Entity Changes for iSafe Program

Service Excellence Consulting’s assessment services in the areas of Privacy and Safety Services are being adopted by Certex International Pty Ltd. This is a change that will have no noticeable change for our clients except a new name of entity.

Our growing iSafe Program will become part of the upcoming iSuite Risk Management model in Certex along with some potential new additions our services in the areas of privacy, right to work and employment practices.

Safety or privacy services already in motion will not be affected in this ownership transition, and SEC will continue to provide professional consulting services across safety, privacy and quality.

Certex International, as a certified accreditation body, will be well aligned to manage the assessment program with their certification framework. It will also be a great opportunity to refresh and rebrand the iSafe Program.

For iSafe Program participants, the only noticeable changes will be a newly designed front cover for the reports.

If any technical issues are experienced during this transition, Certex will be available via info@certex.com.au , or you can call 03 9555 3855 weekdays to reach the head office.

SEC clients of safety and privacy services that had subscribed to receive the SEC newsletter will seamlessly be transitioned to receive the Certex Newsletter instead. If you would like to be unsubscribed from either of the newsletters, there is an unsubscribe option at the bottom of each newsletter you receive, or you are welcome to email us at info@certex.com.au.

The Certex International newsletter is also accessible from the www.certex.com.au.

Certex International is extremely excited to adopt these services, and will provide quality support and information to Service Excellence Consulting clients who are included in these changes.

Largest Data Breach in Australian History?

It is NSW law that aged care patient documentation be destroyed after 10 years. So the recent privacy breach of medical records in the abandoned Garrawarra Centre for Aged Care has broken records of potentially the largest data breach of its kind in Australian History. 

Inside the Ages Care Centre were dumped photo albums and medical records of more than 400 patients from 1992 to 2002. The local who stumbled upon the mess of soiled documents with cigarette butts, graffiti and drug paraphernalia, demanded the families of those whose records had been neglected should be contacted by NSW Health and formally apologised to. 

Aged Care facilities harbour information for hundreds of patients, which includes personal and confidential details about their illnesses, medical condition, families, even personalities, which if not properly managed could have devastating effects.

But they're not the only ones at risk. Think of what sensitive information your business collects and how you manage it. You need to ensure you're collecting, storing and destroying sensitive information properly. 

Data Breach is no joke, and any business is vulnerable to attack.

For more information on how you can improve your privacy and data security click here. 

Privacy: A Unified Health Service, but at What Cost?

My Health Record is a new scheme by the Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA) whereby all Australians (unless they opt out) will have a digital profile, where their medical information is kept centrally.

Doctors, hospital and other health providers will be able to login to see your medical history in accordance with access controls. This includes medicines you are taking, allergies you may have and treatments you have received.

“This year, you will get a My Health Record unless you tell us you don’t want one” cites the My Health Record website. After October 15th 2018, every person with a Medicare or Department of Veterans’ Affairs card will automatically be registered to have a My Health Record – unless you opt out.

Better healthcare service.

Currently most records made by healthcare providers are paper based. This means being posted, faxed or insecurely emailed. The My Health Record “offers health professionals secure digital access to a patient’s record at the point of care, wherever that may be” as the ADHA’s website states.

ADHA cites that the biggest benefits are from the clarity of centrally stored information. This would result in:

• Avoided hospital admissions
• Fewer adverse drug events
• Reduced duplication in diagnostic tests
• And better care for people seeing multiple healthcare providers

What does this mean for you and your privacy?

 

Will the records mean healthcare providers can see my full history?

Not necessarily. As the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) states: “The My Health Record system contains an online summary of a patient’s key health information; not a complete record of their clinical history”.

How will the information be used?

Registered healthcare provider organisations will be able to access, collect use and disclose your health record for the purpose of providing healthcare. They can upload any of your health records and information to the MHR without your express consent.

Can information be taken from the My Health Record?

Information in a patient’s My Health Record can be downloaded onto the healthcare provider’s local IT Server. This means that it leaves the confines of the MHR system and can sit on the servers of your local doctor or physio.

They will then be bound by the normal privacy laws that govern all businesses. However, this then puts the information in their management and depends on them having the proper privacy and data controls to manage that information securely.

“Healthcare provider organisations are authorised to upload information about a third party to a patient’s My Health Record” as the OAIC states. This means that if a healthcare provider believes it’s important to note your family member’s medical history in relation to your own, they can record it on the My Health Record without consent from your family members.

It is up to individuals to manage their MHR and ensure it is current and accurate.  If you don’t choose to opt out during this period and cancel your account later, the government will keep your documents for 30 years after your death.

To opt out, visit the My Health Record Website: https://www.myhealthrecord.gov.au/

More information from the OAIC: https://www.oaic.gov.au/resources/agencies-and-organisations/business-resources/privacy-business-resource-23-handling-personal-information-in-the-my-health-record-system.pdf

https://www.oaic.gov.au/individuals/privacy-fact-sheets/health-and-digital-health/privacy-fact-sheet-15-ten-tips-for-protecting-the-personal-information-in-your-my-health-record

Labour Hire Licensing - Victoria to join SA and QLD

Two weeks ago, the Labour Hire Licensing Bill 2017 was passed by the Victorian State Parliament. Following South Australia and Queensland, Victoria will be the latest state to adopt the proposed scheme.

The Labour Hire Licensing Scheme was originally suggested as a way to regulate the labour hire industry following a series of exposes on exploited workforces. These included the likes of fruit pickers in the Goulburn Valley and other farming industries.

Most labour hire agencies would have started or completed their applications for licenses in SA and QLD and many will know to apply for Victoria when the time comes. However, non-agencies also need to be aware of these changes as substantial civil financial penalties will apply to both providers who operate without a license and hosts engaging them. These penalties can be up to $391,560 or may include 3 years imprisonment.

Queensland’s deadline for application of license has already passed. Entities which have not submitted a license application before 15 June 2018 are forced to cease operation in Queensland. South Australia has extended their deadline for agencies to successfully obtain a License before 1 February 2019. Information is yet to be released about how and when the latest regulations in Victoria will be implemented.

Hosts are able to check which labour hire agencies are licensed via a register on the government website.

If you would like assistance preparing for labour hire applications or to find out more contact us at info@certex.com.au

Useful links:

https://economicdevelopment.vic.gov.au/inquiry-into-the-labour-hire-industry

https://ols.oir.qld.gov.au/licence-register/

https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/business-and-trade/licensing/labour-hire/labour-hire-licence

Industrial Manslaughter Laws Proposed for Victoria

As of May 2018, Industrial Manslaughter laws have been proposed in Victoria.  Made as an election promise for the November state election, Victoria could be closely following Queensland in implementing these new laws.

The proposed changes bring safety to the forefront of businesses as the stakes are raised. Employers whose negligence leads to death would be facing up to 20 years in jail and be criminally charges with workplace manslaughter. Businesses could be fined up to $16 million.

Unlike the Queensland laws, the regulations proposed by Premier Andrews would apply to not only workers but will “cover a visiting supplier…a routine maintenance worker or three innocent people walking down a busy street”.

Mr Andrews says that the aim of the proposed laws is to change the way businesses view their safety responsibilities. It’s important that with these proposed changes, businesses assess themselves to determine whether they are adequately controlling the risks present. 

From our experience in safety, we have seen that those who take safety seriously are constantly looking to improve and stay up to date on their obligations. If you’re not 100% sure that you’re ready for the proposed manslaughter charges, you need to assess your business again.

Contact us for more information about how we can help you do a gap-analysis to identify your risk areas. 

How the iSafe Program is helping you get a Labour Hire License

As of this month, the Queensland Government is accepting participation in the iSafe Program as supporting documentation for Labour Hire License applications. This is one way that we are assisting the industry to achieve their labour hire licenses.  Participation in the iSafe Risk Management Program demonstrates commitment to work health and safety which is an important requirement of an on-hire license.  
In the last weeks we have been sending out certificates of participation to our subscriber and licensed iSafe members. Thank you for your contribution to the Program!  As a reminder, QLD license applications need to be submitted within 60 days of the 16th April. South Australian labour hire agencies are required to have obtained a license by September 1st 2018.  

 
Labour Hire Licensing – Free Live Q&A Broadcast

Are you ready for Labour Hire Licensing? Our MD, Dianne Gibert, will be hosting a Free Live Q&A Broadcast all about Labour Hire Licensing. Get your questions ready to join the interactive YouTube Live session! 
To ensure your questions are answered on the day, submit your queries in advance on our website:

https://www.isafe.net.au/news

Follow this link on 10th May at 10am to tune into the broadcast: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBeBc6NQwNyOz7IzxTs14oA
 

World Earth Day! 

As we focus on workplace health and safety, it’s important to be mindful of the environment. The iSafe approach to risk management uses 3 Concentric Circles of Risk. The outer circle is the external environment and our focus in this circle is: to what extent can we reduce risk? 
While many of us don’t consider environmental management a part of WHS, it has a roundabout way of being a key part of managing long term hazards. The better care we take of the environment, the fewer hazards will be present to reduce in future to keep our workers safe.  
The latest OHS Standard (OHSAS 45001: 2018) demonstrates this as it increases awareness and harmonization with ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems Standards.  
On this Earth Day, let’s take a moment to reflect what small acts we can take to reduce our impact on the environment and be more mindful of our futures.  
Click the link below to find out more about this year’s Earth Day Campaign: End Plastic Pollution. 
https://www.earthday.org/ 

Go Away Pies! (and not just the Collingwood Football Club)

Collingwood is the team that everyone “loves to hate”. It’s not just the team that can really stir up some trouble but their mascot too.

Earlier this month, I was cutting through a suburban park to get to a client site when all of a suddenly a black blur was in my periphery. I only just managed to duck out of the way of one such dreaded bird. It took me a moment to figure out what had happened… but by then then another one was coming at me! What a day! I panicked and took off like my life depended on it, tearing across the park as fast as I could in heels (I can report that heels are not ideal shoes for escaping birds that are out with a vengeance).   

I had gone a solid distance, then paused to reassess the situation and looked for what other devilish birds might come my way when… oh no my ankle! A bull ant must have been kicked up from the dirt in the flurry and was making its presence very well known. Next thing you know I’m kicking my feet around like a lunatic in a park in the suburbs, I’m sure people in the cars nearby watched and laughed. But it doesn’t stop there. Next (and you guessed it) – my shoe goes flying.

Frazzled, I made it to the client site eventually and had quite a story to tell.

This event, coming off the back of a more public case at Kiama Shopping Centre earlier this year, serves as a pertinent reminder of the importance of evaluating risks within the 3 Concentric Circles of Site Risk.

The iSafe Program’s 3 Concentric Circles of Risk

1.       The work activities - What are the risks of the nature of work conducted?

2.       The work site - What are the risks of the site where work is undertaken?

3.       The external environment - What are the risks of the outside environment and how they might affect workers?

The case at Kiama Shopping Centre involved a supermarket worker, on their way to work, being injured quite badly by a magpie. The resulting expense to the supermarket chain was $17,000 in lost wages to the injured worker.

The risk of wildlife to workers in the two outer concentric circles are important to consider as these risks change with season, weather conditions and other factors. Regular assessment of the risks in and around the worksite is important and once identified, steps should be taken to control them. For example: at this same client site, they occasionally had snakes enter their work site from the parkland. First Aiders were trained to effectively treat snake bites and the general workforce were often reminded of the steps to take when such an event occurs.

But it’s not enough to identify a risk and then leave it be. Regular reassessment and revaluation of the risks and whether the conditions have changed is just as crucial. After all, just like magpies, risks can come out of nowhere and leave you with a bump on your forehead.