Heads of Workplace Safety Authorities campaigns

The Heads of Workplace Safety Authorities (HWSA) met on 14 October to discuss the progress of a range of initiatives to further occupational health and safety management across Australian and New Zealand workplaces.

Members considered a number of new campaigns aimed at improving occupational health and safety and agreed on priority areas for 2010-11. The purpose of HWSA campaigns is to raise awareness of a particular occupational health and safety issue or hazard in a particular industry.

HWSA agreed to conduct two campaigns in 2010:

• Safe supply of plant with a focus on imported machinery;
• Worker safety on or near public roads.

Members noted the progress of the 2009 campaigns, designed to improve awareness and compliance in several industries. The 2009 campaigns include ‘Construction Scaffolding’, 'Manual Tasks and Moving Objects in the Retail and Wholesale and Transport and Storage Industries’ and ‘Managing Aggressive Behaviour in Healthcare’.

The development of a national instrument for the assessment of high-risk work licensing was also discussed. This initiative is part of HWSA’s commitment to progress national consistency, harmonisation and best practice in occupational health and safety.

HWSA discussed licensing arrangements for asbestos removalists and training for removalists and auditors, with a view of developing a national approach as part of the harmonisation process.

Information on projects and initiatives can be accessed at www.hwsa.org.au.