conference – SafetyAtWorkBlog

Occupational Hygienist – Rene LeBlanc

It has been several months since the 23rd World Congress for Health and Safety was held in Sydney, pictured above. A major benefit of attending occupational health and safety (OHS) conferences is meeting people, old and new. I was honoured to meet Rene LeBlanc, an occupational hygienist from Canada. We had dinner on a very rainy and stormy Sydney night, and Rene agreed to an interview. Below is an edited version of part of that conversation (it was a long dinner). Rene was wide-ranging on his OHS topics.

OHS seems to be no more than a “nice-to-have” to Australian politicians

Several events or non-events at the recent 23rd World Congress on Safety and Health at Work illustrated the political attitude to occupational health and safety in Australia, especially the lack of presence of national figures on official duties.

The individual remains at the heart of workplace mental health in mining

One of the most significant takeaways from the 23rd World Congress on Safety and Health at Work is Australia’s relative position of occupational health and safety (OHS) privilege. For instance, in the mining sector, Australian workers are rarely exposed to tuberculosis, HIV, silicosis and chemical exposure to the extent of similar workers in other countries. Instead, Australia has the comparative luxury of focusing on the psychosocial hazards associated with the fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) workforce.

Initial reflections on the 23rd World OSH Congress

The 23rd World Congress on Safety and Health at Work has been a remarkable achievement, with 3000 delegates, at least two-thirds of whom are from outside of Australia. The most valuable elements of this Congress have been the opportunities to network, talk to people you’ve never met, and get new perspectives. What has been a little peculiar was the presentations or, rather, the format of the sessions.

The 23rd OHS World Congress opens ….. curiously

The 23rd World Congress for Safety and Health at Work was officially opened last evening after a day of occupational health and safety (OHS) workshops. The indigenous Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony were excellent, and from the number of delegates recording the dancing, entertaining and enlightening. The same cannot be said for the speeches.

ILO sets the OHS picture at the 23rd World Congress

This afternoon, the 23rd World Congress on Safety and Health at Work commences in Sydney. Already important information is being released, with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) being first out of the block, setting the broader occupational health and safety (OHS) context.

In a media release dated November 27 2023, the ILO says:

Exclusive content from 23rd World Congress on Safety and Health at Work

Next week, the 23rd World Congress on Safety and Health at Work will occur in Sydney, Australia, with hundreds, maybe even thousands, of delegates from Australia and abroad. I will be reporting on the Congress from before it starts on Monday to its conclusion on Thursday with articles each day, at least a wrap-up of each day and exclusive interviews with global occupational health and safety (OHS) speakers and delegates.

Now is a great time to subscribe to the SafetyAtWorkBlog, starting at only A$24 for a monthly option. Links to all new articles will be emailed to you as they are posted, and you also have access to over 3,000 OHS-related articles, including exclusive content from the 21st World Congress in Singapore from 2017.

And if you are attending the Congress, stop me to say hi, take a selfie, or tell me about your lived experience with OHS.

Kevin Jones

Category: conference

Occupational Hygienist – Rene LeBlanc

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The individual remains at the heart of workplace mental health in mining

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Initial reflections on the 23rd World OSH Congress

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ILO sets the OHS picture at the 23rd World Congress

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Exclusive content from 23rd World Congress on Safety and Health at Work

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