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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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