Committee Minutes - 2006

NATIONAL OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE (NOHSAC)

Minutes of the Meeting WEDNESDAY, 8 FEBRUARY 2006, 10.30 TO 4.00PM,

Level 10, Tower 2, PwC Building, 201 Sussex Street, Sydney

Attendees

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

In Attendance: Mark Wagstaffe and Stephanie Kerruish (NOHSAC Secretariat – Department of Labour), Rob Thomson, WorkCover, New South Wales (11.00am to 12.30pm), Dr Peta Miller and Su Mon Kyaw Myint (12.30pm to 2.00pm)

Apologies: Evan Dryson and Selwyn McCracken

Minutes: Stephanie Kerruish and Mark Wagstaffe

1. PREVIOUS MINUTES AND ACTION POINTS

NOHSAC Minutes of 30 November 2005 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.

Action 1: Mark Wagstaffe advised the committee that regular updates on NOHSAC’s work programme would be discussed with Keith McLea from the Accident Compensation Corporation.
Responsible:NOHSAC Secretariat
Date: Ongoing

The Committee discussed their concerns regarding the unspent funds in the OSH/HRC Occupational Health Research Fund. A letter from the Committee will be produced addressed to Hon Ruth Dyson.

Action 2: Mark Wagstaffe to draft a letter for Professor Neil Pearce to sign and also include this issue to discussion points for the meeting with Hon Ruth Dyson on 15 February 2006. Responsible NOHSAC Secretariat

Date: 13 February 2006

Mark Wagstaffe provided the Committee with a copy of the NOHSAC column ‘Joining the Dots’ published in the January/February 2006 issue of Safeguard. Mark Wagstaffe will draft articles for the next three columns.

2. NOHSAC's OPERATION

General

Surveillance Workshop in Sydney: Mark Wagstaffe advised that the Office of the Australian Safety and Compensation Council (OASCC) were planning an Exposure Surveillance System Workshop in Sydney on the 27 June 2006 in conjunction with NOHSAC.

Dr Peta Miller and Su Mon Kyaw Myint from OASCC met with the committee to discuss possible workshop options and presenters. The purpose of the workshop was to share information with stakeholders. A brief outline was presented to the Committee. Professor Gander suggested including a guest speaker from a company that currently has a successful exposure surveillance system. Dr Miller mentioned that Mark Wagstaffe and Dr Tim Driscoll would give a talk on their findings of the ‘Review of The Surveillance of and Control of Workplace Exposures in Australia and New Zealand’.

Action 3: Professor Neil Pearce suggested that the NOHSAC portion of this workshop be discussed at the next meeting. NOHSAC Secretariat to include in the Agenda for 5 April 2006.
Responsible: NOHSAC Secretariat
Date: 5 April 06

ICOH in Milan

Action 4: Mark Wagstaffe will provide the Committee with a budget for going to ICOH on 11 June 2006 and meeting with the NIOH in Denmark.
Responsible: NOHSAC Secretariat

Date: March 2006

Meeting Date – 14 June 2006

The Committee decided to change the date of the meeting on the 14 June 2006 to a more suitable date in July.

Action 5: NOHSAC Secretariat will check with individual Committee members as to the best possible date to replace the 14 June 2006.
Responsible:NOHSAC Secretariat
Date: March 06

3. Work Programme

Review of Schedule 2 of the Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2001

Mark Wagstaffe produced a draft report of the review of Schedule 2. Mr Brian Easton was suggested as a guest speaker for the launch of Schedule 2.

Surveillance of Occupational Disease and Injury in New Zealand

A key recommendation of the Surveillance report was the establishment of an Expert Advisory Group.

Action 6:Mark Wagstaffe to draft a letter for Professor Neil Pearce to sign and also include this issue to discussion points for the meeting with Hon Ruth Dyson on 15 February 2006.
Responsible NOHSAC Secretariat
Date: Feb. 06

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

The draft report was issued to the Committee members. Mark Wagstaffe is to meet with Access Economics on the 9 February 2006 to provide them with the feedback/changes from the Committee meeting.

National Profile of Occupational Health and Safety in New Zealand.

A draft of the report produced by Allan and Clarke was distributed to the Committee Members. The Committee will review the report and provide any feedback to Mark Wagstaffe by 15 February 2006.

Action 7: NOHSAC Committee members are to provide feedback on the report to Mark Wagstaffe by 15 February 2006.
Responsible NOHSAC Committee
Date: 15 Feb. 06

Review of The Surveillance of and Control of Workplace Exposures in Australia and New Zealand

The Committee was advised that Dr Tim Driscoll is behind the reporting timeline but that the report is expected to be received on time.

Action 8: Mark Wagstaffe and Professor Neil Pearce will produce an outline of the committee’s report on Surveillance of Exposures for the next meeting.
Responsible: M Wagstaffe / N Pearce
Date: 5 Apr 06

Action 9: The NOHSAC Secretariat are to bring the VIOSH report to the April Meeting
Responsible NOHSAC Secretariat
Date: 5 Apr 06

Work Programme - Other options discussed

International Review of National Structures for Occupational Health and Safety

The committee discussed various structures used for Occupational Safety and Health. The committee asked Mark Wagstaffe to approach Dr Nicholas Kendall (Author of the International Review of Surveillance of Occupational Disease and Injury) to critically review and analyse the occupational Health and Safety Systems of:
- England
- Canada
- Finland
- USA.
Mark Wagstaffe will provide information for Dr Kendall on systems and structures used in Australia.

Action 10: Draft a Request for Proposal before the next meeting.
Responsible: M Wagstaffe
Date: 5 April 06

4. Meeting with the Minister of Labour

A meeting is organised between Hon Ruth Dyson, Mark Wagstaffe and Professor Neil Pearce on the 15 February 2006 to discuss the committee’s progress and work programme.

5. Other Matters

Rob Thomson, General Manager, Workers Compensation Division, WorkCover met with the Committee and explained the work of the New South Wales Workers Compensation System.

Meeting Closed: The meeting was closed at 3.30pm, 8 February 2006

Next Meeting: 5 April 2006