WHS Law Sydney Agenda

The Rydges Sydney Central,  Thursday 4 April 2024

8.30       Registration

9.00       Opening remarks from Chair

9.10       Evaluating updated case law and legislation in WHS

  • Reviewing changes to WHS regulation, including harmonisation of model act
  • Engaging recent attempts at prosecution in WHS law
  • Preparing your organisation for anticipated changes and amendments
  • Building organisational resilience for potential safety incidents

Carlie Holt, Partner, Pinsent Masons

9.55       Developing a compliant approach to psychosocial risk management

  • Navigating expectations for monitoring of worker wellbeing
  • Assessing your workplace for potential psychosocial hazards
  • Initiating conversations and check-ins with your employees
  • Reviewing successful prosecutions within psychosocial WHS law
  • Evaluating current and incoming law around psychological injury

Andrew Douglas, Managing Principal, FCW Lawyers

 10.40     Morning Coffee

11.10     Ensuring your officers meet their WHS duty of care

  • Establishing the key differences between director and officer duties
  • Updating your whole-of-business safety policy around new WHS laws
  • Ensuring director and officers are aware of their obligations
  • Involving leaders in safe job design and training

Dimity Leahy, Special Counsel, MinterEllison

11.55     Working effectively with contractors within WHS regulations

  • Communicating clear expectations and agreements on the record
  • Assessing historic incidents and prosecutions within contractor management
  • Identifying the share and transferability of duties between contractors and organisations
  • Navigating your unavoidable safety obligations when engaging a contractor

Nerida Jessup, Partner, Herbert Smith Freehills

12.40     Lunch

13.40     Case Study: Implementing WHS Regulations and standards in practice

  • Updating your organisational approach in line with WHS Regulations
  • Building a comprehensive whole-of-organisation strategy
  • Consulting with internal and external stakeholders for effective implementation and
  • Simple steps to make it a success story

Shailendra Tripathi, Senior Director Work Health and Safety, Optus

14.25     Mitigating the safety risk of bullying and harassment in the workplace

  • Evaluating changes in WHS law including the Respect at Work legislation
  • Reviewing recent WHS incidents and prosecutions in bullying and harrassment
  • Understanding your obligations to ensure a safe and preventative culture
  • Detecting and eliminating unsafe and disrespectful behaviour

Dale McQualter, Special Counsel, Maddocks

15.10     Afternoon Tea

15.40    Engaging with regulators in understanding how to manage psychosocial risks 

  • Understanding WHS regulations related to psychological health & safety
  • SafeWork NSW’s expectations of businesses in understanding their legal obligations
  • How SafeWork NSW is supporting psychosocial risk capability and compliance
  • How businesses can access current advice and resources provided by SafeWork NSW
  • Utilising the education and training opportunities provided by SafeWork NSW

Jim Kelly, Director Health and Safe Design, SafeWork NSW 

16.20     Meeting best practice expectations for internal and external incident reporting

  • Understanding the external reporting obligations within your jurisdiction
  • Evidencing your own actions and interventions effectively
  • Utilising best-practice reporting for compliant prevention strategies
  • Creating an efficient flow of information to your safety team

Laura Sowden, Partner, Mills Oakley

 17.00     Closing remarks from the chair and end of conference