09:16 pm, Thursday 27 October, 2011

There was a lot to hear, see and do at the Sydney Safety Conference & Show today – as there has been each day. Some of the topics covered today included the emerging area of managing mental health issues in the workplace; managing the long-term injured employee; and several small sessions looking at safety technologies and innovations.

The first keynote speaker of the conference, John Watson, GM WHS Division, WorkCover NSW, asked the audience to consider the usual weekend BBQ. He asked, if one of our friends, or a child of a friend, had been killed that week at work – how might that change the situation? He implored us to keep that in mind when managing safety.

It is too easy to get caught up in figures, systems and programs to manage safety, and to manage behaviours of workers. The final keynote speakers brought the message home loud and clear.

TODD RUSSELL – BEACONSFIELD MINE DISASTER SURVIVOR

I have been privileged to hear some great speakers during my lifetime. However, Todd Russell’s talk today was truly heart warming and inspirational. He was just an ordinary man going about his job on ANZAC Day, 2006, when his life was changed forever by a workplace accident that would unfold before the eyes of the world over the next 14 days. Todd is one of the survivor’s of the Beaconsfield Mine Disaster inTasmania.

Todd gave a detailed account of what happened from when he clocked on for his shift that night until he and Brant Webb were rescued fourteen days later. I won’t go into the details, as most of us have read at least one account of this disaster.

What struck me the most about this talk is that Todd is an ordinary, humble, husband and father. He didn’t seek celebrity, but it came to him through a workplace accident.

The audience was spellbound – laughing during the funnier moments and welling up during the more touching ones. Todd Russell and Brant Webb’s lives were changed forever by this incident. Larry Knight lost his life, leaving behind his wife and two young children.

Following two days of presentations around legislation, systems for safety, statistics and research findings – the real message was brought home:

• workers deserve to be safe in their workplace;
• families should expect their loved ones to come home at the end of their shift; and
• employers have no right to put profits before lives.

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08:37 pm, Wednesday 26 October, 2011

All in all, today was a much better collection of speakers, presentations and workshops.

What are we to make of our workplace health and safety programs?

The first keynote speaker, Professor Andrew Hopkins, of the Australian National University asked “What Are We to Make of Safe Behaviour Programs”? He talked at length about the fallacy of mono-causal accidents – and how in fact, all accidents, large and small, have many layers of precipitating factors, causes and mistakes. In his opinion this fallacy must be addressed. Prof. Hopkins said that for safety behaviour programs to be more effective they have to be aimed at management in the first instance; and that it is essential to have an environment of trust when behavioural safety observations are being made to ensure workers don’t feel that they are being targeted for blame.

What has been your experience of such safety observations in your workplace?

 Australian Defence Force WHS

The second keynote speaker was LtCol Sean Faulkner of the Australian Defence Force, (Army). He presented the process used by the ADF in the preparation for Harmonisation. I found his description of Army Safety Day very exciting.

Army Safety Day

To demonstrate their commitment to systemic safety, today is Army Safety Day. This is the second time they have conducted this event. Everyone down’s tools and considers safety in their workplace. There is a video address by the Chief of Army; a 100% inventory hazard inspection; and other events throughout the day. I can’t think of any other organisation that dedicates a whole day to safety awareness.

THE TRAGEDY OF THE SNOWY MOUNTAINS HYDRO-ELECTRIC SCHEME

The middle section of the day started off with a thought provoking presentation by Fergus Robinson, OHS Training Programs Coordinator, Master Builders Association of Vic. He has thoroughly researched the safety events during the construction of the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme. It was frightening to hear that 121 people died during a 22 year period on this project. For every death, it is estimated that there was 10 permanently disabling injuries. The coroners of the time were not champions of safety either. During this entire project they never once found any employer negligent. It is incorrect to consider the ‘50’s and ‘60’s as the ‘bad old days’. Safety was on the agenda however, the processes were not implemented. Many of the poor decisions made were based on economic factors. Fergus finished by saying that safety was about morality and ethics. He asked, “When the big decisions have to be made, do the people in charge really care about the safety and welfare of the workforce”? This period of time is forms a dark shadow onAustralia’s safety history and must never, ever be repeated.

THE LEGAL OPINION

While many would consider presentations by lawyers to be a bit dry, the next two speakers were very easy to listen to. Paul Cutrone, Partner, Sparke Helmore, gave some worrying examples of what has been said by real, live people in real, live court cases! It was particularly scary to hear what people are willing to say in order to seek a finding of ‘not guilty’. The message was, know your safety systems, know your processes, and be able to defend your actions with a clean conscience.

Michael Selinger, Partner, Holding Redlich Lawyers, got down to the nitty gritty with what needed to be considered in the event of a serious incident. He talked about the Inspector’s Powers; Union powers; and those of HSR’s as well.

Michael gave a guideline on what to expect if WorkCover investigated an incident:

1. A WorkCover interview would be conducted at Workcover premises or at your premises.
2. It will be tape recorded (with your consent) or typed up and signed as a record of interview.
3. You have no right to silence but you can object to answers.
4. You can have a legal representative or supporting person during the interview but they cannot answer questions.

Michael also described several areas for an organisation to give consideration during an investigation:

• Where are your records?
• How are you looking after other staff?
• Who is dealing with the Inspector?
• Is legal representation necessary?
• Are the media involved? Reputation concerns.
• Improving safety systems after incident
• How are you looking after the injured person/family?

MORE ON THE LEGISLATION 

The afternoon was rounded off as yesterday with a series of short workshops providing some insight into various areas of the legislation.

• Andrew Theakstone - New Codes of Practice.
• Lydia Grepyl – Consultation and the HSR
• Michael Costello – Multiple PCBUs and the Workplace

A panel of current safety leaders described their experiences of building and nurturing cultures of safety in their corporate roles. This panel was made up of:

- Lawrence O’Dwyer, Head of Safety, Health & Environment, AGL

- Elizabeth Tosti – Group Manager Safety, Leighton Holdings

- David Tregoweth – Director, Group Risk & Zero Harm, Brambles

Much of what they had to say echoed what we have been hearing for the past two days.

-          Management must demonstrate their commitment to safety;

-          Make management aware of the cost of poor safety performance;

-          Safety culture has to have a top-down as well as a bottom-up approach; and

-          Communication is imperative.

ORGANISATIONS WITH VOLUNTEERS

A worrying issue that was raised today was that of the recognition of volunteers as workers under the new legislation. This seems to be particularly problematic for organisations that rely heavily on volunteer labour such as schools, rural fire brigades, and the SES to give some examples. Volunteers have all the same rights to consultation and representation. One organisation said the worst case scenario for them could produce a training cost of about $195,000. While WorkCover acknowledged that they have had complaints about this issue, there is no easy solution at this point in time.

SAFETY CELEBRITIES

A couple of celebrities have been spotted around the Safety Show over the last couple of days.

Dennis Lillee, Jeff Thompson, and Angry Anderson are all regulars around the Blue Steel site.

Is that Marilyn Monroe I spotted?

The final day is tomorrow – so check back for the final daily wrap up.

Report by Angela Young - Do you have an OHS News Story - Let us know

08:58 pm, Tuesday 25 October, 2011

The 2011 Safety Conference in Sydney presented by the Safety Institute of Australia, got off to a great start today with a presentation by Dr Adam Fraser addressing the need to become fully engaged safety professionals in the workplace; and how our own behaviours can affect the behaviours of those around us. According to several participants it was an energising and motivating start to the conference.

Harmonisation was the theme of the day with both keynote speakers and a series of afternoon workshops addressing the transition to the new legislation directly.

John Watson, GM WHS Division of WorkCover NSW presented a brief outline on several topics including the following:

• PCBUs – persons conducting a business or undertaking (or ” probably could be you”)
• Officers & Due Dilligence
• What is meant by “Reasonably Practicable”
• Transition arrangements for training

Christopher Wales, National Safety & Environment Manager for the Cater Care Group addressed the need to recognise the impact of unsafe behaviours given that once safety systems are in place – 95% of incidents are caused by unsafe behaviours rather than things like a lack of adequate training, or lack of PPE. His message was that we need to understand why people do the things they do.

This led into the topic of fatigue presented by Margaret Chan, Head of Faculty – Risk & Safety, The Australasian College. Her major points were that:

• Fatigue is the leading accident risk
• Fatigue is a trigger risk to a bundle of other synergetic risks; and
• Fatigue is the lynchpin to accident reduction.

WorkCover NSW had a number of staff present workshops on:

• WHS Obligations;
• PCBUs and Officers (including Due Dilligence);
• Risk Management (based on the new Code of Practice); and
• Standardising Safety Indicators.

It was a full program, backed up by the opportunity to explore products, services and training providers at the Sydney Safety Show right next door.

More news tomorrow!

Report by Angela Young - Do you have an OHS News Story - Let us know