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WA Health, Safety and Environment Group

The WA Health Safety and Environment Group (HSEG) was first formed in 1986, at the same time as the national RACI Environmental Division. Many early meetings were held at Chemistry Centre as many members worked there. The aim of the group was to unite chemists, managers, environmentalists, and other scientists to address emerging environmental issues facing Australia and Western Australia in particular. Even in 1986, water was a major issue in WA and so the first seminars held by the group focussed on water quality guidelines and wastewater recycling. Air and soil quality was also important and addressed in numerous seminars on managing contamination, air quality, and hazardous wastes. The group was also dedicated to education and professional development by disseminating the latest news and research in environment, health and safety.

Aims of the Group are:

To organise tours, seminars, and professional development workshops that address current and future health, safety and environmental issues.
To consider the needs of chemists in both urban and rural WA.
To encourage increased awareness of safe working conditions and safe working practices in Western Australian chemical industries and organisations.
To remain up-to-date with the effect of chemicals on the environment and work with government bodies on environmental management programs and chemical safety issues.
To respond to media reports of chemical and environmental hazards.

Events and Seminars

The committee are always keen for input from WA members into the events that HSEG organises. Suggestions for tours, seminars, professional development workshops – or any other events - can be emailed to HSEG Chair, Kathryn Linge, at: k.linge@curtin.edu.au

Hazard Management in the Workplace

The Health Safety and Environment Group has arranged a FREE seminar with WorkSafe WA.

Sally North, Principal Scientific Officer (Occupational Hygiene), will speak about common hazards in laboratories and the regulation of occupational safety and health in WA. Sally (whose qualifications include a B.Sc., Grad. Dip. OH&S and an MBA) worked in laboratories and for a chemical safety consultancy company before joining WorkSafe in 2001.

Thursday 20th May

Venue: WorkSafe Training Room Level 5 1260 Hay Street West Perth

10.00 – 11.00 am

Morning tea will be provided at the end of the seminar, and participants will have the opportunity to chat with Sally and others.

RSVP: While this seminar is free of charge, we would appreciate numbers for catering. Please contact Kathryn Linge (k.linge@curtin.edu.au ) by Tuesday 18th May.

Did you know WorkSafe provides free lunchtime seminars to the public? You can find more information at: http://www.worksafe.wa.gov.au

Past events:

A half day seminar on cyanide wastes, Speakers included David Donato, Roger Schulz and Mike Adams.
A full day seminar on ergonomics will be in conjunction with the Dangerous Goods Safety Branch of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection (DOCEP)

HSEG are also publishing a bimonthly column in the WA Branch newsletter called HSEG Notes discussing different aspects of health, safety or the environment. The first column appeared in the March Newsletter and discussed water recycling in Western Australia. Keep an eye out on the WA Branch Newsletter for more information on our seminars!

2008 Events and Seminars

Water in the 21st Century , 28th May.

This successful one-day seminar attracted over 50 attendees from diverse backgrounds and explored a wide range of topics including the impact of climate change on water supply and the subsequent effect on public health, desalination technologies, chemicals of concern in treated water, public reception of recycled water, the link between vegetation and hydrological flow, and replenishment of our ground water systems.

WA’s New Dangerous Goods Legislation, 15^th October.

Staff from the Dangerous Goods Safety Branch of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection (DOCEP) discussed practical and scientific implications of this new legislation, focussing on explosives and fireworks, dangerous goods classification, storage regulations, and a case study of explosive risk of ammonium nitrate.