All Members

Whilst I can't personally contribute to its activities in a tangible way, I believe the HSE Division is highly relevant to the RACI's stated purposes for existing and it would be a shame for it to cease to be.

Whilst I can't personally contribute to its activities in a tangible way, I believe the HSE Division is highly relevant to the RACI's stated purposes for existing and it would be a shame for it to cease to be.

It seems to me that the HSE Division is at the cross roads. HSE seems to be the "black sheep" of the family.  We exist for the purpose of raising awareness about the impact of chemicals on consumers, workers and the environment. The HSE Division also has been advocating changes for the inclusion of HSE education in undergraduate and post graduate courses, changes in the ADG Code, the impact of inaccurate Safety data Sheet and local WHS/OHS regulations relating to chemical management.  While this division has only been a new edition to the RACI Division family, (2011) it is clear that for the last few years, that this division has been driven by a small but passionate group of safety professionals, WHS regulators and regulatory consultants.  Haven grown from nothing to over 400 members who have indicated they are interested in HSE in the broadest possible context, has this Division run its natural course.  

There is so much more to the division than WHS regulations and laboratory safety inductions, yet despite the number who have joined the only community  the Division is faced with the fact that no one is interested in taking on the leadership of this committee. From my perspective, I have since 2015 been involved with the Committee, steered the committee through the  2017 Congress and continually fought for recognition of the Division by the more mainstream Divisions of the RACI. However without members putting their hand up there will not be a HSE Division. 

The question is RACI Members believe that the HSE Division is still relevant to the wider RACI community or does it cease to exit?? Only members of the HSE Division community can save the Division. 

Lisa 

Past Chair - HSE Division

It seems to me that the HSE Division is at the cross roads. HSE seems to be the "black sheep" of the family.  We exist for the purpose of raising awareness about the impact of chemicals on consumers, workers and the environment. The HSE Division also has been advocating changes for the inclusion of HSE education in undergraduate and post graduate courses, changes in the ADG Code, the impact of inaccurate Safety data Sheet and local WHS/OHS regulations relating to chemical management.  While this division has only been a new edition to the RACI Division family, (2011) it is clear that for the last few years, that this division has been driven by a small but passionate group of safety professionals, WHS regulators and regulatory consultants.  Haven grown from nothing to over 400 members who have indicated they are interested in HSE in the broadest possible context, has this Division run its natural course.  

There is so much more to the division than WHS regulations and laboratory safety inductions, yet despite the number who have joined the only community  the Division is faced with the fact that no one is interested in taking on the leadership of this committee. From my perspective, I have since 2015 been involved with the Committee, steered the committee through the  2017 Congress and continually fought for recognition of the Division by the more mainstream Divisions of the RACI. However without members putting their hand up there will not be a HSE Division. 

The question is RACI Members believe that the HSE Division is still relevant to the wider RACI community or does it cease to exit?? Only members of the HSE Division community can save the Division. 

Lisa 

Past Chair - HSE Division

Everything seems to get rebranded these days whether its justified or not!....it just seems to be a way of keeping some organisations fresh and "cutting edge"

How about CHEES?

Community Health, Environment, Energy and Sustainability- is an inter-connected group advancing community knowledge and application of chemistry relating to the health, environment, energy and sustainability.....and all meetings have Cheese tastings with Wine.....Just a thought.......

It seems to me that the HSE Division is at the cross roads. HSE seems to be the "black sheep" of the family.  We exist for the purpose of raising awareness about the impact of chemicals on consumers, workers and the environment. The HSE Division also has been advocating changes for the inclusion of HSE education in undergraduate and post graduate courses, changes in the ADG Code, the impact of inaccurate Safety data Sheet and local WHS/OHS regulations relating to chemical management.  While this division has only been a new edition to the RACI Division family, (2011) it is clear that for the last few years, that this division has been driven by a small but passionate group of safety professionals, WHS regulators and regulatory consultants.  Haven grown from nothing to over 400 members who have indicated they are interested in HSE in the broadest possible context, has this Division run its natural course.  

There is so much more to the division than WHS regulations and laboratory safety inductions, yet despite the number who have joined the only community  the Division is faced with the fact that no one is interested in taking on the leadership of this committee. From my perspective, I have since 2015 been involved with the Committee, steered the committee through the  2017 Congress and continually fought for recognition of the Division by the more mainstream Divisions of the RACI. However without members putting their hand up there will not be a HSE Division. 

The question is RACI Members believe that the HSE Division is still relevant to the wider RACI community or does it cease to exit?? Only members of the HSE Division community can save the Division. 

Lisa 

Past Chair - HSE Division

Re-branding can work if you already have a brand. What is HSE's current brand? Tell us what HSE has already done, its successes and its impact to date. Tell us where you want it to go. Keep the message short, keep it powerful. Show us the vision.

Everything seems to get rebranded these days whether its justified or not!....it just seems to be a way of keeping some organisations fresh and "cutting edge"

How about CHEES?

Community Health, Environment, Energy and Sustainability- is an inter-connected group advancing community knowledge and application of chemistry relating to the health, environment, energy and sustainability.....and all meetings have Cheese tastings with Wine.....Just a thought.......

It seems to me that the HSE Division is at the cross roads. HSE seems to be the "black sheep" of the family.  We exist for the purpose of raising awareness about the impact of chemicals on consumers, workers and the environment. The HSE Division also has been advocating changes for the inclusion of HSE education in undergraduate and post graduate courses, changes in the ADG Code, the impact of inaccurate Safety data Sheet and local WHS/OHS regulations relating to chemical management.  While this division has only been a new edition to the RACI Division family, (2011) it is clear that for the last few years, that this division has been driven by a small but passionate group of safety professionals, WHS regulators and regulatory consultants.  Haven grown from nothing to over 400 members who have indicated they are interested in HSE in the broadest possible context, has this Division run its natural course.  

There is so much more to the division than WHS regulations and laboratory safety inductions, yet despite the number who have joined the only community  the Division is faced with the fact that no one is interested in taking on the leadership of this committee. From my perspective, I have since 2015 been involved with the Committee, steered the committee through the  2017 Congress and continually fought for recognition of the Division by the more mainstream Divisions of the RACI. However without members putting their hand up there will not be a HSE Division. 

The question is RACI Members believe that the HSE Division is still relevant to the wider RACI community or does it cease to exit?? Only members of the HSE Division community can save the Division. 

Lisa 

Past Chair - HSE Division

I've thought about this a little more overnight. HSE already has a brand - that of the RACI. If it wants to make an impact, it needs to get its message out there under the RACI banner. It will be important not to create a confused message in trying to be too many things to too many people. Choose one theme for a start and make it successful. Perhaps you could create a Safe Chemicals program - SafeChem, aimed at the home and small businesses, with the intent of encouraging the safe use and storage of commonly available chemical substances and formulations. Properly handled, this could be a plus for the RACI in that it builds a positive public profile. I've attached an image that I created in Copilot to help stimulate more thinking on this subject.

Re-branding can work if you already have a brand. What is HSE's current brand? Tell us what HSE has already done, its successes and its impact to date. Tell us where you want it to go. Keep the message short, keep it powerful. Show us the vision.

Everything seems to get rebranded these days whether its justified or not!....it just seems to be a way of keeping some organisations fresh and "cutting edge"

How about CHEES?

Community Health, Environment, Energy and Sustainability- is an inter-connected group advancing community knowledge and application of chemistry relating to the health, environment, energy and sustainability.....and all meetings have Cheese tastings with Wine.....Just a thought.......

It seems to me that the HSE Division is at the cross roads. HSE seems to be the "black sheep" of the family.  We exist for the purpose of raising awareness about the impact of chemicals on consumers, workers and the environment. The HSE Division also has been advocating changes for the inclusion of HSE education in undergraduate and post graduate courses, changes in the ADG Code, the impact of inaccurate Safety data Sheet and local WHS/OHS regulations relating to chemical management.  While this division has only been a new edition to the RACI Division family, (2011) it is clear that for the last few years, that this division has been driven by a small but passionate group of safety professionals, WHS regulators and regulatory consultants.  Haven grown from nothing to over 400 members who have indicated they are interested in HSE in the broadest possible context, has this Division run its natural course.  

There is so much more to the division than WHS regulations and laboratory safety inductions, yet despite the number who have joined the only community  the Division is faced with the fact that no one is interested in taking on the leadership of this committee. From my perspective, I have since 2015 been involved with the Committee, steered the committee through the  2017 Congress and continually fought for recognition of the Division by the more mainstream Divisions of the RACI. However without members putting their hand up there will not be a HSE Division. 

The question is RACI Members believe that the HSE Division is still relevant to the wider RACI community or does it cease to exit?? Only members of the HSE Division community can save the Division. 

Lisa 

Past Chair - HSE Division

Will the upcoming activity be via the All Members community or that for the Health, Safety, and Environment Division?

Will the upcoming activity be via the All Members community or that for the Health, Safety, and Environment Division?

Hi Dan

As per Brian's email is that the Division is looking for new blood. That is people who want to be actively involved in putting together a program of events ensuring that event such as the Leslie Bretherick Memorial Lecture and the HSE Division Medal continue. However, the Division also has to be relevant to not just the members of the HSE Division community but to the wider RACI community. HSE as I explain is not about WHS, safety inductions etc it is about the safety and efficacy of products, the safety of chemical products from raw materials to disposal, the impact of chemicals on the environment, waste management, regulatory affairs and emergency management.  

There is no point developing activities and a program of events or developing a program of events for congress is no one is interested in. The problem is that HSE is very relevant in today's society particularly with the focus on renewables and carbon constrained world.  It is interesting that Chemistry Australia consider that health and safety is an important factor in the Chemistry industry, so much that it offers up a HSE Award every year, by contrast the RACI offers only awards and recognition for researchers and academics.  

This in itself speaks volumes in terms of both the Board's focus and the lack of insight of what HSE is really about. 

What the Division needs is a Champion amongst the Board to help support what the division is trying to do against the sea of researchers and academics that have decided to eradicate health safety and other regulatory requirements out of the Threshold Learning Outcomes for chemistry. 

What the researchers and the academics do not realise that when things go pear shape, it is the chemists who have become OHS professionals, work within the EPA, emergency management sector, waste management sector, dangerous goods inspectors that will be there to clean up the mess.

Yes, I have a large soapbox.   

Lisa 

Will the upcoming activity be via the All Members community or that for the Health, Safety, and Environment Division?