WHS research blueprint released to improve workplace safety
A work health and safety research centre has released its first blueprint designed to reduce deaths, serious injuries and illnesses in NSW workplaces.
The NSW Government’s Centre for Work Health and Safety blueprint sets out the scope of its research over the next four years.
SafeWork NSW Executive Director Peter Dunphy said the centre reflected the government’s commitment to new and innovative approaches to help solve work health and safety issues.
“The centre is a collaborative research body that creates a new perspective and smarter approach to the way we think about work health and safety in NSW,” Dunphy said.
“By taking a different approach to understanding and solving workplace issues, we believe we can have a positive impact on the day-to-day health and safety of workers across the state.
“The blueprint spells out how the centre will undertake research, measure progress and judge success.”
It adopts a ‘human centred design’ approach that involves stakeholder experiences and needs, as well as engagement with peak bodies and community leaders.
Dunphy said this approach will help address a number of societal and economic trends affecting workplace health and safety.
“Technological advances, the emergence of the ‘gig’ economy and an ageing workforce are just some of the current and emerging issues requiring creative solutions to work health and safety challenges,” he said.
“By seeking a holistic understanding of a topic, we can better respond to the challenges these issues present.
“I’m confident the results will help improve health and safety in NSW.”
Future projects to be undertaken by the centre include investigating effective engagement between workers, industry and regulators; new ways to manage health in the workplace; and drawing on evidence to inform best practice regulation.
“This centre is just one of the ways NSW is leading the nation in smarter, more innovative harm-prevention initiatives,” Dunphy said.
Food delivery deaths spark NSW investigative taskforce
On 24 November, the NSW Government established a taskforce to investigate the gig economy,...
Further $310K in fines follow Melbourne construction site collapse
An engineering company and its director face further fines for health and safety failings over...
Workplaces urged to stay safe in lead-up to Christmas
As Victoria recovers from its second wave and more people return to work, employers are reminded...
