Defence Centre for Occupational Health Presentation to Forum – 4 April 2006

1. Defence Centre for Occupational Health Presentation to Forum – 4 April 2006

2. Establishment of the Defence Centre for Occupational Health • The Defence OHS Strategic Plan has eight priority areas for action • Priority 2 of the Plan is to ‘Improve the Prevention of Occupational Illness and Disease’ • To assist in meeting this priority, the Defence OHS Committee approved the establishment of the Defence Centre for Occupational Health (DCOH) on 7 Sep 05 • The DCOH has a Defence-wide charter and will work collaboratively with Services and Groups to address current gaps in OH provision and on building sustainable future capability

3. Role of the DCOH • To assist Defence to promote health and improve prevention of occupational illness and disease through identification of, and effective control of hazards

4. Functions Environmental scanning / issues identification OH issues identified by DCOH or Stakeholders Develop and communicate policy, education and training, assist Stakeholders in any corporate action, project manage corporate action where required Development and communication of Policy &/or Procedure Research and evaluation DCOH Research identified issues, evaluate findings Initiate corporate action, provide advice to Stakeholders Corporate action / advices Stakeholder collaboration Discuss research findings, seek input from Stakeholders

5. Tasks • Addressing identified high-risk issues • Ongoing advice and information to Services and Groups • Assisting Services and Groups to undertake risk assessments to identify and address the needs of high risk workplaces and ‘at risk’ people • Responding and liaising externally on OH matters - eg. respond to Parliamentary inquiries, public concerns • As required, coordinating the investigation of exposures to OH hazards • Undertake research, analysis and reporting on current and emerging issues and develop and implement health-related interventions

6. COH Linkages External Internal Directorates in OHSC and DHS branches Defence Occ. Med. Cons. Group Comcare, NOHSC/ASCC OHS Training Advisory Group Shared expertise and communication Contact through DSMA. Communication and poss. joint projects Consultation Info exchange DCOH CMVH, other unis and prof. bodies Links to be developed, and poss. joint projects OH Project Board Project management Links with orgs, poss. site visits and info exchange Tasking/Progress reporting Industry DOHSC Strategic and operational discussions, agreements, & communication Links with o/seas forces/organisations eg AUSCANUKUS International Communication/education Links to be maintained, and poss. joint projects OHS officers (HSRs, USC’s, HSSRs etc) DVA/RMA OHS Working Group

7. Modus Operandi • Enquiry handling: responding to phone, email or written requests from within Defence or externally • Managing Issues: pro-actively undertaking or commissioning work on various OH matters • Leadership: participating in or leading projects to address particular issues • Assistance: providing assistance to Services and Groups through resources allocated by DOHSC for high priority tasks

8. Enquiry Handling Navy Army RAAF CJOPS CSIG DMO DSMA DSTO CFO Other Groups External eg DVA, RMA Defence Members Ministers CDF/Secretary Chiefs of Services and Heads of Groups DCOH SAFETYMAN OHS Reps

9. Pro-actively managing issues Discuss findings with Stakeholders and make recommendations Environmental scanning/issues identification Undertake / commission research Evaluate research findings Corporate action required? Lead development of corporate action Promulgate new policies, training, communications Assessment and review Yes No Group/Service action required? Advise as required Yes No No further action

10. Project leadership and participation Project identified by COH or Stakeholder Corporate project? No Yes COH collaborates with Stakeholder to determine COH role in project COH participates by providing advice to Stakeholder COH to lead project? No Yes COH leads project with participation by Stakeholders

11. Provide assistance Receive request for assistance COH considers request in light of DOHSC priorities and advises how it can assist Corporate requirement? No Yes COH provides direct assistance and/or develops a corporate approach

12. COH Structure Head DHS DGOHSC Senior Occ. Medicine Consultant Initial Positions to be filled OH/OM Technical Advice and Leadership Director/ Project Manager Toxicologist Occupational Medicine Consultant Environmental Engineer Senior Occupational Hygienists Policy Analysts Ergonomist Epidemiologist Data analyst Occupational Hygienists Policy andCoordination Occ Hygiene Teams OH Subject Matter Experts including Reserves

13. Ongoing Tasks • On DOHSC direction the DCOH is working on the following urgent and high risk issues: • Heat stress • Lead • Noise • Fuels and Lubricants • Continuing work on high priority tasks, eg: • Asbestos • Beryllium • Responding to requests from within Defence • Undertaking additional tasks as directed by the DOHSC

14. Future Work • Engaging SME’s to staff the organisational structure • Establishing internal and external linkages • Establishing KPIs and reporting requirements and collection of baseline data • Occupational health assessments of high risk workplaces in Defence

15. Engagement of Subject Matter Experts • Request for Tender: • Issue date – 4 April 06 • Closing date – 10 May 06 • Evaluation by late June 06 • Finalisation by August 06 • Points of contact: • ohsc.coh@defence.gov.au