NATIONAL OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH &

SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE (NOHSAC)

Minutes of the Meeting

WEDNESDAY, 18 AUGUST 2004, 9.30AM TO 4.00PM,

LOCAL GOVERNMENT BUILDING, LEVEL 9, 114-118 LAMBTON QUAY, WELLINGTON.

ATTENDEES
Present:	Neil Pearce (NOHSAC Chair), Evan Dryson and Philippa Gander
In Attendance:	Mark Wagstaffe and Stephanie Kerruish (NOHSAC Secretariat – Department of Labour), Hon Ruth Dyson (Associate Minister of Labour) and Lyndon Keene, (9.30 to 10.30am), Julian King and Peter Hibbert (Health Outcomes International) (1.05 to 1.50pm), Donald Hannah and Ingrid Toleman (ERMA) (2.00pm to 2.50pm), and Nicholas Kendall (3.00pm to 4.00pm)
Apologies:	Anne-Marie Feyer and Selwyn McCracken
Minuted by:	Stephanie Kerruish and Mark Wagstaffe
Next Meeting:	20 October 2004

DESCRIPTION		RESPONSIBLE	TARGET DATE
1. Meeting with the Minister of Labour
	Hon Ruth Dyson, Associate Minister of Labour was welcomed and introduced to the NOHSAC Committee and Secretariat. The Chair, Neil Pearce discussed the aims of the Committee and also the launch of the first report - Burden of Occupational Disease and Injury in New Zealand. The Committee provided Hon Ruth Dyson with a draft copy of the report.
	Hon Ruth Dyson expressed her interest in attending the NOHSAC meetings frequently and asked for a proposed schedule of dates to be forwarded to her office.
Action 1	NOHSAC Secretariat to contact Hon Ruth Dyson’s office and confirm the best suitable day of the week for her to meet with the Committee. Once this has been obtained, the Secretariat will forward the proposed schedule of dates to the Committee for approval then forward a copy to Hon Ruth Dyson’s office.	NOHSAC Secretariat	August 2004
2. Previous Minutes and Action Points
	NOHSAC Minutes of 9 June 2004 – accepted with one change. Proposed: Philippa Gander; Seconded: Evan Dryson All action points were reviewed and noted that they have been completed.
3. NOHSAC’s Operation
	The Committee discussed the guest speakers for further meetings and have decided on inviting the following: • Mr Andrew Annakin, Deputy Secretary – Workplace, Department of Labour • Mr Garry Wilson, Chief Executive, ACC • Member of the ACC Ministerial Advisory Panel on Work-related gradual process, disease or infection • Member of the Injury Surveillance Advisory Panel • Mr Don Matheson, Deputy Director General, Public Health, Ministry of Health • Mr Tim Cleary, Business New Zealand • Representatives from Civil Aviation Authority, Maritime Safety Authority and Land Transport Safety Authority.
Action 2	NOHSAC Secretariat to send an invitation to two of the abovementioned groups per meeting.	NOHSAC Secretariat	August 2004
	The Chair Neil Pearce advised the Committee of his six-month sabbatical, commencing in January 2005. The Secretariat advised that they will liaise with the Associate Minister of Labour over this issue.
Action 3	NOHSAC Secretariat to investigate the rules around Neil’s sabbatical.	NOHSAC Secretariat	August 04
4. Work Programme
	Burden of Occupational Disease and Injury in NZ Tim Driscoll’s Report Anne-Marie Feyer’s recommended changes to the report were presented to the Committee. The Committee were asked to review Anne-Marie Feyer’s changes and forward them to Mark Wagstaffe
	Mark Wagstaffe advised that the peer reviews have not yet been received. Neil Pearce advised that it would be good to receive these responses by the end of the week. If the responses were not forthcoming, an alternative review would need to be actioned. The Committee mentioned Bill Glass and James Leigh as possible alternative reviewers.

Action 4	NOHSAC Secretariat to contact peer reviewers to ascertain their ability to respond within the week. If the reviewers are not able to produce their responses by the end of the week, the Secretariat is to look into the alternative options.	NOHSAC Secretariat	August 04
	Mark Wagstaffe presented the mock-up of the report for the Committee’s comment. The Committee was happy with the presentation of both the main report and the laypersons’ report.

	The Committee reviewed the laypersons report and recommended changes. The NOHSAC Secretariat will action these changes and forward the updated version to the Committee.

Action 5	NOHSAC Secretariat to action the changes to the lay-person’s report and forward to the Committee.	NOHSAC Secretariat	August 04
	Review of Methods and Systems used to Measure and Monitor Occupational Disease and Injury in New Zealand
	Julian King and Peter Hibbert from Health Outcomes International Pty Ltd (HOI) presented an updated of their progress for the report. The Committee were asked for further contact names for interviews.
Action 6	NOHSAC Secretariat to forward HOI the contact name for the National Poisons Centre.	NOHSAC Secretariat	August 04

	Review of Methods and Systems Used to Measure and Monitor Occupational Disease and Injury – International
	The Committee welcomed Dr Nicholas Kendall, who has submitted a response to the Request for Proposals for this review. The Committee questioned him on his approach to the report and reporting back to the Committee.
	The Committee agreed to accept Dr Kendall’s research proposal. Dr Kendall agreed to speak at the EPICOH conference in Melbourne on International Surveillance Systems.
Action 7	NOHSAC Secretariat to produce a contract for Dr Kendall to sign.	NOHSAC Secretariat	Aug 04
Action 8	NOHSAC Secretariat to arrange travel and accommodation for Dr Kendall to attend the EPICOH Conference in Melbourne October 2004.	NOHSAC Secretariat	Sept 04
5. Other Matters / Action Points

	Donald Hannah and Ingrid Toleman from the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) met with the Committee to discuss the work of NOHSAC and issues of concern to the ERMA. Donald Hannah expressed an interest of the outcomes of our second report. Neil Pearce suggested that some members of the Committee meet with members from ERMA either by the end of the year, or early next year.

	No other matters discussed. The meeting closed at 4.00pm.