Seacare HSR Forum 2008

The Seacare Authority, in association with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), held its inaugural Seacare HSR Forum 2008 on Thursday, 25 September 2008.  The forum, at the Port of Melbourne Education Centre, was for Seacare scheme Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) and other onboard employees and was part of the Authority’s activities on Sea Safe Work Day.

The theme of the forum was Involving HSRs and onboard employees in OHS. 

The aim of the forum was to raise the profile of HSRs in the Seacare jurisdiction, to emphasis their role as active and significant players in injury prevention, and to indicate the Seacare Authority's support for HSRs, and other seafarers, with regard to the part they play in improving OHS outcomes.

48 participants from around Australia heard presentations from unions, regulators and marine operator representatives, as well as HSR trainers.  They also took part in a workshop to identify issues and challenges faced by HSRs and seafarers with the aim of identifying strategies that the Seacare Authority could consider to assist HSRs and seafarers in achieving beter OHS outcomes.

The forum had as its main objectives:

• improving operator / employer awareness of the workplace OHS consultative arrangement processes provided for by the Occupational Health and Safety (Maritime Industry) Act 1993 (the OHS(MI) Act)
  

• encouraging consultation between operators / employers and their onboard employees, including HSRs, regarding OHS matters
  
• encouraging greater onboard employee involvement in achieving improved OHS outcomes
• improving mechanism for HSRs to share knowledge and information
• identifying key issues facing HSRs and the development of possible solutions

The expected outcomes of the forum were:

• operators more aware of the processes provided in the OHS(MI) Act
• onboard employees more aware of how they can be involved in OHS
• HSRs have strategies to assist them in promoting or ensuring the health and safety at work of onboard employees

Program and Information

Presentations

   

Geoff Gronow, Chairperson, Seafarers Safety, Rehabilittion and Compensation Authority (Seacare)  [ppt 520kb]  [text pdf 38.2kb]

Session 1

   

Martin Byrne, Assistant Federal Secretary, Australian Institute of Marine & Power Engineers (AIMPE)  [ppt 80kb]

Clare Ellis, Senior OHS Adviser, Ship Inspection Group, Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA)  [ppt 708kb]

   

Dominic Panetta, Director, Australian Maritime Safety Consultants (AMSC)  [ppt 197.5kb]    [text pdf 36kb]

Ray Cooke, Director, Training & Safety Consultants (TASC)  [ppt 843kb]

Session 2

   

Allan Kneller, HSEQ Manager, Teekay Shipping (Australia) Pty Ltd  [ppt 437.5kb]

Neil Butt, HSEQ Manager and Chris Homsey, HSEQ Coordinator, Farstad Shipping (Indian Pacific) Pty Ltd  [ppt 862.5kb]

Geoff Wood, National Manager, Industrial Relations and Human Resources, TT Line Company Pty Ltd  [ppt 676kb]

Workshop

Workshop outline

   

   

HSR Handbook

The Seacare Authority's HSR Handbook was launched at the Seacare HSR Forum 2008.