Together with human resource consultants, Chandler Macleod, Mackay City Council has developed and successfully trialled a working model of an online induction program for the entertainment industry, via its Mackay Entertainment Centre.
Currently, the industry has different Workplace Health and Safety (WH&S) induction practices for each site.
The aim of the online program is to improve upon and develop uniformity in site specific induction practices through a program that could be adopted by all entertainment venues in Australia.
Mackay’s Executive Manager Community and Customer Services, Erica Nagle, said the program will provide consistency while ensuring compliance with current legislative requirements.
“The program will enhance safety awareness nationally within the entertainment industry by introducing best practice training and methodology,” she said. “It will ensure that all involved in the entertainment industry have received a generic WH&S induction and have an understanding of requirements and obligations as required by the Queensland Workplace Health & Safety Act 1995. It will also ensure that they have an understanding of industry specific safety requirements.”
After much success with a similar project with the mining industry, Chandler Macleod approached the Queensland Industry Development Scheme (QIDS) with a proposal to endorse and fund a trial of the induction at the Mackay Entertainment Centre. Funding was approved and a series of workshops involving Workplace Health and Safety consultants, online induction consultants and entertainment industry specialists were held to develop time frames, content and modules.
Erica Nagle said the program is also aimed at people involved in community organisations, community arts groups, the business sector and local school groups, who use performing arts venues for various activities.
“As members of the community are inducted and instructed into safe WH&S practices, there will be a significant drop in the number of WH&S incidents/accidents recorded,” she said. “By being online and self paced, workers can access the program at any time and once completed, the induction will be accepted in any venue throughout Australia, thus eliminating time consuming site inductions at every venue for those involved in touring.”
Erica Nagle said that a similar online, self paced induction program could easily be developed and adopted by Council’s throughout Australia as part of the training/induction process for new staff.
“The process could lead staff through issues relating to areas, such as WH&S legislation, risk management, evacuation procedures, hygiene, equal employment opportunities, code of conduct, electrical safety awareness and so on,” she said. “The modules presented to staff can be easily adapted to the requirements of the individual Council. Councils will benefit through reduced staff costs associated with the induction process and new staff will be fully briefed, informed and aware of all issues relating to their employment.”
The program is expected to be fully operational in 2008. For further information contact Erica Nagle on (07) 4968 4444.
