Committee Minutes - 23 May 2006

Minutes of the Committee Meeting
WEDNESDAY, 23 MAY 2006, 8.30 TO 2.30PM
SENNA ROOM, MUSEUM HOTEL, 90 CABLE STREET, WELLINGTON

ATTENDEES

Present: Professor Neil Pearce (Chair), Anne-Marie Feyer, Professor Philippa Gander, Dr Evan Dryson

In Attendance: Mark Wagstaffe and Stephanie Kerruish (NOHSAC Secretariat)

Andrew Annakin, Lynn Murphy and Kataraina Maki (Department of Labour, 10.30 to 11am)

Dr Geraint Emerys, Chief Advisor, Occupational Health, Department of Labour (11.00am to 11.45am)

Anna Gribble, Allen and Clarke (2.00pm to 3.00pm)

Apologies: Nil

Minutes by: Stephanie Kerruish and Mark Wagstaffe

1. Previous Minutes and Action Points

NOHSAC Minutes of 8 February 2006 were reviewed and the Committee agreed that they were a true and accurate record of the meeting. All action points were reviewed. Action points have been completed and no points were carried forward.

2. NOHSAC Operations

Neil Pearce and Mark Wagstaffe updated the Committee on the meeting held with the Hon Ruth Dyson on the 15 February 2006.

Neil Pearce advised the Committee that the term of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Department of Labour and NOHSAC ends on the 30 June 2006.

ACTION 1: NOHSAC Secretariat will provide the Committee members with a copy of the MOU.
Responsible: NOHSAC Secretariat
Date: May 2006

Correspondence

The Committee reviewed the following correspondence:

Inwards

Ross Wilson, New Zealand Council of Trade Unions – Discussion on draft reports.
Hon Ruth Dyson – Workplace Fatalities during the Summer Months
Hon Ruth Dyson – Review of Schedule 2
Hon Ruth Dyson – Development of a Workplace Health and Safety Council.

Outwards

Ross Wilson, New Zealand Council of Trade Unions – NOHSAC and it’s work programme.
Phil O’Reilly, Business New Zealand – NOHSAC and it’s work programme.
Hon Ruth Dyson – Response to the Development of a Workplace Health and Safety Council
Dr James Buwalda – NOHSAC Operations and Budget 2005/06

It was decided that the committee should increase the communication between Government Agencies and other social partners (NZCTU and Business New Zealand) and update them on the Committee’s progress of their work programme.

The committee will write to the Social Partners and agencies for further suggestions on the National Profile of Occupational Health and Safety in New Zealand: Report to the Minister of Labour. This report is expected to be written in September 2006.

Surveillance Workshop in Sydney

A copy of the Proposed Workshop Structure for the ‘Exposure Surveillance – The Big Picture, Imperatives for Change’ seminar being held in Sydney on the 26 June 2006 and a list of attendees was given to the Committee.

Meeting Dates

Due to the next Committee meeting date being set for 9 August 2006, it was decided to cancel the meeting proposed for the 26 July 2006. Anne-Marie Feyer asked if the meeting in August could be held on the 8 August 2006.

ACTION 2: NOHSAC Secretariat is to confirm will all Committee members whether they are available to attend a meeting on the 8 August 2006.
Responsible: NOHSAC Secretariat
Target Date: May 2006

ICOH, Milan

Mark Wagstaffe will be attending the ICOH Conference in Milan. This will help to inform NOHSAC’s future projects.

3. NOHSAC'S WORK PROGRAMME

The Economic and Social Costs of Occupational Disease and Injury in New Zealand

A final copy of NOHSAC’s fourth technical report was presented to the Committee (a copy was emailed to Committee members prior to the launch). The report was launched on 27 April 2006 with favourable responses from NZCTU and ACC. Mark Wagstaffe advised that the report was also mentioned at the Workers Memorial Day held on 28 April 2006 and received considerable coverage on the radio, television and in the national newspapers.

Review of the Surveillance of and Control of Workplace Exposures in Australia and New Zealand.

A copy of the draft report produced by Tim Driscoll on the ‘Review of the Surveillance of and Control of Workplace Exposures in Australia and New Zealand’ was given to Committee members for discussion. Mark Wagstaffe will distribute NOHSAC’s draft outline of the report to the group for comments. The report will be printed the first week in July 2006.

Action 3: The Committee is to review this report and send any comments to Mark Wagstaffe for forwarding to Tim Driscoll.
Responsible: NOHSAC Committee
Date: 29 May 2006

National Profile of Occupational Health and Safety in New Zealand

Anna Gribble from Allen and Clarke took the Committee through the draft of the final report.

Action 4: NOHSAC Committee members are to provide feedback on the report to Mark Wagstaffe by 29 May 2006.
Responsible: NOHSAC Committee
Date: 29 May 2006

Mark Wagstaffe is to draft a letter to Agencies and Social Partners asking for any additional comments on Occupational Health and Safety in New Zealand.

Action 5: Mark Wagstaffe to draft a letter to Agencies advising them of the upcoming launch of the National Profile report and seeking additional comments. This letter to be circulated to the Committee prior to the next meeting.
Responsible: Mark Wagstaffe
Date: July 2006.

Surveillance and Control of Workplace Exposure in New Zealand: Report to the Minister of Labour

Mark Wagstaffe will circulate the rough draft of the short report to the Committee for Comment by the 30 June 2006. The Committee is to provide feedback to Mark Wagstaffe with a list of recommendations for this report by 7 July 2006. The estimated completion for the short report is the middle of July, with a launch being held in the second week of August.

Action 6: NOHSAC Committee members are to provide feedback on the short report to Mark Wagstaffe by 7 July 2006.
Responsible: NOHSAC Committee
Date: 7 July 2006

Other Options Discussed

Musculoskeletal

The Committee discussed having a New Zealand focussed report on Musculoskeletal Disorders.
It was suggested that the Committee send Request for proposals (RFP) to the following:

Hilda Firth
Tim Driscoll
Harry Norton
John Langley/Colin Cryer
Ian Cameron, Sydney University Research Centre

Mark Wagstaffe and Evan Dryson will produce a draft RFP

Action 7: Prepare a draft Request for Proposal before the next meeting.
Responsible: Mark Wagstaffe and Evan Dryson
Target Date: 8 August 2006

Organisation and Social Aspects of the Work Environment
Professor Philippa Gander will work with Mark Wagstaffe to draft a proposal for the next committee meeting.

Action 8: Prepare a draft proposal for the Organisation and Social Aspects of the Work Environment.
Responsible: Professor Philippa Gander and Mark Wagstaffe
Target Date: 8 August 2006

4. Meeting with the Minister of Labour

Hon Ruth Dyson, will be invited to the next meeting on the 8 August 2006 (meeting date to be confirmed).

5. Other Matters

 

Invited Guests

Andrew Annakin, Deputy Secretary - Workplace, Linn Murphy, Manager – ACC Policy Team, Kataraina Maki, Manager – Health & Safety Policy from the Department of Labour met with the Committee. Issues were raised by the Department of Labour of the approach and requests made by NOHSAC’s researchers. The committee considered the comments made by the Department of Labour. The committee concluded that the report produced by Allen and Clarke was of a professional standard and that the researchers had compiled a very useful report.

Dr Geraint Emerys, Chief Advisor - Occupational Health, Workplace, Department of Labour, also met with the Committee. Geraint Emerys explained his role within the Department, his ideas and proposals. Neil Pearce offered the support of the Committee to Geraint. Geraint Emerys advised that a draft ‘Whole of Government Department’ response to the NOHSAC surveillance report has been given to Hon Ruth Dyson.

Next Meeting: 8 August 2006 (yet to be confirmed)

Meeting Closed: The meeting was closed at 2.30pm, 23 May 2006.