ASSE Academic Forum

Model of OHS Practice

A/Prof Susanne Tepe & Pam Pryor

RMIT University

Melbourne Australia

School/Department/Area 2RMIT University©yyyy

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

RMIT University©yyyy

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.

RMIT University©yyyy

School/Department/Area 5RMIT University©yyyy

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 6RMIT University©yyyy

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

RMIT University©yyyy

Build relationships

Work within an organisational context

Report to key people

Evaluate change

Monitor implementatio

n

Implement actions

Operationalise

decision

Decide on actions

Develop options for

actions

Develop options for

action

Diagnose

Understand the situation

Apply conceptual

framework

Gather information

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

RMIT University©yyyy

Build relationships

Work within an organisational context

Report to key people

Evaluate change

Monitor implementa

tion

Implement actions

Operationalise

decision

Decide on actions

Develop options for actions

Develop options for action

Diagnose

Understand the situation

Apply conceptual

framework

Gather infor

mation

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

RMIT University©yyyy

Build relationships

Work within an organisational context

Report to key people

Evaluate change

Monitor implementa

tion

Implement actions

Operationalise

decision

Decide on actions

Develop options for actions

Develop options for action

Diagnose

Understand the situation

Apply conceptual

framework

Gather infor

mation

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

RMIT University©yyyy

Build relationships

Work within an organisational context

Report to key people

Evaluate change

Monitor implementa

tion

Implement actions

Operationalise

decision

Decide on actions

Develop options for actions

Develop options for action

Diagnose

Understand the situation

Apply conceptual

framework

Gather infor

mation

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

RMIT University©yyyy

Build relationships

Work within an organisational context

Report to key people

Evaluate change

Monitor implementa

tion

Implement actions

Operationalise

decision

Decide on actions

Develop options for actions

Develop options for action

Diagnose

Understand the situation

Apply conceptual

framework

Gather infor

mation

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

RMIT University©yyyy

Build relationships

Work within an organisational context

Report to key people

Evaluate change

Monitor implementa

tion

Implement actions

Operationalise

decision

Decide on actions

Develop options for actions

Develop options for action

Diagnose

Understand the situation

Apply conceptual

framework

Gather infor

mation

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

RMIT University©yyyy

Build relationships

Work within an organisational context

Report to key people

Evaluate change

Monitor implementa

tion

Implement actions

Operationalise

decision

Decide on actions

Develop options for actions

Develop options for action

Diagnose

Understand the situation

Apply conceptual

framework

Gather infor

mation

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

RMIT University©yyyy

Build relationships

Work within an organisational context

Report to key people

Evaluate change

Monitor implementa

tion

Implement actions

Operationalise

decision

Decide on actions

Develop options for actions

Develop options for action

Diagnose

Understand the situation

Apply conceptual

framework

Gather infor

mation

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

RMIT University©yyyy

Build relationships

Work within an organisational context

Report to key people

Evaluate change

Monitor implementa

tion

Implement actions

Operationalise

decision

Decide on actions

Develop options for actions

Develop options for action

Diagnose

Understand the situation

Apply conceptual

framework

Gather infor

mation

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

RMIT University©yyyy

School/Department/Area 17RMIT University©yyyy

Simplified Model of SHE Practice

Context &

Communication

School/Department/Area 18

Discussion?

RMIT University©yyyy