Thursday 26 September 2013
1:00pm- 4.00pm
WorkSafe Victoria
Level 7, 222 Exhibition Street, Melbourne
Chair Lisa Sturzenegger / Minutes / Libby Langler
Participants / Barry Durham (VCEA), Cathy Butcher (VTHC), Barry Sherriff (PCA), Renata Musolino (VTHC), Tony Lopez (HIA), John Darcy (MBAV), Carol Bullivant (AIGroup), Rodney Tresidder (MPMSA), Phil Lovelock (VECCI), Stefan Delaney (SIAU), Carl Marsich (CPSU/SPSF), Patrick D’Alessandri (VACC), Tacey Browne ( AI Group), Zoran Bukavica ( ANF), Gerry Ayres (CFMEU), Jennfer Sanderson (RCSA), Keith Govias (A.R.A), Damian Ryan ( LASA)
Apologies / Geoff Pawsey (MAV), Megan Davison (MCA), ,Yiota Paraskevopoulos (ANF),Jody Beckwith (CCF),Andrew Hawkins (LASA), , Peter Verberne (AMCA), Cris Giblin (PTEU), Sarah Ross (AMWU), Gwynnyth Evans (AMIEU) , Grant Odgers (HACSU), Steve Rocco (PTEU), Georgie Kimmel (AMWU), Percy Pillai (AWU) D Tuddenham (ETU), Kimberley White (RCSA),Gayle Burmeister (NUW), Michael Clarke (TPA), James Cox (SDA), Patricia Murdock (VFF), Kathryn Walton (PCIA), Wendy Mc Inerney (Shell), Amy Towers (RCSA), David Amesbury (ACCV), Paul Burgess (NECA), Sergio Parisi (SPSF) Janet Marshall (AEU) Kathy Chrisfiled (ANF) Mark Binks (CCF), Alexanda Ternill (RSCA), Anna Vong (VACC), Cath Duane ( WSV)
Attendees / Anna Scott, Kate Despot, Alex Buckle, Richard Versteegen, Angela Jolic, Megan O’Halloran, Louise Close, Robin Trotter
O:\!WorkSafe\PSD\Stakeholder Engagement\SRG\2013\9. Oct 17th\Draft\Sept 26 SRG Minutes_2013 FINAL.doc
30/09/2013 1:56 PM / 4
No. / Item /
1. / Welcome
Lisa opened the meeting and welcomed attendees.
Minutes of 29th August 2013
Minutes of the August meeting were accepted.
Actions arising from previous meeting 29th August 2013
1. WSV to present the implications of the changes to the Fair Work Act regrading bullying complaints.
Linda Timothy will provide an update at Octobers meeting
2. / Enforcement Group Update (continued from August 29th meeting)
Kate Despot’s Enforcement Group update.
Key points included;
· Kate discussed the 6 significant convictions and undertakings in 2012/13 as well as the successful bullying prosecution and $50,000 fine recorded against Kevin Andrew, the owner operator of a laundry business in Mildura.
· Presentation of the Enforcement Group Program focus areas for 2013/14
There was some discussion on the EG focus area ‘incident notification and site preservation’ and a request to report the corresponding numbers against each focus area for EG. KD agreed to provide numbers early next year. There was also a request for Kate to report on those matters that were ‘withdrawn or unsuccessful’ at prosecution. Kate agreed to report back to the group with key learnings from those matters.
The stakeholders raised the issue of prosecution media releases and asked for that they be ‘on the day of’ rather than a week later. There was a request from the Stakeholders to provide an update on wall collapse in Carlton.
Action: WSV will provide an overview of the Prosecutions that were withdrawn or unsuccessful at prosecutions.
Action: WSV to present the process in the inspectorate following a high profile event.
3. / Health and Safety-
Work Safe Week s69 HSR Training
Alex Buckle and Megan O’Halloran from the Prevention Strategy Division returned to provide detail on the course criteria for section 69 training at Work Safe week.
Key points included;
· The criteria checklist and that WSV will be randomly auditing training sessions this year.
· Clayton Larkin will be the leading the panel for ‘Tips and tools to make you a more effective Health and Safety Representative’ along with previous winners of the HSR Worksafe awards.
There was concern from the Stakeholders that the criteria didn’t specify that trainers had to be approved. Alex assured the group that all trainers would be approved.
4. / Modern Regulator Focus and Health and Safely Strategy Update
Robin Trotter provided an update on the progress of Reinvigorating the Modern Regulator and the Health and Safety Strategy Framework.
Key points for Modern Regulator included:
§ The inputs into the Modern Regulator project; including the WSV’s role as regulator; the aspirations of the projects, the attributes and enablers of success.
Key points for Health and Safety Strategy included:
§ The Health and Safety framework overview, including the inputs into the project, future risk prioritisation, information and guidance and evaluation.
§ Next steps for implementing the Strategy across Health & Safety division and WSV’s goals for 2017.
Robin thanked the Stakeholders for their assistance and input into the Modern Regulator and Strategy work. There was some discussion from the Stakeholders on the enablers of success in the modern regulator work and the need to articulate collaboration as a key point which was met with agreement from WSV. Stakeholders discussed the importance of ‘Leadership and Culture’ being addressed within WSV and Lisa advised stakeholders that the Executive Directors will be working together to address cultural change in WSV. There was concern that the Strategy didn’t articulate work with other Government Departments aside from the Health department and that Occupational Disease wasn’t mentioned. Robin assured Stakeholders that the Strategy will include other government departments and Lisa advised that the Occupational Disease logic model was nearly complete.
Action: WSV to provide overview of the alignment between logic model work and the Health and Safety Strategy and a status update for the logic model work.
5. / Health and Safety Update
Asbestos and Aged Care
Richard Versteegen from the Prevention Strategy Division provided an update of the Asbestos and Aged Care programs of work.
Key points from Asbestos included:
§ The Website for Victorian advice on asbestos is expected to be live during November and will provide the public with the one source of advice on asbestos.
§ The domestic asbestos removal kit pilot program; these kits will provide PPE, plastic wrap, information and instruction for home renovators and will be available for purchase through a small number of councils.
Residential Aged Care
§ Residential Aged Care Resident Handling Assessment Tool was developed collaboratively with the Aged Care SRG, David Caple & Associates and WSV. The tool is a Self Assessment against minimal compliance, improved performance and best practice.
There was some discussion on the exemption that have been given to some builders to keep asbestos ‘in the ground’ and who grants the exemptions. Lisa said that she would investigate and report back to SRG on these exemptions.
Action: WSV Report back to SRG on the exemption for builder on asbestos removal.
6. / Legislation Policy and & Information Service Update
Angela Jolic provided an update on the progress of a number of key pieces of policy and legislation. Key points included:
§ Manual handling code; Stakeholder consultation continuing and code is on track for completion in early 2014.
§ The OHS Regs reform project; WSV has completed the review of the regulations. Angela is meeting with Cathy and Barry to discuss the regulatory amendment proposals and how best to continue Stakeholder consultation.
§ Comprehensive Regs review Initial meetings of the stakeholder reference groups for the topics listed on the slide will be held in late October and in November. It is anticipated that each group will only meet once this year and will continue meeting in 2014.
§ National OHS forums; Safe Work Australia Members Group met on 15 August, Members were provided with a public comment progress report in regard to Workplace Bullying – a draft CoP, guide for workers, and Consultation RIS was released for a public comment for 6 weeks and closed on 15 July. 105 submissions received & considered by SWA. A revised draft will be tabled at the SIG-WHS meeting tomorrow. In regard to Stevedoring – a draft Code was released for public comment. A Consultation RIS will be released for public comment once the Office of Best Practice Regulation has approved its release. WSV expect a public comment analysis progress report will be provided at tomorrow’s SIG meeting. Revised construction Work CoP – Members agreed by majority to release the revised draft CoP for public comment for six weeks (ending 2 Oct). The revised draft code includes guidance on housing construction work to make the existing code more accessible to the housing construction industry. Technical amendments to the WHS laws – SWA proposed to correct inadvertent errors, clarify policy intent and address workability issues. Amendments were agreed to forward to Select Council of Workplace Relations for approval and SWA will publish amendments with explanatory material. VIC did not oppose revisions, our position remains unchanged in regard to adopting the model laws, and therefore Victoria abstained from any vote to endorse the changes. Australian Strategy – Members agreed to further consider out of session a draft Agriculture Activity Plan (2013-2016) to be incorporated as part of the Strategy – it will be brought back to the SWA Members Group for decision in Nov.
§ HOWSA – there hasn’t been a HOWSA meeting since the SRG was last in session.
7. / Other Business
There was discussion on the Essedon Football team and WSVs involvement. While Inspectors were on notice in the event of incident response, however there were no calls to advisory on the matter.
Stakeholders asked if there were any changes to the OHS Harmonisation with the change of federal government.
Action : WSV to report back on any changed to Harmonisation following the change in federal government
8. / Meeting Close at 4:10pm
Action items from 25July 2013 meeting
No. / Action items / Who / By when/ Status /1. / Linda Timothy to present the implications of the changes to the Fair Work Act regrading bullying complaints. / LT / 17 October 13
Action items from 26 September 2013 meeting
No. / Action items / Who / By when/ Status /1 / WSV will provide an overview of the Prosecutions that were withdrawn or unsuccessful at prosecutions. / KD / 17 October 13
2 / WSV to present the process inspectorate follow after a high profile event. / JE / 17 October 13
3 / WSV to provide overview of the alignment between logic model work and the Health and Safety Strategy and a status update for the logic model work. / MO / 17 October 13
4 / WSV to report back to SRG on the exemption for builder on asbestos removal. / RV / 28 November 13
5 / WSV to report back on any changed to Harmonisation following the change in federal government / AJ / 17 October 13
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