RMIT University is hosting an international conference on construction occupational health and safety. The conference, which is hosted on behalf of the CIB (International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction), is taking place from 21 - 23 October 2009 at the Rydges Hotel in Melbourne.

Why should you attend?

The occupational health and safety policy context is undergoing major change in Australia with moves towards national harmonisation of legislation and new initiatives for constructors, clients and designers.  With these changes, construction industry participants and occupational health and safety professionals face new challenges. This conference addresses key issues and promises an exciting mix of Australian and international speakers from industry, government and academia, who will provide insight into an appropriate industry response.

Day one of the conference will consist of keynote speakers, a facilitated workshop, an industry panel discussion and the official launch of a workshop in designing for construction workers’ occupational health and safety, which will be delivered nationally through Engineering Education Australia.

The Engineers Australia 'Design Safety Workshop' will be launched in the afternoon session of the conference. The workshop is to be delivered nationally by Engineering Education Australia to help designers to implement the design stage tasks established by the 'Guide to Best Practice for Safer Construction' which was developed in 2007, as a joint initiative of Engineers Australia and The Cooperative Research Centre for Construction Innovation.

The workshop materials will be launched by The Honourable Tim Pallas, Victorian Government Minister for Roads and Ports, who will introduce a panel of industry leaders, representing clients, designers and constructors. Peter Godfrey, National President of Engineers Australia, will chair the discussion, joined by Peter Scott, Chairman of Sinclair Knight Merz, Peter Verwer, Chief Executive of The Property Council of Australia, Bill Wild, Chief Operating Officer of Leighton Holdings and Peter Scuderi, Chief Operating Officer of the CRC for Construction Innovation.

Presentations will also be made by key policy-makers and experts including:

• Ms Helen Marshall - The Federal Safety Commissioner
• Mr John Merritt - The Executive Director of WorkSafe Victoria
• Mr Barry Sherriff – Lead Partner, Freehills
• Mr Matthew Gillen – The Construction Sector Coordinator for The National Occupational Safety and Health Institute (USA)
• Dr Brian Kleiner - The Director of the Virginia Tech., Center for Innovation in Construction Safety and Health (USA)

Day one includes a facilitated workshop about create a stronger and more focused culture of occupational health and safety. This workshop will be facilitated by Mr Carl Luttig, Managing Director of Zeal Consulting, and will engage the ideas of Mr Bernie Cooper, Chief Executive Officer of Silcar,  Dr Tony Golsby-Smith of 2nd Road and Mr John Merritt of WorkSafe Victoria. Workshop participants will be invited to share their ideas for improving the construction industry’s culture and occupational health and safety performance.

The conference provides an exciting opportunity for participants to participate in a timely conversation about the national harmonization of OHS legislation and other critical issues of policy and practice impacting occupational health and safety in the construction industry, as well as share their vision for the future of the construction industry with the industry’s most prominent leaders.

Days two and three will also include a mix of presentations from academia and industry, as well as a number of concurrent sessions and the special workshop on Occupational Health and Safety in Construction Education. The detailed program will be available shortly.