Present: Professor John Langley
(Acting Chair), Professor Philippa Gander, Dr Evan Dryson
Apologies Professor Neil Pearce,
In attendance: Mark Wagstaffe (NOHSAC Secretariat)
Minutes: Carla Wild
1. WELCOME
The Acting Chair welcomed
everyone to the meeting.
2. Previous Minutes and
Action Points
NOHSAC Minutes of Tuesday 13 November
2007 were reviewed and the Committee agreed that they were a true and
accurate record of the meeting with the following amendment:
Item 5: Target date should be 1 February 2008.
Proposed: John Langley
Seconded: Evan Dryson
All action points were reviewed.
Correspondence:
The letter from Professor
Neil Pearce, on behalf of NOHSAC, to Hon Trevor Mallard, Minister of
Labour, was noted. NOHSAC Secretariat to prepare a summary of the key
points of the meeting to which this letter refers.
Action 1: NOHSAC Secretariat to summarise the
main points of the meeting between Professor Neil Pearce and Hon Trevor
Mallard.
Responsible: Mark Wagstaffe
Target Date: 7 March 2008
3. NOHSAC Operations
Changing Work Environment
- Workplace Research Centre
Professor Gander and Mark Wagstaffe visited the Workplace Research Centre,
Sydney, to discuss this research and the Centre was grateful for the
input. They will be visiting the Centre again on 28th February to discuss
progress and will be reviewing the draft report, however, to date the
work has not been satisfactory.
John Langley passed his comments on the draft report to Mark Wagstaffe
saying that he had assumed this was a summary and that a more detailed
report would be forthcoming.
Before voicing dissatisfaction to the WRC, it was agreed to await the
full first draft which should be available 25th or 26th February. The
Committee was asked to forward comments on this draft in time for the
meeting in Sydney on 28th February. It was agreed to continue with the
research process, withholding further payment in the meantime, but to
provide them with the direction required and ensure this is followed.
Mark Wagstaffe is to become more involved with the research project.
Action 2: Committee to send comments on draft
report to NOHSAC Secretariat by 27th February 2008.
Responsible: NOHSAC Committee members
Target Date: 27 February 2008
Action 3: Mark Wagstaffe to look at possibility of becoming more involved
in the WRC research process.
Responsible: Mark Wagstaffe
Target Date: 28 February 2008
Efficacy of Codes of Practice,
Report to the Minister of Labour
Concern was raised over codes being outdated with only four having been
produced in the past ten years. The summary section needs to show examples
of evidence e.g. why codes need to be updated. There is currently no
system or procedure for checking they are up to date, for updating them
or even reissuing with no change. It was agreed that the lead agency
must recognise that work on Codes of Practice has to be ongoing and
provide the necessary resources.
Action 4: Committee to supply comments by 29th
February 2008 for NOHSAC Secretariat to draft a summary for the Minister.
Responsible: Committee and Secretariat
Target Date: 29th February 2008
Replacement Committee Member
Mark Wagstaffe will contact Anne Marie Feyer when he is in Sydney and
ask if she is interested in staying on the Committee.
Action 5: NOHSAC Secretariat to contact Anne Marie
Feyer.
Responsible: Mark Wagstaffe
Target Date: 29th February 2008
NOHSAC Meeting Dates 2008
Action 6: NOHSAC Secretariat will re circulate
the list of proposed meeting dates for response by the Committee.
Responsible: NOHSAC Secretariat/Committee
Target Date: 5 March 2008
Occupational Health and
Safety in Small to Medium Enterprises
Massey AUT has been appointed to do this research, although the contract
has not yet been signed. Work has started and one meeting held with
another planned for the following week.
RFP - Women's Occupational Health
and Safety in New Zealand
Mark Wagstaffe has contacted the Ministry of Women's Affairs who do
not wish to be consulted about this research, but would like to be kept
informed.
RFP - Work related
harm
This RFP is on GETS and NOHSAC Secretariat will distribute the responses
to the Committee.
Action 7: NOHSAC Secretariat to distribute responses
to the RFP to the Committee.
Responsible: NOHSAC Secretariat
Target Date: 31 March 2008
4. GENERAL BUSINESS
Following the meeting with the Chief Coroner, NOHSAC Secretariat agreed
to draft a supporting letter for the establishment of a Coronial database.
Action 8: NOHSAC Secretariat to draft supporting
letter for the establishment of a Coronial database.
Responsible: NOHSAC Secretariat
Target Date: 5 March 2008
Meeting closed
The meeting closed at 11.00
am, 19 February 2008
Next meeting
The next meeting will be held on 6 May 2008
