ASSE Academic Forum Model of OHS Practice

1. ASSE Academic ForumModel of OHS Practice A/Prof Susanne Tepe & Pam Pryor RMIT University Melbourne Australia

2. Agenda for Today • Background on Australian Body of Knowledge project • Engage in an activity about how you do OHS Practice • Discuss the Model of Practice derived from the research done by Pam Pryor and Susanne Tepe School/Department/Area

3. Australian Body of Knowledge Project • Instigated by HaSPA (Health and Safety Professional Alliance) • Supported by WorkSafe Victoria • Involved consultation with many OHS professionals and educators • Developed list of concepts essential to OHS professionals • Research needed to define how an OHS Professional practices School/Department/Area

4. Exercise for Practice Elucidation • Workers have complained about fumes from a glue that is used in the work process. Workers say that the glue makes their eyes sting and run and gives them a cough and headache. • They have raised the issue locally through a hazard alert but they say they are not satisfied with the investigation and response by the local management. School/Department/Area

5. Process Today • Take a few moments and record your thoughts about how you would approach this problem • I am concerned about the approach, not the ‘answer’ School/Department/Area

6. Process • We asked the others*: • Compare your thoughts with the person next to you • Draw up a diagram that describes this approach or process • Tell the group what your approach is • *Others included groups of internal (n=3) and groups of external (n=2) OHS consultants with professional qualifications. • In addition, had discussions with approx 176 Safety Institute of Australia members School/Department/Area

7. Model of OHS Professional Practice School/Department/Area

8. Model of OHS Practice: OHS Practice Skills • META SKILLS • Consultation and Building Relationships • Consultation • Purposeful written and oral communication • Management support • Working within an organisational context • Understanding business and industry • Understanding organisational dynamics and power School/Department/Area

9. Model of OHS Practice: OHS Practice Skills • Gather information • Interpretation of OHS legislation • Evaluation of OHS performance Critical consumer of research • Investigation of occurrences • Inspections of workplace • Assessment of monitoring data School/Department/Area

10. Model of OHS Practice: OHS Practice Skills • Apply conceptual framework • Body of knowledge content • Evaluation and application of recognized models and tools • AS 4801, • ISO 31000, • regulatory codes of practice, • accident causation models, • organisational culture models, • complex systems models, • Etc School/Department/Area

11. Model of OHS Practice: OHS Practice Skills • Understand the problem/situation • Critical thinking • Understanding organisations • Diagnose/articulate thinking • Body of Knowledge content • Providing advice • Communication skills School/Department/Area

12. Model of OHS Practice: OHS Practice Skills • Develop options for action • Interpretation of OHS legislation • OHS management systems • OHS risk management process • Emergency preparedness • Consultation • Strategic planning • Decide on options for action • Critical thinking • Pattern recognition School/Department/Area

13. Model of OHS Practice: OHS Practice Skills • Operationalise • Management Systems • Application of the Risk Management process • Training • Health promotion • Implement actions • Understanding organisations • Change management School/Department/Area

14. Model of OHS Practice: OHS Practice Skills • Monitor implementation • Auditing and Inspection • Environmental monitoring • Performance monitoring and reporting • Evaluate change • Auditing • Environmental monitoring • Management system review • OHS performance interpretation School/Department/Area

15. Model of OHS Practice: OHS Practice Skills • Report to key personnel • Consultation • Influencing • Report writing • Presentation skills • Evaluate professional practice • Reflective practice • Ethical practice • Mentoring & Peer review • Continued professional development • Question the model of professional practice School/Department/Area

16. OHS Model of Professional Practice • Can be used for emergency, tactical or strategic issues • Could describe process by internal and external consultants • May appear that some steps are skipped but this may be pattern recognition School/Department/Area

17. Simplified Model of SHE Practice Context & Communication School/Department/Area

18. Discussion? School/Department/Area