New Health and Safety Alliance at SIA Conference
A breakfast for OHS professionals will be held during the Safety In Action Conference. WorkSafe`s Executive leader for Medium Business Segmentation, Clarke Martin, will provide delegates with further information about its recently formed alliance with Australia’s leading universities and health and safety organisations. A panel discussion with the Alliance working party members will follow, and will provide an opportunity for delegates to contribute to improving OHS support to Victorian small to medium employers (SME`s) with feedback.
Making the announcement in November last year, WorkSafe Executive Director, John Merritt said the alliance would be working closely to develop ways to assist the more than 240,000 small and medium sized businesses in Victoria meet the challenges of providing safe workplaces.
“We aim to raise the profile of key people and organisations that help small and medium business employers with their health and safety risks.”
“The priority of the alliance is to develop minimum standards for OHS professionals that work with SMEs, creating a referral service for employers seeking help and promote the value of working with professional associations.”
In the longer term it is expected that the alliance will explore research opportunities to help WorkSafe gain a better understanding of how it can help make small and medium sized workplaces be safer.
As part of streamlining support for small to medium sized businesses, WorkSafe is reviewing its web based directory of service providers.
“The current directory does not reflect the skills and professional standards of those on it. By working through professional bodies, greater consistency will be achieved with benefits for consumers and industry alike.
Currently listed companies are being encouraged to work with the professional associations to detail their expertise and qualifications to better target their work,” Mr Merritt said.
“Professional associations, vocational trainers and educators are a vital for safety.
“Good OHS practitioners will become better while others with the potential to improve will have the opportunity to be supported by a professional body.
“While each organisation will retain its autonomy, professional associations will build on their existing polices to jointly develop updated service standards, improved professional development, and transparent and consistent complaints handling systems.
“The benefit will be more consistent information provided to the community by people trained to a defined high standard.”
Mr Merritt said professional associations, universities and other training organisations could also help WorkSafe do its job better.
“These groups are in direct contact with workplaces and OHS professionals and have experience and information we can draw on.
“By working more closely with professional bodies and training organisations we will achieve higher levels of professionalism and improved service for the community.
Working party members:
Australasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (
Australian and
Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists
Congress of Safety and Health Association Presidents
Human Factors and Ergonomics Society of
Royal Australian Institute of Architects
Safety Institute of
WorkSafe’s Occupational Health and Safety Advisory committee
Chisholm Institute of TAFE
Holmesglen Institute of TAFE
Innovation and Business Skills
La
Mr Merritt will speak on April 30, day two of the Safety In Action Conference, while the breakfast will be held at 7.30am on the final day, May 1.