog. He has been a consultant, writer and commentator on OHS matters for many years, and recently launched a podcast series of interviews with leading safety experts (safetyoz.podbean.com).

 
Mental
Conditions &
Return to Work
CSG February 2018 Presenter: Frank Imbesi, Managing Director, AMS Consulting

Mental-Psychological Conditions & Return to Work

Presentation by: Frank Imbesi, Managing Director, AMS Consulting

Presentation package now available (members only)

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 was discussed by Frank Imbesi, Managing Director of AMS Consulting, an occupational rehabilitation company.
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. He said that a lot is known about rehabilitation and return to work after physical injury, but far less about how to help people recovering from events or situations in the workplace that led to mental injury.
There has 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 with these challenges.

The presenter:

Frank Imbesi is Managing Director of AMS Consulting, a multi- award-wining company specialising in health and wellbeing, injury prevention, injury management, return to work consulting and human factors analysis . He began his career as a physiotherapist, working in sports medicine and clinical private practice, before moving to the field of occupational rehabilitation. Frank has consulted and presented to national and large state based employers, Scheme Agents and universities in the areas of occupational rehabilitation and best practice return to work following occupational injury. Frank has been a university lecturer and has presented in the areas of occupational injury management and best practice RTW over many years and on behalf of VWA. He has also presented at numerous conferences. He was on the organising committee for the international forum on disability management in 2014. Frank was a member of the VWA Clinical Panel providing specialist advice in the area of occupational rehabilitation peer review for the duration of the program. Frank was the recipient of the National Outstanding Achievement in RTW Award in 2017. He has also been a judge for the Australian Rehabilitation Providers Association Awards.

 
Working at
Heights
CSG November 2017 Presenter: David Davis, Director, Working at Heights Association of Australia

Working at heights – are the regulations safe?

Presentation by: David Davis, Director, Working at Heights Association of Australia

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.

The presenter:

David Davis became a Director of the Working at Heights Association of Australia in 2016. He is the owner of Hi-Rise Access Pty Ltd, a consulting and engineering company specialising in height safety, fall protection and suspended access. David became interested and involved in the safety industry through a friend who was working in the field. He acquired his current company 12 years ago. Prior to that, he had a successful career in the computer software industry, creating and selling his own company and looking at retirement at the age of 40. His plans changed when he discovered and developed his passion for industrial and workplace safety.

 
OHS in
Victoria
CSG October 2017 Presenter: Graham Dent, OHS Lawyer

OHS in Victoria… where are we going?

Presentation by: Graham Dent, OHS Lawyer

Presentation package now available (members only)

Recent developments in some areas of OHS law in Victoria were discussed by leading OHS lawyer Graham Dent at the October meeting of Central Safety Group.
This included the relevance of the harmonised WHS laws in Victoria, trends in cases, courts and penalties, and the use of Enforceable Undertakings.
Graham gave examples to illustrate these issues and the implications of changes we see going on around us. He also discussed changes that may have quietly slipped past us.

The presenter:

Graham Dent has over 30 years’ experience in the regulatory field, including time as a government prosecutor in OHS, industrial and consumer law matters. He is now in private legal practice representing clients in major regulatory actions for OHS, environmental and other areas. He represents clients and conducts training programs in all jurisdictions. Graham is also the founder of Australia’s largest online OHS forum with 17,000 members, the Work Health Safety Leadership (Australia & International) Group.

 
The
Future
of OHS
CSG September 2017 Presenter: Professor David Caple OM

The Future of OHS

Presentation by: Professor David Caple, OHS Consultant and Adjunct Professor, Centre for Ergonomics & Human Factors, La Trobe University, David Caple & Associates

Presentation package now available (members only)

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 these questions in his talk to the Central Safety Group on 12 September. David spoke about how the field of workplace safety has evolved, looking at the most important trends and changes over the years. He discussed what he sees as the latest significant developments in the area and where he sees things heading in the future. This included what OHS practitioners will be expected to know and do and the skills, background and experience they will need in the years ahead.

The presenter:

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.

 
Peer
Support
Programs
CSG August 2017 Presenter: Jacqui Bloink, Workplace Wellbeing Program Manager, St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne

Peer support programs – tips for success

Presentation by: Jacqui Bloink, Workplace Wellbeing Program Manager, St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne

Presentation package now available (members only)

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 were discussed by Jacqui Bloink, Workplace Wellbeing Program Manager, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne at the August meeting of Central Safety Group.
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.
Jacqui gave a case study of the St Vincent’s program and outlined findings on how it meets the needs of its users, improves wellbeing and provides value for service.
She also discussed the evolution of such peer support programs and how they can stay relevant in the face of today’s workplace incidents and issues.

The presenter:

Jacqui Bloink has been responsible for managing St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne’s staff-support services, EAP Liaisons and Critical Incident Stress Management/Peer Support since 2000. She has a background in emergency and intensive care nursing, and has held roles in management, clinical education and project organisation, and served on St Vincent’s executive team. Jacqui was awarded the Critical Incident Stress Management Foundation Australia (CISMFA) achievement award in 2009 and the hospital’s peer support program was recognised in the 2016 Victorian Public Health Care Awards and the 2016 WorkSafe awards.

 
Safety
behind
the Scenes
CSG July 2017 Host: Chris Hayes, Senior Manager, Venue Operations - Production, Arts Centre Melbourne

Safety Behind the Scenes at Arts Centre Melbourne

Presentation by: Chris Hayes, Senior Manager, Venue Operations - Production, Arts Centre Melbourne

Presentation package now available (members only)

There are many unique and complex safety challenges in the live performance industry, ranging from high risk work of theatre rigging and powerful electrical lighting, to manual handling of heavy sets and working with children and animals.
Chris talked about their approach to risk management that involves looking after the safety of entertainers, production teams and audiences. Chris believes there is a need for clearer universal standards and codes of practice in the industry and is working to have these established.

The presenter:

There are many unique and complex safety challenges in the live performance industry, ranging from high risk work of theatre rigging and powerful electrical lighting, to manual handling of heavy sets and working with children and animals. Chris talked about their approach to risk management that involves looking after the safety of entertainers, production teams and audiences. Chris believes there is a need for clearer universal standards and codes of practice in the industry and is working to have these established.

 
Safety
in Design
CSG June 2017 Presenter: David Trembearth, Safety Business Partner, Coles

Managing Risk By Incorporating Safety In Design

Presentation by: David Trembearth, Safety Business Partner, Coles

Presentation package now available (members only)

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. This was the message from David Trembearth, Safety Business Partner, People and Product Safety, Coles. When he spoke to the Central Safety Group on 13 June. David gave examples of how safety in design can make a difference, and discussed the key elements of good safety design both from a people management perspective and an organisational perspective.
He also outlined some of the steps in optimising safety when designing and managing a project.

The presenter:

David is a Certified Professional Ergonomist (HFESA) and a Chartered Generalist OHS Professional (SIA) and is Safety Business Partner for Coles providing safety support across all brands nationally. He has a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Human Movement, and Graduate Diplomas in OHS Management, Ergonomics and Teaching. A key driver in his role at Coles is Safety in Design. He has over 30 years of experience in the provision of health and safety advice, including professional/consulting roles in teaching, clinical massage, safety, ergonomics, injury management, and as a WorkSafe inspector.

 
Leadership
in Safety
Culture
CSG May 2017 Presenter: Wayne Richards, General Manager, Group Health Safety Environment & Quality, Transdev Australasia

The role of leadership in safety culture

Presentation by: Wayne Richards, General Manager, Group Health Safety Environment & Quality, Transdev Australasia

Presentation package now available (members only)

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 Central Safety Group 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. Transdev is a leading transport provider in Australia and NZ, operating train, bus, coach, ferry and light rail operations in partnership with public authorities and private companies. In Melbourne, this includes operating passenger transport services and school bus services on behalf of Public Transport Victoria.

The presenter:

Wayne commenced his role with Transdev in mid-2016. He was previously Director of Work Health and Safety with the MFB and Executive General Manager of SHEQ with Veolia. He holds a Masters of Business and Technology from the University of NSW as well as technical certificates in electronics. He is also a chartered professional member of the Safety Institute of Australia and Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

 
Safety in
the Age of
Automation
CSG April 2017 Presenter: Mark Letman, Safety & Wellbeing Business Lead, Pacific Brands

Safety in the age of automation

Presentation by: Mark Letman, Safety & Wellbeing Business Lead, Pacific Brands

Presentation package now available (members only)

Automation is rapidly affecting everything from the agricultural and manufacturing sectors to the healthcare industry. An insight into what automation can mean for safety procedures and related workplace arrangements was given by Mark Letman of Pacific Brands on 11 April. Pacific Brands, which manufactures and sells products that include Bonds underwear and Sheriden sheets, recently automated some of the key procedures for picking and packing orders in its 43,000 square metre national warehouse in Truganina. Mark’s experience is that the move to automation has had some positive effects on working conditions “The automation’s taken away a lot of the hard slog and legwork in the warehouse, and it’s become a joint activity between employees and the machine,” he says. However, it has also brought challenges in introducing employees to new work practices. This includes safety requirements when working with machines for the first time.

The presenter:

Mark Letman joined Pacific Brands 27 years ago and has worked in logistics, freight management, manufacturing and management roles. He started working in safety 12 years ago, after his interest in the field was stirred by his experience as a member of the site’s emergency response team.

 
Demystifying
Psychosocial
Risk
CSG February 2017 Presenter: Dr Natasha Lazareski, Managing Director, PsyFlex

Demystifying Psychosocial Risk

Presentation by: Dr Natasha Lazareski, Managing Director, PsyFlex

Presentation package now available (members only)

The emphasis on psychosocial risk in the workplace is fairly new in the area of health, safety and wellbeing. Although there has been a huge amount of research on it globally and locally, there is limited understanding on how to assess and manage it.
The subject was discussed by occupational health specialist Dr Natasha Lazareski, who specialises in this area, at Central Safety Group's meeting on Tuesday, 14 February 2017.
She outlined what psychosocial risk is and how to assess it, and provided insight into some of the latest developments in this field.
Taking action can improve the workplace environment and culture by reducing bullying, conflict, complaints, absenteeism, poor teamwork and mental health issues.
Natasha talked about some of the most powerful and effective actions organisations can take to control the impact of work-related stress and improve the mental wellbeing of their employees.

The presenter:

Dr Natasha Lazareski is Managing Director of Psyflex, which provides expertise in workplace mental health and wellbeing. She has been Health and Wellbeing Manager for a number of organisations including National Australia Bank and Ambulance Victoria. She has also worked as a medical officer for personal injury insurance and was National Manager of CGU Workers Compensation Injury Management Services. Through Psyflex Natasha now develops programs for businesses in a range of industries as well as government organisations, schools, and health and emergency services.

 
Winning
Formula for
Return To Work
CSG November 2016 Presenter: Stuart Cross, Occupational Health & Safety Unit Manager, Yarra City Council

Winning Formula For Return To Work

Presentation by: Stuart Cross, Occupational Health & Safety Unit Manager, Yarra City Council

Presentation package now available (members only)

A new approach to injury management helped Yarra City Council achieve a 40% reduction in standard WorkCover claims and a WorkSafe Employer Excellence award in 2015.
Stuart Cross outlined the actions the Council took to reduce workplace injuries and assist injured workers in rehabilitation and return to work. The result in just one year was a 55% reduction in lost time days due to injuries and a 46% reduction in injury occurrence rates. It also translated into a $400,000 saving in Yarra City Council’s annual WorkCover premium.
He also discussed how the Council is maintaining these results and making further improvements to their new OHS model in relation to injury management.

The presenter:

Before joining Yarra City Council in 2009, Stuart worked with CGU in Safety & Risk and Injury Management roles. Prior to that he was with Corporate Health Management. He studied Human Movement and Exercise Rehab at Victoria University and has an advanced diploma in OHS.

 
Safety:
Trade or
Profession?
CSG October 2016 Presenter: Leo Ruschena, Senior Lecturer OHS, RMIT University

Safety: Trade or profession?

Presentation by: Leo Ruschena, Senior Lecturer OHS, RMIT University

Presentation package now available (members only)

It’s both trade and profession, according to Leo Ruschena, Senior Lecturer OHS, RMIT University and Chair, Technical Committee of the Australian OHS Education Accreditation Board.
Leo talked about how safety education and accreditation are going through a process of major reform. This includes developing a uniform system of knowledge, accreditation of universities and certification of individuals. This has led to some confusions and gaps, including problems with the role of TAFE in safety education and certification.
He also discussed the current (controversial) move to ‘professionalise the profession’, which will require safety professionals to have accreditation the same as engineers, doctors and accountants.

The presenter:

Leo Ruschena was previously Director of Human Resources at WorkSafe Victoria and before that held senior roles in human resources and OHS with several utility companies. He has bachelors degrees in chemical engineering and economics from the University of Queensland, a Masters in Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene from the University of London and a Masters in Industrial and Employee Relations from Monash University.

 
Managing
Fatigue
CSG September 2016 Presenter: Professor David Caple OM

Managing fatigue: getting it right

Presentation by: Professor David Caple, OHS Consultant and Adjunct Professor, Centre for Ergonomics & Human Factors, La Trobe University, David Caple & Associates

Presentation package now available (members only)

Fatigue at work can present significant risks, with fatigue management policies covered in OHS regulations and industrial agreements.
But Professor David Caple questions whether our current arrangements are dealing with it very well.
He discussed shortcomings in this area as well as looking at some less well understood implications of fatigue. He also highlighted the increase in fatigue problems with white collar workers.
David said fatigue has physical, psychological and cognitive effects which can apply in any role in the workplace. This makes it important for OHS professionals to see it not only as a safety hazard but as a wider workplace wellbeing issue.
“We don’t always appreciate the cumulative impact of fatigue, or the poor quality of sleep people are getting today. We’re now in a generation that celebrates extended work hours, lives with round the clock digital activity and sees long daily commutes as normal,” he said.
David talked about increased understanding of the psychological, emotional and cognitive cost this is having on people, as well as the impact on their physical health, and whether awareness of this should lead to changes in the workplace.

The presenter:

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.

 
What Safety
Success
Looks Like
CSG August 2016 Presenter: Rocky Armstrong, Group Manager, Health, Safety, Environment and Quality, AusNet Services

What safety success looks like – across industry sectors

Presentation by: Rocky Armstrong, Group Manager, Health, Safety, Environment and Quality, AusNet Services

Presentation package now available (members only)

What are some of the key things successful organisations do to achieve a high performance in health and safety? How would your workplace rate?
This was discussed by Rocky Armstrong, basing his observations on his experience in his current role and previous job as Asia Pacific Head of Safety with Linfox, the international logistics and supply chain company.
At Linfox, Rocky was involved with a wide range of safety programs in companies across different sectors, including BlueScope Steel, Unilever, Tesco, bhp Billiton, ExxonMobil and more.
He talked about lessons and insights this gave him on safety strategy, leadership and culture.
Rocky also provided a scorecard with key elements of success and invited the audience to participate in a self-assessment exercise based on their workplace experience.

The presenter:

He is currently Group Manager, Health, Safety, Environment and Quality with Ausnet Services, the energy delivery service business that owns and operates Victoria's largest network of electricity and gas infrastructure. He previously worked with Linfox, and was Asia Pacific Head of Health and Safety. Linfox has over 20,000 people operating in 10 countries and is exposed to a diverse risk profile. Rocky completed tertiary studies in science, occupational health and safety and management before completing his MBA at Melbourne Business School.

 
Rethinking
Incident
Investigation
CSG July 2016 Presenter: Greg Splatt, National HSE Manager, Johns Lyng Group

Rethinking incident investigation

Presentation by: Greg Splatt, National HSE Manager, Johns Lyng Group

Presentation package now available (members only)

How well do we carry out incident investigations and how useful are they?
This issue was explored by Greg Splatt, a former detective with the Victoria Police Force and experienced risk auditor and safety professional now working in the construction industry.
He believes traditional incident investigation models used by the safety industry often fall short.
He also questions how much value is derived from the results of investigations. This is important as incident investigation is a vital part of improving safety performance.
Greg discussed investigative techniques used by detectives for crime and traffic accidents. While some of the methods used in safety investigations are similar, Greg says the follow up and resolution are often different.

The presenter:

Greg Splatt has spent many years as a Safety Manager in the construction industry, and is also a trainer in various OHS courses with the Master Builders Association. He has experience in all areas of construction and is an experienced safety systems auditor and incident investigator. Prior to working in OHS, Greg was a detective in the Victorian Police Force.

 
Workplace
Aggression
CSG July 2016 Presenter: Tiffany Plummer, Aggression Coordinator, St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne

Workplace aggression – prevention and management

Presentation by: Tiffany Plummer, Aggression Coordinator, St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne

Presentation package now available (members only)

Workplace aggression, or occupational violence, is an issue today for many organisations that deal with the public.
Tiffany Plummer discussed the problem and strategies to help prevent and manage it at Central Safety Group's meeting on the 14th June, 2016.
She is responsible for programs at St Vincent's to train employees in aggression prevention and management strategies, and investigates critical incidents of aggression.
Tiffany also runs programs to help strengthen the resilience of hospital employees. There is an increasing call for such programs as healthcare workers and other service providers today deal with a decline in civility by the public.
St Vincent’s Hospital has been a pioneer in strategies for dealing with occupational violence for 20 years, and Tiffany’ current role was created in 2010.

The presenter:

In addition to her role as Aggression Coordinator Tiffany is also coordinator of St Vincent's Hospital’s successful Star Program for peer-to-peer support. This program provides employees with trained colleagues to help them deal with stress in the workplace. They are available 24 hours a day to offer one-on-one support to workmates experiencing stressful events, provide information and referrals and facilitate team debriefing sessions e.g. after the death of a patient. Tiffany has been with St Vincent’s Hospital for 27 years, working as an Emergency Care nurse before moving to the OHS department.

 
Safety
and the
Crane Industry
CSG May 2016 Presenter: Brandon Hitch, CEO, Crane Industry Council of Australia-CICA

Safety and the crane industry

Presentation by: Brandon Hitch, CEO, Crane Industry Council of Australia (CICA)

Presentation package now available (members only)

As cranes have grown larger and more complicated so have the safety challenges.
An insight into how the industry works on safety with operators and companies was provided by Brandon Hitch to Central Safety Group on May 10, 2016.
He also provided an interesting insight and overview of how cranes worked, and where the risks lie.
Brandon discussed some prominent crane accidents and their causes, and extensive measures being taken to help prevent such incidents through initiatives such as the mobile crane industry’s Cranesafe program.

The presenter:

Before being appointed CEO of the Crane Industry Council, Brandon was General Manager of the industry’s Cranesafe program, overseeing the technical and day to day operations of the program nationally. Brandon joined CICA four years ago after working as a senior engineer for companies in the USA and Australia. With bachelors and masters degrees in engineering, he is registered as a chartered engineer with Engineers Australia and is a licensed professional engineer in the USA.

 
A More Direct
Approach to
Safety
CSG April 2016 Presenter: Sylvia Hudson, Manager, People Safety, Health & Wellbeing at V/Line

A more direct approach to safety (V/line and its employees)

Presentation by: Sylvia Hudson, Manager, People Safety, Health & Wellbeing, V/Line

Presentation package now available (members only)

Having a safety strategy in place is not enough – what can you do to ensure employees are aligned with it?
Sylvia Hudson outlined a different and more direct approach being taken by V/Line, Australia’s largest regional public transport operator.
She discussed her organisation’s new “Destination Zero” safety program and the reasons why it was needed. It is a program that has to serve a workforce ranging from highly skilled technical personnel at head office to drivers and signal operators and to track work gangs in remote locations across the State. Sylvia described how V/Line is working to strengthen its employees’ connection to safety, responding to issues revealed by workplace surveys. This includes using simpler language, changing the subject emphasis and balancing the human element with the focus on compliance.

The presenter:

Before joining V/Line in late 2014, Sylvia was responsible for safety at Citywide, which delivers physical services to councils, mainly along the Eastern seaboard. Prior to that she had a national safety role with Visy and has worked in a number of manufacturing organisations, such as Trico and GM Holden. Sylvia has spent time working in the warehousing, transport and distribution sector and has experience in developing a Safety Management System for a greenfield operation. Sylvia’s passion for safety first developed while working as a shoemaker in a manufacturing plant, complemented through time spent as an HSR. This led to her studying for a safety qualification and becoming a full-time safety professional in the 1990s.

 
Mental
Health
First Aid
CSG March 2016 Presenter: Stephen Dowling, Corporate Manager Health, Safety, Rehabilitation and Wellness, ESTA 000 (Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority)

Frontline stress and mental health first aid

Presentation by: Stephen Dowling, Corporate Manager Health, Safety, Rehabilitation and Wellness, ESTA 000 (Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority)

Presentation package now available (members only)

Few jobs are as high pressure and stressful as that of Emergency 000 operators. They deal constantly with life and death situations, often working with distressed, panicked and confused callers.
Helping them handle the stress of their job is the task of Stephen Dowling, whose role is focused not only on physical safety in the workplace, but also on reducing the risk of psychological injury and mental health.
Stephen talked about his work with the 000 team, and discussed strategies for helping employees in stressful frontline situations with the use of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA).
He outlined what was involved in MHFA training and why workplaces should appoint people to this role as they did physical first aid officers.
Stephen also discussed intervention strategies for managing psychosocial risk in the workplace.
Stephen has been a leader in dealing with workplace psychological injury for many years and helps a wide range of organisations and industries around the country to develop systems that ensure employees get help when they need it. Stephen believes lack of knowledge and stigma about psychological injury can prevent people from seeking help early, and limit the ability of co-workers and managers to provide mental health first aid to their workmates until appropriate professional treatment is available.

 
Safety
Compliance
in the Digital Age
CSG February 2016 Presenter: Glenn Parker

Safety compliance in the digital age

Presentation by: Glenn Parker, Civil Engineer, Donesafe

Advances in software and mobile devices are bringing a revolution to safety management systems. Just how much things have changed was discussed at Central Safety Group's meeting on 9 February, 2016, by Glenn Parker, a civil engineer and software specialist, who is responsible for taking to market the DoneSafe system for safety compliance which can be run from a mobile phone.
This Australian-developed software is now getting attention overseas as well as continuing to grow locally. Its users range from tradies to organisations with thousands of employees. Glenn talked about what inspired the system, how it works and what it covers.

The presenter:

Glenn, a civil engineer and software specialist, is responsible for taking to market the DoneSafe system for safety compliance which can be run from a mobile phone.

 
Physical Capacity Testing for Emergency Workers
CSG November 2015 Presenter: Professor David Caple

Physical Capacity Testing for Emergency Workers

Presentation by: Professor David Caple, OHS Consultant and Adjunct Professor, Centre for Ergonomics & Human Factors, La Trobe University, David Caple & Associates

Presentation package now available (members only)

Physical capacity testing of workers in emergency services can be controversial. Our guest speaker Professor David Caple talked about some of the key issues surrounding this at Central Safety Group's meeting on November 2015. Risk factors associated with this type of work have given rise for the need to do physical capacity testing, which is now a feature of the EBA for emergency workers. One factor is that emergency workers have high cognitive and physical demands and these result in a higher probability of a risk of injury.
A range of controls has been introduced to address the risk factors and the findings from physical capacity testing. These include design controls; training (both physical and skills) as well as peer support programs and controls specific to particular divisions.

The presenter:

David Caple, whose background is in ergonomics, 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 issues. He is an OHS consultant and Adjunct Professor, Centre for Ergonomics & Human Factors, La Trobe University.

 
OHS Today:
What's Wrong,
What's Right?
CSG October 2015 Presenter: Kevin Jones, SafetyAtWorkBlog.com

What’s wrong with OHS today (and what’s right)

Presentation by: Kevin Jones, Freelance journalist, SafetyAtWorkBlog

Presentation package now available (members only)

Kevin Jones, well known for his award-winning SafetyAtWorkBlog (www.safetyatworkblog.com) led a discussion at Central Safety Group's meeting on October 13, 2015, about some of the positives and negatives of OHS today. He began by stating that one of the major problems is the excessive documentation required and this may be due to WorkSafe conditions.
Kevin believes that there is also an excess of consultation; management need to be more decisive and focus on the short term – attack the easy problems first to achieve some progress. Recurring problems are either not addressed or the controls implemented are inadequate.  Businesses need to look at the source of the problem and eliminate the hazards.
Kevin stated that there was no face associated with safety, that no-one was seen as a safety champion. There is no engagement of the media by safety groups.
He raised the issue of there being no safety economics in Australia, even though it is possible to determine the costs of safety and relate it to the benefits. Safety managers are expected to know all and be all.  However, funding is tied to the risk profile of a business and is therefore not successful.  Implementation of OHS is seen as reactive with little or no progress.
Kevin also noted that there was little talk about the ethics of safety.
He followed up the session with a blog entry (attached).

The presenter:

Kevin Jones is well known for his award-winning Safety At Work blog (http://safetyatworkblog.com) which keeps readers up-to-date with the Australian and international OHS scene. It’s a beautifully written blog, serving up a tasty mix of news, insights and fresh perspectives on a sector he knows very well.

 
Prolonged
Sitting
CSG September 2015 Presenter: Nyssa Hadgraft, Epidemiologist, Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Monash University

Is prolonged sitting at work an OHS issue?

Presentation by: Nyssa Hadgraft, Epidemiologist, Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Monash University

Presentation package now available (members only)

There is now evidence to suggest that long hours in a sedentary position increases the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular and other health problems. Our speaker at Central Safety Group's meeting on September 8,2015, Nyssa Hadgraft, is a member of a team called The Stand Up Australia Program of Research that is doing internationally-recognised research on the health impacts of too much sitting and interventions to reduce sitting time.
Nyssa spoke about the group’s findings and discussed recent workplace studies they have done. Findings include that office workers spend most of their day sitting (6+ hours per day) and lot of this sitting time is unbroken (30mins+).  While excessive sitting is detrimental even for those who exercise, prolonged standing is also an issue.
Nyssa outlined a number of strategies to reduce workplace sitting, including the provision of height-adjustable desks, but they have cost implications. Helpfully, all the other measures she suggested have no cost attached. The key take-home message is Stand Up – Sit Less –Move More.

The presenter:

Epidemiologist Nyssa Hadgraft is a postdoctoral research fellow in public health at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia. She is a member of the team at Melbourne’s Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute led by Dr David Dunstan doing world-recognised research on the health impacts of too much sitting.

 
Safety on a
Mass Scale
CSG August 2015 Presentation: Steve Goss, Sentry Business Resilience Solutions

Safety on a mass scale – managing risk and safety at epic events

Presentation by: Steve Goss, Sentry Business Resilience Solutions

Presentation package now available (members only)

How do you manage safety for a crowd of 500,000 out for a good night? Members heard how it is done from Steve Goss, the man behind safety, risk and emergency planning for the 2015 White Night festival in Melbourne’s CBD with his lunchtime presentation on August 11, 2015.
Following significant challenges experienced at the first White Night in 2013, where debrief comments included “from a crowd safety and risk management perspective, it is the worst event witnessed”, Steve was brought in to make radical improvements to the safety approach.
Steve explained that many of the 2103 problems were foreseeable and, when he joined the organisation, he tackled the main issues of communication and crowd control. He outlined crowd dynamics as well as how safety was improved through design. An installation risk assessment includes specifics for every item of plant, and he also developed a decision matrix for adverse weather conditions to use when considering cancelling events or specific activities.
Importantly, his system involves briefing and liaising with all relevant stakeholders such as security agencies, emergency services and transport and traffic management bodies.
The extensive planning and constant vigilance led to a very successful event in 2015 with the number of incidents significantly reduced in number and severity.

The presenter:

Originally a Senior Sergeant in the Victoria Police, Steve Goss then worked as a safety regulator in the upstream oil, gas and mining and quarrying industries, followed by senior executive roles in safety & risk management at both the Melbourne Racing Club and the Australian Grand Prix Corporation. Steve set up his company Sentry Business Resilience Solutions (Sentry) in 2009, and his clients include businesses, not-for-profit organisations, sporting bodies and local and State government agencies.

 
Manual
Handling
Challenges
CSG July 2015 Presenter: Daniel Venditti, State HSE Advisor, Bunnings

Manual handling challenges in Bunnings retail operations

Presentation by: Daniel Venditti, State HSE Advisor, Bunnings

Presentation package now available (members only)

Daniel Venditti, State HSE Advisor with hardware giant Bunnings outlined the company’s approach to manual handling challenges and risks in a presentation to Central Safety Group on July 14, 2015. These included a wide and complex range of manual handling tasks, concrete flooring, racking up to 3 metres and big and bulky packages. Bunnings employees include many part-time and casual workers and a workforce with 25% aged over 50.
A large number of injuries centering on known hot spots led to the development of the BSafe (Bunnings Safe) program in 2004. The methodology involved a move away from the compliance approach to incorporating safety into the business.  Safety leadership training was provided, LTIFR was abolished and replaced by IFR, and staff were encouraged to report all injuries.  This resulted in a 30% increase in incident reporting and was followed by an increase in resources for safety as compared to injury management.
Daniel explained how further strategies evolved over the next 8 years as a result of workplace incidents and the current strategy aims to reduce complexity.  Ownership of the safety system has been assigned to the stores, which have monthly activities that must be completed and reported to Head Office.
Daniel also outlined their range of controls to address the fact that 50% of reported injuries were found to be related to manual handling activities.

The presenter:

Before joining the safety team at Bunnings, Daniel Venditti (who is also a VFL player with the Coburg Lions) worked in injury management and vocational rehabilitation. His background includes a degree in health and exercise science and postgraduate qualifications in OHS management.

 
WorkSafe
Victoria
Priorities
CSG June 2015 Presentation: Worksafe Priorities, WorkSafe Victoria

WorkSafe Victoria: health & safety priorities for 2015-16

Presentation by: Tim McLean, Director Improvement Programs, WorkSafe Victoria

Presentation package now available (members only)

WorkSafe Victoria’s current priority hazards, industries and emerging issues were discussed by Tim McLean, Director Improvement Programs at WorkSafe in a lunchtime presentation on June 16, 2015. The priority hazards range from mandatory work, such as construction and dangerous goods to strategic work with both physical and psychosocial risks as well as occupational violence and worker health.The strategic approach includes addressing supply chains and networks; elimination of risk at source; improved compliance and risk control; increase in awareness and capability; working with and through others; and a whole of organisation approach at WorkSafe itself.Industries in focus are wide-ranging: health; construction; agriculture; manufacturing; warehousing and transport.
He also outlined progress in meeting targets and action plans set by the five-year Worksafe 2017 strategy in the areas of Safety, Return-to-Work, Service and Sustainability. The strategy underpins WorkSafe’s two approaches to workplaces: Encouragement for effective workplace safety through campaigns and financial incentives, and Deterrence for poor performance through inspections and prosecutions.

The presenter:

Tim McLean leads the design and delivery of strategic prevention programs to improve health, safety and wellbeing in Victorian workplaces. He has been with WorkSafe Victoria for the past 8 years, and has a background in public relations and strategic communications with a focus on influencing behaviour change.

 
Incident
Investigation
CSG April 2015 Presenter: Graham Dent, Dent Consulting & Legal

Incident investigation: implications of the model work health safety legislation for Victorian businesses

Presentation by: Graham Dent, Principal, Dent Consulting & Legal

How can businesses be proactive in managing an incident investigation under both Victorian and national safety legislation? Leading OHS lawyer Graham Dent spoke to Central Safety Group on April 14, 2015, about what happens with incidents when businesses consider themselves to be “Victorian” (with their facilities and personnel based in Victoria), but operate interstate. They could have employees who travel as sales representatives or transport workers or install and maintain plant and equipment interstate.
Graham discussed how he has worked on recent cases involving interstate aspects, where the approach of the interstate authorities has induced “cold sweats” for some clients.
Graham also talked about how WorkSafe Victoria deals with (or tries to avoid) the Codes of Practice and guidance under the national Model Work Health Safety laws that now govern all states except Victoria and WA.

The presenter:

Graham Dent has over 30 years’ experience in the regulatory field including time as a government prosecutor in OHS, industrial and consumer law matters. He is now in private legal practice representing clients in major regulatory actions for OHS, environmental and other areas. Graham is also the founder of Australia’s largest online OHS forum with 13,500 members, the Work Health Safety Leadership Group.

 
Key OHS
Issues
2015
CSG March 2015 Presenters: Carolyn Davis, ACCI and Phil Lovelock, VECCI-organisation logos

Key OHS issues for employers in 2015

Presenters:

    Carolyn Davis, Manager, Work Health and Safety and Worker’s Compensation Policy, Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI)
    Phil Lovelock, Senior OHS Consultant and Specialist Policy Advisor, Victorian Employers Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI)

Presentation package now available (members only)

What are some of the most pressing OHS issues facing employers in 2015?
Both national and Victorian perspectives were presented at Central Safety Group's lunchtime talk on March 17, 2015. The national scene was discussed by Carolyn Davis, Manager Work Health and Safety and Worker’s Compensation Policy with the ACCI.
This was followed by Phil Lovelock presenting a more detailed look at what’s currently happening in Victoria. Issues for VECCI include the state of flux within WorkSafe Victoria itself and the alignment of regulations with the Model WHS legislation.
Both Carolyn and Phil are responsible for informing and representing businesses of all sizes and sectors of the economy. ACCI is a peak organisation which represents at national level VECCI and other state chambers of commerce and industry associations. VECCI is Victoria's most influential employer group, directly representing 15,000 members.

The presenter:

Carolyn Davis has a background in industrial chemistry and occupational hygiene, and has been involved in WHS management, policy and advocacy for more than 20 years. She currently represents industry on a range of issues with Safework Australia and other agencies.

The presenter:

Phil Lovelock is a qualified Occupational Health and Safety specialist who provides occupational health and safety assistance to a wide range of industries. He also conducts a number of OHS courses for VECCI and provides input to WorkSafe Victoria.

 
How Would
We Manage
Ebola?
CSG February 2015 Presentation: Dr Jane Canestra, Program Manager Health Emergency Management, Victorian Department of Health and Human Services

How would we manage Ebola – and other public health emergencies?

Presentation by: Dr Jane Canestra, Program Manager Health Emergency Management, Victorian Department of Health and Human Services

Victoria’s emergency management arrangements for health emergencies, such as Ebola, were outlined by Dr Jane Canestra at Central Safety Group's meeting on February 10, 2015. She discussed the emergency management responsibilities of the Department of Health and Human Services and how the State Health Emergency Response Plan is used to coordinate the Victorian health response to significant emergency incidents, giving the arrangements for Ebola as an example.
While the risk of importation of Ebola into Victoria is low, Victoria may eventually need to manage a confirmed case of Ebola. The Department of Health & Human Services has developed the Victorian Ebola Virus Disease Plan which has been issued to metropolitan, regional and other health services and stakeholders including general practitioners.
Victorian health services have responsibility for ensuring all potentially involved staff are appropriately trained, informed and clear about each individual’s role in the event of a suspected Ebola case presenting at any hospital or health care service.
Jane spoke about coordination at departmental, health sector, Victorian and national level as well as about health services training in specialist preparedness.

The presenter:

A medical practitioner and specialist emergency physician, Dr Jane Canestra was involved in disaster medicine for many years before her appointment to her current role. She has also provided medical expertise to numerous State and National Working Groups, including the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee.

 
Victoria's Emergency Management Reform
CSG August 2014 Presenter: Tony Murphy, Director of Capability and Response, Emergency Management Victoria

Victoria's Emergency Management Reform

Presentation by: Tony Murphy, Director of Capability and Response, Emergency Management Victoria

Presentation package now available (members only)

Emergency Management Victoria (EMV) was launched on 1 July as a single authority to coordinate all State emergency services’ response to emergencies and disasters. It is the first of its kind in Australia and represents a step change in emergency management by the State.
Tony Murphy, Director of Capability and Response, Emergency Management Victoria, presented to Central Safety Group on August 12, 2014, and spoke about the creation of this new authority in the wake of emergencies, such as Black Saturday. Reports highlighted shortfalls in integration between the emergency service agencies and so EMV was created to address this.
Tony outlined the agency’s brief, which includes reaching out and working in conjunction with communities and business as well as Government as a whole, not just agencies involved with emergency services.
Tony also explained the newly-established control arrangements for response to Class 1 emergencies, as well as the incident management structure.
As a result of this integration, the approach to health and safety requires an overhaul. It is a key agenda item for EMV and is being led from the top. Tony said there was recognition of the importance of aligning operational standards and procedures and having a joined-up, consistent approach to health and safety across the different emergency service agencies.

 
Return on
Investing
in OHS
CSG July 2014 Presenter: John Knowles, OHS Consultant, Xchanging

Return on Investing in OHS

Presentation by: John Knowles, OHS Consultant, Xchanging

Presentation package now available (members only)

How much can investing in OHS improvements pay off in measurable financial terms? And what should be measured? These questions were explored by John Knowles, OHS Consultant at Xchanging in a lunchtime presentation to Central Safety Group on 8 July, 2014.
John cited wide-ranging research, which has shown that returns can be high. However, there are many variables when it comes to measuring this, which John discussed in detail.
John offered a checklist of both direct and indirect costs that should be considered when measuring returns. He also suggested a range of different ways to measure return on investment and gave details of several international case studies that showed OHS-related improvements in a variety of situations and which used a range of different measures to assess returns. These showed measurable outcomes obtained both in financial terms and changes in human health and behaviour.

 
Advances
in Harmonised
OHS Legislation
CSG June 2014 Presenter: Rhonda Murray, Director, National Fraud Response Unit and Regional Services Vic-Tas, Comcare

Advances in Harmonised OHS Legislation

Presentation by: Rhonda Murray, Director, National Fraud Response Unit and Regional Services Vic/Tas, Comcare

Presentation package now available (members only)

Advances in harmonised OHS legislation and the widening role of Comcare were outlined by Comcare Director Rhonda Murray at Central Safety Group's meeting on June 17, 2014.
In a move designed to widen access to the national Comcare workers compensation scheme, the Federal Government, in March this year, announced proposed legislative changes that would allow private sector organisations, who work across State borders, to be regulated by Comcare, which was originally set up to cover public sector employees. Rhonda discussed various aspects of this proposed legislation and the implications of new rules.
Rhonda also spoke about new approaches already being adopted by Comcare to be more procative when dealing with workplaces.

 
Failure of
Return to Work
Rates
CSG May 2014 Presenter: Dr Alex Collie, Research Leader and Acting Chief Executive Officer, ISCRR

Australia’s failure to improve Return-to-Work Rates

Presentation by: Associate Professor Alex Collie, Research Leader and Acting Chief Executive Officer, Institute for Safety, Compensation and Recovery Research, Monash University

Presentation package now available (members only)

Current obstacles to successfully bringing injured people back to work and the need for new approaches was discussed by Associate Professor Alex Collie from Monash University in his lunchtime talk to Central Safety Group on 13 May, 2014.
Alex Collie has done substantial research on this and related issues. He said that surveys had shown that Australia has failed to improve return to rates for the past 15 years, describing this as a major public health and economic challenge.
There is abundant international research showing that a worker's recovery can be shaped by their interactions with employers, healthcare providers and the workers' compensation system. But it takes new thinking, careful planning and sustained effort on behalf of those involved in the process.
Alex presented some of his latest research findings, explored some of the key issues and made recommendations on what we should be doing to improve return to work outcomes.

The presenter:

Associate Professor Alex Collie, Acting Chief Executive Officer of ISCRR (Institute for Safety, Compensation and Recovery Research) at Monash University, is an applied public health and social policy researcher, with a specific focus on work disability benefit and compensation systems and their impact on the work, social and health outcomes of injured and ill people. Alex has advised multiple state and commonwealth government departments and in private sector organisations in matters relating to workplace health, insurance and injury compensation. He has held numerous board positions on non-profit health sector organisations. He has a PhD in psychology. He has published over 100 peer reviewed journal articles, book chapters and technical reports, and is regularly invited to speak at national and international conferences.

 
Measuring
Safety
Performance
CSG April 2014 Presenter: Conor O’Malley, Director, Global Safety Index, Safety Culture and Leadership Insights

Are we measuring safety performance the right way?

Presentation by: Conor O’Malley, Director, Global Safety Index - Safety Culture and Leadership Insights

Presentation package now available (members only)

Conor O’Malley, Director, Global Safety Index – Safety Culture and Leadership Insights, spoke at Central Safety Group’s meeting on 8 April, 2014, and discussed how measures and data collection usually fail to give insight into the safety climate, culture capability or competence of an organisation.
The Global Safety Index – GSI - has captured some useful findings with its Culture and Leadership surveys on what companies were doing well, as well as where the gaps lay. Conor discussed some survey findings in detail and the broad picture was that outputs were driven by culture, and that culture was driven by leadership.

The presenter:

Conor O'Malley has coached and led teams all his career as an Executive GM, with a strong supply chain background. His previous roles have been Chief Operating Officer for Glen Cameron Storage and Distribution, GM Logistics for Coles and the Group Executive at National Foods, responsible for Group Safety, Procurement, Shared Services, Logistics and Planning. Prior to coming to Australia in 2006 his career in the UK spanned 3rd Party Logistics and Wholesale supply chain management. He has a passion for strong safety leadership and, having had Executive accountability for safety in the Logistics and Manufacturing sectors, he has had success in leading organisations on a journey using leadership and culture as core drivers of that success. In 2013 he joined Global Safety Index as Sales and Distribution Director to support the co-founding Directors grow the business and is now on the Advisory Board.

 
Older
Workers
CSG March 2014 Presenter: Dr Peter Smith, Epidemiologist, Monash University and ISCRR researcher

Health and safety issues associated with older workers

Presentation by: Associate Professor Peter Smith, Epidemiologist, Monash University and ISCRR researcher

Presentation package now available (members only)

The subject of older workers is of growing importance as the Australian population is getting older and people are working longer. Labour market participation by people over 55 has doubled since 2000. Associate Professor Peter Smith from Monash University shared the findings from his research into this at Central Safety Group’s meeting on 18 March, 2014.
Dr Smith said that research was showing a number of variables in the relationship between age and injury outcomes. For instance, while older age is not associated with a greater injury severity, older compensation claimants were more likely to have chronic pre-existing conditions. These findings can, therefore, be used to inform prevention programs suited to older workers.

 
Driving
OHS
Culture
CSG October 2013 Presenter: Professor David Caple OM

How CEOs, Executives and Boards can be assisted to drive OHS culture

Presentation by: Professor David Caple, OHS Consultant and Adjunct Professor, Centre for Ergonomics & Human Factors, La Trobe University, David Caple & Associates

Presentation package now available (members only)

Boards and executive teams can play a crucial role in driving safety culture. They are usually strongly motivated and interested and they place high importance on their organisation having a sound safety record. They also now have accountability under the WHS Act 2011 to ensure that health and safety obligations are met. That was the message from Professor David Caple in a lunchtime talk to Central Safety Group on 8 October, 2013.
David shared his experiences engaging with boards and senior executives. An observation he made was that, while keen to demonstrate safety culture leadership, boards often lack ideas on how to do this. David provided a number of very practical suggestions for OHS Managers, including how to assist their senior executive by presenting them with an OHS strategy.

The presenter:

Professor 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.

 
Fatigue
Management
CSG September 2013 Presenter: John Knowles, OHS Consultant, Xchanging

Fatigue Management

Presentation by: John Knowles, OHS Consultant, Xchanging

Presentation package now available (members only)

The importance of understanding the effects of fatigue and managing it in the workplace and our own lives was brought home in an information-packed presentation by John Knowles to Central Safety Group on 10 September, 2013.
John, who is OHS Consultant with Xchanging, said that fatigue management was now recognised as an issue for a wide range of workplaces, not only in industries where it was traditionally a concern such as long-haul trucking and aviation.
He outlined in detail what fatigue was, its mental, emotional and physical effects and the impact it had on people’s capacity to perform their job safely and effectively. John also described the key elements of an effective fatigue management system for the workplace.

 
A Catalyst
for Culture
Change
CSG July 2013 Presentation: Maree Thomson, Safety Improvement Facilitator, Strengthening Safety Culture in Logistics Operations, AaE

Enforceable Undertaking: A catalyst for culture change

Presentation by: Maree Thomson, Safety Improvement Facilitator, Australian Air Express (AaE)

Presentation package now available (members only)

Accepting an enforceable undertaking (or EU) with Comcare as an alternative to prosecution for a safety breach proved a valuable exercise in improving OH&S decision making and safety culture for freight company Australian Air Express (AaE). This was the topic of a lunchtime presentation to Central Safety Group on August 13, 2013, by Maree Thomson, the company’s Safety Improvement Facilitator.
Maree said the company committed to review and rectify not only the specific factors which contributed to the incident, but also to conduct a critical review of all components of its safety management system and safety culture. It did this with the help of a highly successful collaborative project with the Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC), Australia’s leading transport safety research centre. Maree said the findings from this research were challenging for the company to hear, but very constructive.

The presenter:

Maree Thomson’s position as National Environment Health and Safety Manager Australia Air Express (AaE) commenced in 1999 after the company had recently acquired a Self-Insurance Licence. The experience was wide and varied having been involved in major project work with the building and fit-out of freight processing centres on the eastern seaboard, downsizing during the GFC, a demerger and the retail section being transferred to Star Track. In November 2012, Qantas acquired 100% ownership of AaE and Maree became Safety Improvement Faciltiator working with the Corporate Safety and Compliance team. Her task was to manage the implementation of findings from a research project undertaken by Monash University Accident Research Centre around cultural change. Prior to this, her health and safety experience was in food manufacturing.

 
Fair Work
Decisions that
affect OHS
CSG July 2013 Presenter: David Galbally AM, QC, Partner, Madgwicks Lawyers

Fair Work Decisions that Affect OHS

Presentation by: David Galbally AM, QC, Partner, Madgwicks Lawyers

David Galbally spoke without notes on the topics:

  • Senior management denial of OHS issues
  • Drug testing and the decisions of the High Court
  • Organisations' need for clear policies on drug use and bullying in the workplace
  • Bullying, workplace communications and perceptions
  • The advantages of face-to-face communications over emails
  • Fair Work amendments do not give the Fair Work Commission the ability to sanction bullying
  • Right of entry
  • Reasonable management action provisions in law will not prevent worker complaints – need careful processes and documentation.

Unfortunately there is no futher documentation available for this presentation.

The presenter:

One of Melbourne's most respected legal authorities, David Galbally joined Madgwicks as a partner in January 2010. Appointed one of Her Majesty's Counsel in 1996, David has worked on some of Australia's most high profile and complex corporate and criminal cases. Possessing renowned expertise in commercial litigation and dispute resolution, David is regularly called upon to provide comment and expert opinion across a broad range of topics including corporate governance, human rights, privacy and superannuation regulation. In June 2013, David was appointed as a Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia for significant service to the community, particularly through leadership in health organisations and the provision of pro bono legal services.

 
MacKillop
Family
Services
CSG June 2013 location: MacKillop Family Services-Heritage building

Site Visit: MacKillop Family Services

Presentation by: Jim Hinton, Manager Work Health and Safety, MacKillop Family Services

Presentation package now available (members only)

An historical overview of the MacKillop buildings in South Melbourne, which used to be an orphanage, was given by Jenny Glare, Manager Heritage & Information Service at MacKillop. Jenny accompanied us on a tour of the buildings.
Afterwards, Jim Hinton gave an insight into the OHS culture at MacKillop, which has about 800 employees and 400 volunteers, and takes responsibility for the highest risk children in Victoria. Jim outlined MacKillop's operational model that ensures health and safety is incorporated into all of their day-to-day operations.

 
Department of
Justice Risk
Management
CSG May 2013 Presenter: Alison Hunt-Sturman, Manager Safety & Wellbeing, Department of Justice (Victoria)

Risk management – Truth, JUSTICE and the Victorian way

Presentation by: Alison Hunt-Sturman, Manager Safety & Wellbeing, Department of Justice (Victoria)

Presentation package now available (members only)

The challenges of managing risk in a very large, diverse and complex organisation, the Department of Justice (Victoria), were outlined to members of Central Safety Group in a lunchtime presentation on 14 May, 2013, by Alison Hunt-Sturman, the department‘s General Manager of Safety & Wellbeing.
Alison explained how the Department of Justice has a portfolio of nine different divisions operating across eight different regions, and reports to five State Ministers. To illustrate this, she took the audience through the story of “Stevie” a minor fraudster.
Alison also discussed how the Safety and Wellbeing Team have introduced a range of strategies for this diverse workforce.

The presenter:

Alison Hunt-Sturman is a safety professional with almost 15 years' experience in leadership and strategic oversight of health, safety and workers compensation. She started her career at the University of Melbourne where, after working for almost 10 years in a research capacity, she moved into the role of Environment Health and Safety Manager for the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, which she held for 9 years. Alison became Manager of Safety & Wellbeing at the Department of Justice in 2011. Alison has a Masters Degree in Occupational Health and Safety, and an undergraduate Diploma in Medical Laboratory Science.

 
WAVE:
The Breakaway
Techniques
CSG April 2013 Presenter: Ollie Matthews, Healthscope

WAVE: The Breakaway Techniques

Presentation by: Ollie Matthews, National OHS Auditor, Healthscope

Presentation package now available (members only)

Handling violence or aggression in the workplace was the subject of an absorbing and useful presentation by our President, Alan 'Ollie' Matthews at Central Safety Group's meeting on April 9, 2013.
Ollie  shared details of a system for dealing with incidents of violence and aggression or occupational assault, which he developed for his employer Healthscope, one of Australia's largest private hospital and clinic operators.
The system he uses is the WAVE system - Workplace Aggression and Violence Education - which is a tool for identifying, de-escalating and keeping employees safe in aggressive or violent situations.

The presenter:

Alan (Ollie) Matthews’ career in OHS stretches back as far as the early days of Central Safety Group itself. In 1974 he became technical advisor for Pratt Safety Systems, where he worked with the authorities to develop HAZCHEM signage for vehicles and buildings, and also specialised in the safe storing and dispensing of chemicals and flammable liquids. In 1986 Ollie commenced as the first OHS Manager with the now John Fawkner Private Hospital in Coburg. By 1991 he was OHS Manager for 5 hospitals, eventually becoming the National OHS Auditor for Healthscope hospitals across Australia. In 2003 he was elected President of Central Safety Group, a position he still holds. Recently he was awarded Life Membership of CSG.

 
 

Next Event

 

A Visual
Approach
to Inductions

CSG April 2024 event - Troy Winn, WHS Manager, Simonds Group - A visual approach to inductions


A visual approach to inductions

Presented by: Troy Winn, WHS Manager, Simonds Group
Event: CSG Hybrid Lunchtime Presentation -via zoom or in person

Date: Tuesday 9 April 2024, noon
Non-Members welcome to attend

A visual approach to inductions
How do you move safety induction online yet keep it alive? Troy Winn will talk about how he met that challenge in a presentation on Tuesday, 9 April.
Troy, who is WHS Manager for the Simonds Group, recently completed a Masters in Ergonomics, Safety and Health at La Trobe University in Melbourne. His presentation is based on research he did in the Advanced Practice Stream as part of his postgraduate degree.
Working in the construction industry, Troy and his safety team were often investing several hours a week delivering safety inductions to site supervisors before they commenced a job. A high turnover of people and projects on sites made this a demanding commitment.
Troy will talk about a project to move this training online, where his role was to produce videos. He will outline the thinking and planning behind it, as well as the particular role of videos in making the induction more engaging and effective.
His presentation will include some of his safety induction videos, along with discussion about the various ideas, steps and lessons that went into making them.

About the Speaker:

Troy Winn has been WHS Manager for the Simonds Group since 2022. Prior to that he held national safety management roles in a number of construction companies.
He spent several years as State OHS Advisor for the Housing Industry Association.
Troy has also worked in the mental health, allied health, child care and aged care sectors. His experience includes roles in safety, wellbeing, workers compensation and risk management with organisations including Mind Australia, Blue Cross Aged Care and EACH healthcare services.
Troy completed his Masters in Ergonomics, Safety and Health at La Trobe University in October 2023.

Date: Tuesday 9 April 2024
Time: 12:00pm to 1:00pm
Where: Regus Yarra Room, 50th floor, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne
How: In person or online via Zoom -the link will be sent out on the afternoon of Monday 8 April
N.B. A video recording of the session will be available on the website exclusively for financial members.
Cost: Financial members* free. Others $15
RSVP: COB Monday 8 April 2024. Online using our RSVP form
Join: Join CSG now [Individual membership fee: $85.]
*If unsure of your membership status, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
   RSVP: by Monday 8 April.
Online using our RSVP form or Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., phone the secretary T: (03) 9387 9768 Mobile 0417 040 252
The Zoom event link will be emailed on the afternoon of Monday 8 April 2024.

Don’t forget to put every second Tuesday from February to December in your Calendar!

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