2009 Seacare HSR Forum

Following on from the success of the inaugural Seacare HSR Forum, held in 2008, the Seacare Authority, in association with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), held a second Forum on Thursday, 22 October 2009 at the WA Maritime Museum, Fremantle.  The Forum was attended by Seacare scheme Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs), other onboard employees, employer / operator OHS staff, employer and employee representatives, trainers, rehabilitation providers, insurers and the legal profession.  The Forum is part of the Authority’s activities on Safe Work Australia Week (25-31 October 2009).

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.  The Forum provided an opportunity to identify the issues confronting HSRs and to share information and knowledge.

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

Forum Summary and Workshop Outcomes

Speakers and Presentations

Paul O'Connor
Acting Chairperson, Seafarers Safety Rehabilitation and Compensation Authority and Chief Executive Officer, Comcare

Paul has an impressive record in safety promotion, risk management, insurance and reinsurance in Australia and overseas. Paul has worked across both the public and private sectors – he was based in Sydney and Melbourne before emigrating to the United States to live in Washington, DC. He also lived in London and Singapore. Paul returned to Australia to work in senior leadership roles in accident compensation, firstly with WorkCover Queensland. Most recently, Paul served as the CEO of Victoria’s Transport Accident Commission. As Comcare's new CEO, Paul brings energy and 22 years insight and experience to the Comcare scheme. He is passionate about the need to improve workplace health and safety and helping people return to health, work and independence following injury.

Opening remarks

Melissa Ryan
General Manager, Research & Policy Branch, Comcare

Melissa Ryan is currently General Manager, Research and Policy Branch, Comcare. She joined Comcare February 2009. Prior to joining Comcare she worked in the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, where she held senior management and public policy roles in the areas of workers’ compensation, occupational health and safety and workplace relations.

Harmonisation of OHS laws
[powerpoint presentation] [speech notes]

Greg Smith
Consultant – Employee Relations, Freehills

Greg Smith is a lawyer with Freehills, and a member of the firm’s national Employee Relations team. Greg has 18 years experience in legal practice, specialising in occupational health and safety. In addition to his legal experience, Greg is qualified in a range of incident investigation techniques and is also a qualified lead auditor specialising in health and safety management systems. Greg has worked in a number of roles and capacities as a lawyer and Partner but also as a soldier, Army Officer and the Principal Safety Advisor for Woodside Energy Limited. Greg graduated from the University of Western Australia in 1990 with a Bachelor of Jurisprudence and a Bachelor of Laws and is admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Western Australia and the High Court of Australia.

Management obligations for safety and health
[powerpoint presentation]

Gerry Newman
Director, Secretariat & Seacare Management Section, Comcare

Gerry Newman has been Director of the Secretariat and Seacare Management Section within Comcare for the past 12 months. Prior to this position, Gerry had responsibility for Comcare’s research and date analysis functions. Gerry has a Bachelor of Economics degree and spent the majority of his working life in the provision and management of research and information services to the Australian Parliament.

Seacare Scheme Safety Performance
[powerpoint presentation] [speech notes]

Jaime Newlyn
South Australian Branch Secretary, Maritime Union of Australia (MUA)

Jamie Newlyn has been in the Maritime Industry for 21 years as a Seafarer, Stevedore and is currently the South Australian Branch Secretary of the Maritime Union of Australia. He sits on the Seacare Authority as a deputy to Mick Doleman. Jamie is also a board member of the Transport Distribution Training SA Industry Skills Council and a board member of Transport SA State Crewing Committee. These roles compliment the work of promoting safety which Jamie is passionate about.

A Union Perspective [powerpoint presentation]

Reza Vind
Manager, MOD West, Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA)

Reza Vind commenced his sea career as a deck cadet in 1975 and obtained his Master's certificate in 1984. He sailed for 15 years, of which 4 years were as a Master on various types of ocean going vessels. Reza joined the Australian Maritime Safety Authority in 1991 and spent about 5 and a half years in Dampier, Pilbara. First as a Marine Surveyor and then as a Senior Marine Surveyor. He moved to AMSA’s Fremantle office in 1996 as a Senior Marine Surveyor and was promoted to the Manager West, Maritime Operations Division in 2007.

How AMSA can assist HSRs
[powerpoint presentation] [speech notes]

Pat Lawrence
Senior Manager, Australian Institute of Technology Transfer (AITT)

Patrick Lawrence first went to sea at the age of 17 with the Royal Australian Navy and completed 20 years with the RAN. In 1991 he joined ANI Bradken as an Executive HR, Safety Manager (for 11 years) and then moved to Evans Deakin Industries as their WA State HR / OHS Manager, as well as for Jaques Mining and Crushing.  He is now the Senior Manager at the Australian Institute of Technology Transfer and has written and facilitated all levels of National Safety programs from HSR to Advanced Diplomas in OSH in Australia & Overseas.

HSR training needs
[powerpoint presentation] [speech notes]

Tony Martinovich
QHSE Manager, Offshore Marine Services Pty Ltd

Tony Martinovich started his working life at 15 on oil rigs in the Bass Strait as a motor mechanic.  He became interested in safety after a worker was badly injured and was further driven as a police officer when investigating a number of workplace accidents, or industrial accidents as they were called then. He has been an occupational safety and health lecturer and consultant for the past 15 years and the safety manager at Offshore Marine Services for the past two years.  He has university degrees in business management and emergency management, a graduate certificate in occupational health and safety and a Masters in environmental occupational health and safety.  He is currently undertaking a PhD in occupational health and safety at Edith Cowan University based on the health effects on seafarers working in the offshore oil and gas industry in Australia.

Employer experiences in working with HSRs 
[powerpoint presentation]

Photos

Sponsors

Seacare would like to thank the following sponsors for their support of the 2009 HSR Forum: