DCS embraces social media p6 SES Week 2011 p8 QFRS tries on ...

Safety in focus as <strong>DCS</strong>
hosts industry forum
<strong>DCS</strong> had the opportunity to share
solutions and showcase its workplace
safety innovations when it hosted the
Safety Networking Group forum at the
Kedron Park Complex on 11 November.
The forum was attended by
representatives from a broad range of
private indus<strong>tries</strong>, government agencies
and corporations and local authorities, as
well as <strong>DCS</strong>’ divisional workplace health
and safety (WHS) units.
In operation for more than a
decade, the Safety Networking Group
is coordinated by Brisbane-based
firm Queensland Risk Management
Consultancy.
The group’s purpose is to bring
together health and safety practitioners
to share information and strategies that
can enhance the safety culture across all
indus<strong>tries</strong>.
QAS Commissioner and Chair of the
<strong>DCS</strong> WHS Governance Committee Russell
Bowles opened the forum with an insight
into the Department’s ZEROharm mission
and core value of safety.
‘It should be an undeniable
expectation that all workers go home at
the end of a day as healthy as they were
when they started,’ Mr Bowles said.
‘This expectation should apply to
all workers regardless of industry, and
forums such as this will go a long way
to continually improve the health and
safety message, better manage our risks
and reduce injuries and illnesses to
Queensland workers.’
The group received an update on the
Harmonised Work Health and Safety
Legislation and Regulations, due to take
effect from early next year, provided by
the Department of Justice and Attorney-
General’s (JAG) Workplace Health and
Safety Queensland.
JAG has identified five key aspects
government agencies such as <strong>DCS</strong> need to
implement in light of the new legislation.
They are:
>> Governance arrangements
to incorporate due diligence
requirements
>> Organisational health and safety
accountability measures and targets
>> Health and safety management
systems
>> Hazards and associated risks
across the organisation
>> Management of hazards, risks and
incidents
QAS Area Director and Fatigue
Management Project Officer Michael
Metcalfe addressed the forum on the topic
of ‘Effective fatigue risk management from
an emergency services perspective’.
Michael said the implementation of
fatigue risk management practices in
organisations such as QAS required a
substantial paradigm shift compared to
previously held knowledge.
‘A number of years ago, research
and intervention into fatigue was largely
focused at the airline and transport
sectors.
‘However, modern trends clearly
indicate that indus<strong>tries</strong> and emergency
service areas such as QAS must take
positive steps to managing fatigue,’ he
said.
From left: Steve O’Rourke (Queensland Risk
Management Consultancy), Michael Metcalfe
(QAS), Clare Hoey (WHS QLD) and Adrian Savage
(Queensland Risk Management Consultancy)
The forum ended with an open debate,
facilitated by former Australasian Risk
Manager of the Year Adrian Savage,
around the proposition that ‘the health
and safety fraternity had legislated and
systemised themselves to a level that
the management of health and safety
had become an administrative burden on
organisations’.
While the debate remained
unresolved, it was agreed that health and
safety professionals must:
>> Incorporate health and safety into
the operations and activities of all
businesses
>> Address the management of
systems and minimise red tape
>> Keep health and safety in line with
advancements in technology
>> Be conscious of generational gaps
when designing health and safety
management solutions
>> Concentrate on the key message ‘no
harm to anyone, any time at work’.
The Kedron Park forum was arranged
by <strong>DCS</strong> WHS Unit Director Bill Finlay,
who said there was enormous value in
opportunities such as those provided
by the Safety Networking Group to
enhance skills, strengthen ties, improve
cooperation and generate constructive
and open discussion among indus<strong>tries</strong>
and employers about better ways to
prevent workplace injuries.
‘It is hoped that these sorts of forums
can be extended to regional areas in the
future, as enhancing the health and safety
of <strong>DCS</strong> staff in regional areas is definitely
a priority of mine,’ Bill said.
www.communitysafety.qld.gov.au Emergency December <strong>2011</strong> 23