Introducing the Community of Safety Innovation
By NZISM Secretary
20/07/2020
Re-thinking traditional work problems using innovation processes is the idea behind a new group set up to share ideas and build the country’s innovative capability.
The Community of Safety Innovation was formed last year as a small group of about 30 professionals with an interest or involvement in innovative thinking to improve work solutions. That group has now more than 60 people involved – and it’s growing.
Led by industry and supported by WorkSafe NZ, NZISM, Business Leaders’ Health and Safety Forum and HASANZ, the purpose of the Community is to intentionally evolve and enhance New Zealand’s capability and capacity to deliver work solutions.
“We’re doing this by enabling the Community to share knowledge, critical thinking and practical outcomes of innovation,” says Craig Marriott, Chair of the Community and GM of HSEQ at First Gas.
“So far we’ve brought small groups of interested people together, supported their learning around innovation processes thanks to WorkSafe’s innovation team and then helped them to regularly connect with each other to share their progress on innovation projects in their own organisations,” Craig says.
“It’s been wonderful to watch the sharing of knowledge, ideas, suggestions, outcomes (both positive and less successful) from this small group and to see some new projects take shape.”
To date innovation projects underway within the Community are; a partnership to develop a solution to long-term vibration exposure, a new way of learning from events, redefining the health and safety philosophy, and an ‘undercover boss’ trial, among others.
“With the official launch of the Community today we’re now looking to widen the number of people involved. So, if you’re a professional with an interest in health and safety, risk, work design, wellbeing or innovation and enjoy challenging the status quo, take a look at our website and get in touch,” Craig says.
Interested people will have the opportunity to go through a workshop and online modules led by WorkSafe’s Chief Advisor of Safety Innovation, Daniel Hummerdal, before committing to the Community.
