Focus on Safety - SI Informer Newsletter

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Government of Western Australia
Department of Commerce
WorkSafe
Consultation and education have
been the dominant themes alongside
compliance activities during 2010, as
WorkSafe has been working on the
enormous task of harmonising safety
and health legislation across Australia.
This year has seen a further increase
in the popularity of WorkSafe’s
educational services with maximum
attendance at both the Albany Forum
and the metropolitan Forum.
Thank you to the 2000 attendees at
the WorkSafe 4Thought lunchtime
information sessions this year. Local
OSH professionals, interstate OSH
specialists, WorkSafe inspectors,
community education officers and
WorkSafe staff covered hazards at
work such as; workplace conflict, slips
and trips, manual tasks, heat stress,
noise and guarding.
To meet your demands for more
4Thoughts, we are endeavouring to
increase the number of sessions we
conduct and to extend the sessions
into other regional areas in 2011.
On a continuing theme of education,
Safe Work Australia Week is gaining
momentum. 2010 saw more than 530
organisations have fun with safety and
<strong>Focus</strong>
2010
on Safety
From the Commissioner’s desk
As we celebrate the success of Safe Work Australia Week it is
important to recognise excellence and we extend our congratulations
to the winners of the 2010 Safety Awards; Park Engineering; Salmat
Pty Ltd; Pia Carter; and Danny Norton. All the winners have been
nominated for a National Safety Award. I am sure that Western
Australia will again set a high standard at the national level and
we wish our winners luck.
health, up from 440 in 2009 and 150
in 2008. WorkSafe’s Take 10 @ 10,
short interactive speeches have been
used by other states this year. The
concept is proving just as popular as
in Western Australia.
On the compliance side of our
activities, proactive enforcement
campaigns have been conducted in
areas such as horse stables, nurseries
and garden centres, restaurants
and takeaway food outlets, sporting
facilities and pest control. The
information bulletins and specific
checklists continue to prove popular
and inspectors have noticed higher
levels of compliance as they provide
the opportunity for businesses to
ensure that they are complying with
the law before inspections commence.
Continued page 2
Safety Achievers Forum 2010.
Work Safety
Awards 2010
The very high standard of entries
for the 2010 Work Safety Awards
gave the judges a difficult task
choosing the winners.
The award for best safety and
health management system in
the private sector was won by
Park Engineers. Park Engineers
in Welshpool is one of Australia’s
leading steel engineering and
fabrication companies, operating
mainly in the mining and
construction industries. With input
from employees, the board of
directors and consultants, Park
Engineering has developed a
comprehensive and integrated
safety and health management
system with a strong emphasis on
risk management.
The award for best solution to an
identified workplace safety and
health issue was won by Salmat
Pty Ltd. Salmat assembles Australia
Post’s unit loading devices, cage-
Continued page 2
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<strong>Focus</strong>
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Work Safety
Awards 2010
Continued from page 1
like structures used to transport
mail. An employee of the company
has developed the Armstrong
Lever, a device designed to assist
in assembly of the unit loaders
and reduce back strain. Salmat
quickly recognised the potential of
the Armstrong Lever in reducing
manual handling injuries, and now
utilises it across its operations.
The award for best individual
contribution to safety and health
by a person with no formal
responsibility for occupational
safety and health was won by
Pia Carter from the Department
of Fisheries in Broome.
Pia is a newly-elected safety and
health representative. She identified
two risks to workers accessing
a four metre high seawater
storage tank to clean it – the risks
associated with working at heights
and working in confined spaces.
After consultation between Pia and
experts and staff, the Department
installed a harness and cable
system to prevent falls, along with
a system of safety procedures for
working in confined spaces.
The award for best individual
contribution to safety and health
by a person with responsibility for
occupational safety and health
was won by Danny Norton. Danny,
a senior electrical engineer with
electrical and project delivery
company Sinclair Knight Merz,
developed an assessment protocol
and procedures to reduce the risks
associated with switchboard arc
flashes that can cause fires.
He has raised awareness on this
issue by presenting seminars
throughout Australia, and his work
has helped to ensure a safer work
environment for all workers in the
electrical industry.
Each of the WA winners has the
opportunity for their achievements to
be recognised across at the national
Safe Work Australia Awards which
will be announced early in March
2011.
Danny Norton, Sinclair Knight Merz.
2010
Patrick Ward, Salmat and Brian Bradley,
Director General, Department of Commerce.
Pia Carter, Department of Fisheries and
Brian Bradley, Director General, Department
of Commerce..
Geoff Colins, Park Engineers and Brian Bradley,
Director General, Department of Commerce..
From the Commissioner’s desk Continued from page 1
In 2012, for the first time all states Western Australian safety and health assist people to gain an understanding
and territories will have common Acts, standards.
of what is contained in the new
regulations and codes of practice.
This reflects each government’s
commitment to simplifying safety
and health management at work
and providing consistency across
borders. WorkSafe has provided
significant input into development of
the proposed regulations and codes
during this past year.
It is vitally important that organisations
and all people who have an interest
in safety and health at work take
time to provide comment on the
draft regulations and codes of
practice between now and April
2011, to ensure the views of Western
Australian businesses are considered.
The WorkSafe Education and
regulations and codes of practice.
As we move into the Christmas period,
I take this opportunity to wish you
and your families a safe and happy
festive season and we look forward to
another year of challenges in 2011.
Nina Lyhne
WorkSafe Western Australia
Our aim has been to ensure that the Information team will be scheduling Commissioner
new framework maintains or improves a range of information sessions to
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The 2010
Perth
WorkSafe
Forum
Comedian and corporate speaker Anh Do,
closed the conference.
The 2010 Perth WorkSafe Forum was
held on 26 October 2010. Of the 550
delegates who attended, some 80 per
cent were elected Safety and Health
Representatives.
The keynote speaker, Dr Travis
Kemp, Managing Director and Chief
Psychologist, Teleran Group gave an
interesting and informative address
on the psychology of safety. He
emphasised that while safe systems of
work are fundamental to OSH at work,
personality plays an important part
in building effective safety cultures.
He provided insight into how safety
messages can be tailored to resonate
with different personalities and that
people’s attitudes can be changed by
the way in which safety messages are
delivered in workplaces.
WorkSafe Western Australia
Commissioner Nina Lyhne provided
a comprehensive overview of the
harmonisation of OSH law and
how the changes to the Act and
regulations may be used by delegates
as an opportunity to promote OSH
messages in workplaces and improve
safety culture.
Building on feedback provided by
delegates at previous conferences,
three concurrent sessions were run
this year which had a hazard specific
focus.
Sessions included:
• Commission for Occupational
Safety and Health member,
Barry Chesson, who worked in
cooperation with Helen Muccilli
from the Cancer Council to
present a very practical session on
working safely in hot conditions,
based on Commission and Cancer
Council resources for workplaces.
• Managing fatigue in workplaces
presented by Isobel Boylan,
Psychologist and Director of
Corporate Psychology Services
was both educational and
entertaining.
• Nanotechnology, a new and
emerging technology was
explored by Dr Gerrard Eddy Jai
Poinern from Murdoch University
in a way that made a complex
subject accessible and interesting
for delegates.
• Dr Renu Burr, Associate Professor
and Postgraduate Program
Director at the University of WA,
added another dimension to the
psychology of safety explored
by the keynote speaker in her
address on mindfulness.
• Stan Sexton, Corporate Manager
of Safety at the Public Transport
Authority, provided a practical
and entertaining insight into
development of safety culture.
• WorkSafe staff shared their
expertise with delegates, building
on sessions delivered as part of
the 4Thought lunchtime forum
program.
Comedian and corporate speaker
Anh Do, a funny and engaging
speaker, closed the conference,
leaving delegates with
a positive message that individuals
can make a difference and that the
time to act is the present.
WorkSafe will build upon the success
of this years conference in 2011.
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The Laminex Group
SWA week events
The Laminex group safety culture was on display during Safe Work A
much to the delight of visitors and staff who experienced a week of in
Buckby Contracting Pty Ltd workers together to focus on living anxiety and associated disorders in
healthy enjoyable lifestyles. experiences The Shire also that contributed the workplace. to their St John health Ambulance and well being.
visited Staff Paraburdoo learnt that and raw Pannawonica foods have facilitated health giving their community properties first and aid can also
to promote whilst indulging safety awareness in a feast in the of gourmet program, raw Carepoint foods, conducted hosted by healthy State Man
workplace. Beckworth and attended by Nina heart Lyhne, checks WorkSafe and the Laminex Western safety Australia
Shire They of Ashburton also relaxed Human under Resources the wonderful team ran fingertips an injury management of a masseuse who
program.
Manager any tension. Felicia Mudge More said serious people subjects involved “Beyond Blue” workshop
often awareness let safety slip and under develop the radar. preventative Aker Solutions strategies to meet the challenge
“The anxiety shire believes and associated that safety is disorders not in the workplace. St John Ambulanc
just a once off event but an everyday
their community first aid program, Carepoint conducted healthy heart
practice.”
Laminex safety team ran an injury management program.
The Laminex Group
The focus at Buckby contracting was
on fire prevention and extinguishing.
Over the course of WorkSafe week
Julia Bradder the OHS officer
presented toolbox talks on fire safety
to all employees and contractors
of Buckby Contracting along with
the Take 10 @ 10 topics provided
by WorkSafe. She also distributed
information packs on making your
home and work fire safe and secure,
installing smoke alarms, interesting
facts on evaporative air conditioning
units and instructions on how to use a
fire extinguisher. The topics discussed
in the toolbox meetings generated
positive discussion amongst the
employees and contractors.
Shire of Ashburton
The Shire of Ashburton’s safety events
in 2009 ran for a week. In 2010, the
Shire has dedicated the month of
October to recognising the importance
of safety, with plans in 2011 to adopt a
year-round safety practice.
Shire officers visited staff in Tom
Price, providing skin cancer checks for
employees, followed by a nutritional
seminar in Onslow that brought
followed by a nutritional seminar in Onslow that brought workers toge
living healthy lifestyles. The Shire also visited Paraburdoo and Panna
promote safety awareness in the workplace.
Shire of Ashburton Human Resources Manager Felicia Mudge said p
safety slip under the radar. “The shire believes that safety is not just
but an everyday practice.”
Malcom Beckwith State Manager Laminex, Nina
Lyhne, WorkSafe WA Commissioner and Sally
Blechynden OH&S Coordinator.
The Laminex group safety culture was
on display during Safe Work Australia
Week much to the delight of visitors
and staff who experienced a week of
informative and enjoyable experiences
that contributed to their health and
well being.
Staff learnt that raw foods have health
giving properties and can also taste
fantastic whilst indulging in a feast of
gourmet raw foods, hosted by State
Manager, Malcolm Beckworth and
attended by Nina Lyhne, WorkSafe
Western Australia Commissioner.
They also relaxed under the wonderful
fingertips of a masseuse who melted
away any tension. More serious
subjects involved “Beyond Blue”
workshops to increase awareness
and develop preventative strategies
to meet the challenge of depression,
Malcom Beckwith State Manager
Laminex, Nina Lyhne, WorkSafe W
Commissioner and Sally Blechynd
OH&S Coordinator
To raise awareness of safety and
health issues, Aker Solutions staff
practiced first aid training.
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SWA week events
Ausco Modular
As one of Australia’s largest modular
building companies Ausco Modular
has offices throughout the country,
including construction sites in regional
areas and corporate offices in capital
cities. Ausco Modular’s O’Connor
branch, dedicated time every day
during Safe Work Australia Week to
raise awareness of important health
and safety issues.
Western Australia Regional Manager
James Rowdon said the key to
generating interest amongst staff was
to create fun, team-focused activities.
“We ran a Five Senses Challenge
over the week, to demonstrate the
difficulty of dealing with the side
effects of common workplace health
and safety issues such as noiseinduced
hearing loss, smelling loss
and visual impairments. It’s a very
simple idea, but very effective.
120 employees participated in this
challenge and we received some
really positive feedback “ he said.
THINKSAFE
WORKSAFE
Stockland
Safe Work Week at Stockland WA
involved a different theme on each
day, safety at work, safety at home,
wellness at work, nutrition and fitness.
Activities held during the week
included:
• Fire extinguisher training for
both CO and Dry Powder
2
extinguishers.
• Free massages and lunchtime
yoga.
• Cooking MasterClass – Chef Beat
and employees cooked up
a nutritious three course lunch.
• Physiotherapy Assessments
• Stockland Soccer – a intra-office
soccer game
• Children’s Colouring Competition
– the picture included an ‘unsafe’
and then corresponding ‘safe’
situation to educate children about
the importance of implementing
safe practices into their lives.
Westcentre, Level 5,
1260 Hay Street
West Perth, Western Australia 6005
Main Roads WA
In 2006, Main Roads first launched
OSHtoberfest as an initiative
to encourage our employees to think
about the aspects of safety and health
that tend to get neglected whilst we
focus on high risk activities. Each year
this event has been well supported
and continues to grow.
This year, OSHtoberfest aligned with
Safe Work Australia Week. The theme
of OSHtoberfest placed a strong focus
on preventative health; encouraging
workers and their families to take
responsibility for their own wellbeing
both at work and at home.
The wellbeing theme for OSHtober
was clearly demonstrated through the
activities, which included:
• Skin Cancer Awareness presented
by the Cancer Council of WA
• Beach and Surf Safety presented
by Mike Carter OSH/ER Advisor at
Main Roads
• Remembering Charlie a personal
story of injury and the importance
of safe systems of work
• Dr Joe maintaining health, and
• A Health and Lifestyle Expo
Admin: 9327 8777
Facsimile: 9321 8973
Customer Help Centre 1300 307 877
Email: safety@commerce.wa.gov.au
Internet: www.worksafe.wa.gov.au
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