Greencap is proudly part of WSP
Greencap acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing
connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.
Navigating H&S
in Complex Times
17 November
2022
Greencap acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country
throughout Australia and recognises their continuing
connection to land, waters and culture.
We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.
Your Presenters
Dr Michael Taylor
Practice Manager –
Occupational Hygiene / IEQ
Renee Dawson
Practice Manager –
Health & Safety
Phoebe Gane
National Practice Lead –
Health & Safety
Session Overview
• Navigating H&S Complexity
• A reflective overview
• Cynefin Framework
• Applicability to health & safety context?
• Case Study Analysis
• Questions / Close
Navigating H&S
in Complex Times
A personal reflection
Navigating Complexity - Cynefin Framework (pronounced Ku-nev-in)
A decision-making tool, consisting of 5 domains
Seeks to assist leaders and decision makers make
better decisions in summary, by:
• Seeing the situation or event(s) from a new
perspective
• Rapidly understanding the context at hand
• Adjusting decision making approach, based on
the needs of the situation
• Responding in a contextually appropriate way
It can also enhance:
• The communication process
• Others in the team or organisation, understand the climate and navigate associated
challenges and opportunities presented.
Cynefin (ku-nev-in) Framework Domains
Predictable (Ordered):
1. Simple
2. Complicated
Unpredictable (Unordered):
3. Complex
4. Chaotic
When unclear which of the other
4 predominates:
5. Disorder
Navigating H&S in Complex Times
Ordered & Predictable World
Context Characteristics Approach
Simple • Domain of known knowns
• Context is stable
• Cause and effect relationship –
generally clear to everyone
• Patterns tend to repeat
• Events are constant
• Apply best practice
• Leaders / decision makers need to assess
the facts of the situation (sense it) then
categorise and respond to it
Case Study 1 – Simple Domain
OHS Inspections of 80 sites
Conduct 80 onsite OHS inspections
• Defined locations & timeframes
• Time sensitive / hard deadline
How we approached
• PM Team Formed
• Clear Audit Process & Schedule Established
• Audit Tool & Training of OHS Team
• Clear, Repeatable Outputs
• Oversight & Quality Control
• Communication Cadence
Feedback Loop
Established Client PM Team
• Until there wasn’t….
We were humming along until threat of ‘chaos’
Sense
• Requirements were clear
Categorise
• Formulated tried and tested auditing approach
Respond
• Executed based on best practice
Change to client PM team – risked a collapse into
‘chaos’ domain.
Worked to bring back to the simple, based on needs of
situation
Case Study 1 – Simple Domain
OHS Inspections of 80 sites
Simple
Sense
Categorise
Respond
Chaotic
Act
Sense
Respond
Navigating H&S in Complex Times
Ordered & Predictable World
Context Characteristics Approach
Complicated • Domain of unknown knowns
• Cause and effects are knowable
– however, not everyone can see
it
• May need to engage experts,
gather data / information and
analyse to identify available
solutions or options
• Often multiple correct solutions
and answers
• Apply good practice
• Leaders / decision makers need to sense,
analyse and respond
Complicated sites but likely restricted range of
hazards
• Prescriptive guidelines exist
• Primarily complicated by human factors
• Relatively controlled sites which are unlikely
to change
Case Study 2 – Complicated Domain
Clandestine drug lab investigation
Site previously confirmed to contain a
clandestine drug lab
• Domestic residence – occupied
• Public health notice on property
• Police, locksmith & council in attendance
Greencap knew:
• What we were there to confirm
• Where the problem was
• The likely hazards
Case Study 2 – Complicated Domain
Clandestine drug lab investigation
Additional hidden lab discovered
(as well as a sword in the couch)!
Sense
• Samples collected from range of
structural material
Analyse
• Testing confirmed high level of
methamphetamine
~500 times great than guideline levels
Respond
• Ultimately structure was deemed to be
condemnable
Case Study 2 – Complicated Domain
Clandestine drug lab investigation
Navigating H&S in Complex Times
Unordered & Unpredictable
Context Characteristics Approach
Complex • Domain of unknown unknowns
and emergence. Where much of
contemporary business operate
• Past events do not predict the
future (cause and effect cannot
be known in advance)
• Patterns can emerge yet
individual events are not
predictable
• Experiment (safe-to-fail safe
experimentation) and monitor as outcomes
emerge
• Leaders / decision makers need to first
probe, then sense and respond
Case Study 3 – Complex Domain
Post flooding mould & disaster assistance
2022 Flooding affected large parts of
Queensland, NSW & Victoria and was
anything but routine
• Many varied sites impacted
• Hazards ranged from environmental to
chemical
Over 234,000 claims for flood related
damage have been made since April
Approximate cost of $5.45 Billion
~$2.81 Billion have been settled
Bureau of Meterology Data Visualisation overlay 2022
1mm rain = 1L water per square meter
Case Study 3 – Complex Domain
Post flooding mould & disaster assistance
Typical mould and moisture investigations
are often routine
• Flood impacts exponentially greater
Impacts rapidly worsen due to trapped
moisture
• Rapid attendance is key
Many impacted sites were fast moving
goods
• Required immediate advice to
restore business continuity
Unknown unknowns:
• How big were the impacts?
• What still remained on site?
• Could we even get there?
Probe
• Determine if site was accessible
• Identify potential hazards
• Electrical, structural, chemical, wildlife?
• Gather insight from local facility managers
Sense
• Attend site
• Make observations and categorise damage
• Collect moisture, mould and contamination data
Respond
• Identify high value items for initial action
• Provide make safe advice
• Provide remedial advice
• Arrange for further attendance if needed
ABC News: Megan Hendry
Case Study 3 – Complex Domain
Post flooding mould & disaster assistance
Navigating H&S in Complex Times
Unordered & Unpredictable
Context Characteristics Approach
Chaotic • Domain of the unknowables
• Relationship between cause and
effect is impossible and shift
constantly
• No manageable pattern
• Novel practice
• Leader and decision makers must:
• Act to establish order
• Sense where stability is present
• Work to
transform
from chaos to
complexity
March 2020 –
Outset of COVID-19 pandemic:
• Little known about true infectious
potential
• Scant data on mortality and morbidity
• Identified infections rapidly
increasing
• Conflicting or contentious
government advice
Scientific observations
social effects
Heightened state of fear
YOU ARE
HERE
Case Study 4 – Chaotic Domain
COVID-19 Infection prevention & control assistance to essential services
Greencap was approached by a major
supplier of medical gas to hospitals
• Cylinders needed to be collected, refilled
and returned
• Oxygen supply was critical to hospital
function and patient outcomes – the
work couldn’t stop
• Workers needed to be protected from a
rapidly changing, frightening infectious
threat
• Just to make it more complicated….
“You can’t use disinfectants”
Medical Oxygen Cylinders is a photograph by Mark Thomas
Case Study 4 – Chaotic Domain
COVID-19 Infection prevention & control assistance to essential services
Act
• Categorized activities and proposed controls
• Proposed a non-residue forming chemical
treatment of all cylinders
• Workforce trained on infectious disease
principals and controls
• Hospital, Vehicle, Depot
Sense
• Workforce health monitored
• Feedback process implemented from
worker to manager
Respond
• Process open to redesign based on
feedback, limitations and changing
Case Study 4 – Chaotic Domain
COVID-19 Infection prevention & control assistance to essential services
Any Questions?
Thank You.
www.greencap.com.au
Thank You.
greencap.com.au
Adelaide | Auckland | Brisbane | Canberra | Darwin | Melbourne | Newcastle | Perth | Sydney | Wollongong
Thank You.
www.greencap.com.au
Thank You.
Adelaide | Auckland | Brisbane | Canberra | Darwin | Geelong | Melbourne | Perth | Sydney | Wollongong
info@greencap.com.au greencap.com.au

Navigating H&S in Complex Times

  • 1.
    Greencap is proudlypart of WSP Greencap acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. Navigating H&S in Complex Times 17 November 2022
  • 2.
    Greencap acknowledges theTraditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.
  • 3.
    Your Presenters Dr MichaelTaylor Practice Manager – Occupational Hygiene / IEQ Renee Dawson Practice Manager – Health & Safety Phoebe Gane National Practice Lead – Health & Safety
  • 4.
    Session Overview • NavigatingH&S Complexity • A reflective overview • Cynefin Framework • Applicability to health & safety context? • Case Study Analysis • Questions / Close
  • 5.
    Navigating H&S in ComplexTimes A personal reflection
  • 6.
    Navigating Complexity -Cynefin Framework (pronounced Ku-nev-in) A decision-making tool, consisting of 5 domains Seeks to assist leaders and decision makers make better decisions in summary, by: • Seeing the situation or event(s) from a new perspective • Rapidly understanding the context at hand • Adjusting decision making approach, based on the needs of the situation • Responding in a contextually appropriate way It can also enhance: • The communication process • Others in the team or organisation, understand the climate and navigate associated challenges and opportunities presented.
  • 7.
    Cynefin (ku-nev-in) FrameworkDomains Predictable (Ordered): 1. Simple 2. Complicated Unpredictable (Unordered): 3. Complex 4. Chaotic When unclear which of the other 4 predominates: 5. Disorder
  • 8.
    Navigating H&S inComplex Times Ordered & Predictable World Context Characteristics Approach Simple • Domain of known knowns • Context is stable • Cause and effect relationship – generally clear to everyone • Patterns tend to repeat • Events are constant • Apply best practice • Leaders / decision makers need to assess the facts of the situation (sense it) then categorise and respond to it
  • 9.
    Case Study 1– Simple Domain OHS Inspections of 80 sites Conduct 80 onsite OHS inspections • Defined locations & timeframes • Time sensitive / hard deadline How we approached • PM Team Formed • Clear Audit Process & Schedule Established • Audit Tool & Training of OHS Team • Clear, Repeatable Outputs • Oversight & Quality Control • Communication Cadence Feedback Loop Established Client PM Team • Until there wasn’t….
  • 10.
    We were hummingalong until threat of ‘chaos’ Sense • Requirements were clear Categorise • Formulated tried and tested auditing approach Respond • Executed based on best practice Change to client PM team – risked a collapse into ‘chaos’ domain. Worked to bring back to the simple, based on needs of situation Case Study 1 – Simple Domain OHS Inspections of 80 sites Simple Sense Categorise Respond Chaotic Act Sense Respond
  • 11.
    Navigating H&S inComplex Times Ordered & Predictable World Context Characteristics Approach Complicated • Domain of unknown knowns • Cause and effects are knowable – however, not everyone can see it • May need to engage experts, gather data / information and analyse to identify available solutions or options • Often multiple correct solutions and answers • Apply good practice • Leaders / decision makers need to sense, analyse and respond
  • 12.
    Complicated sites butlikely restricted range of hazards • Prescriptive guidelines exist • Primarily complicated by human factors • Relatively controlled sites which are unlikely to change Case Study 2 – Complicated Domain Clandestine drug lab investigation
  • 13.
    Site previously confirmedto contain a clandestine drug lab • Domestic residence – occupied • Public health notice on property • Police, locksmith & council in attendance Greencap knew: • What we were there to confirm • Where the problem was • The likely hazards Case Study 2 – Complicated Domain Clandestine drug lab investigation
  • 14.
    Additional hidden labdiscovered (as well as a sword in the couch)! Sense • Samples collected from range of structural material Analyse • Testing confirmed high level of methamphetamine ~500 times great than guideline levels Respond • Ultimately structure was deemed to be condemnable Case Study 2 – Complicated Domain Clandestine drug lab investigation
  • 15.
    Navigating H&S inComplex Times Unordered & Unpredictable Context Characteristics Approach Complex • Domain of unknown unknowns and emergence. Where much of contemporary business operate • Past events do not predict the future (cause and effect cannot be known in advance) • Patterns can emerge yet individual events are not predictable • Experiment (safe-to-fail safe experimentation) and monitor as outcomes emerge • Leaders / decision makers need to first probe, then sense and respond
  • 16.
    Case Study 3– Complex Domain Post flooding mould & disaster assistance 2022 Flooding affected large parts of Queensland, NSW & Victoria and was anything but routine • Many varied sites impacted • Hazards ranged from environmental to chemical Over 234,000 claims for flood related damage have been made since April Approximate cost of $5.45 Billion ~$2.81 Billion have been settled Bureau of Meterology Data Visualisation overlay 2022 1mm rain = 1L water per square meter
  • 17.
    Case Study 3– Complex Domain Post flooding mould & disaster assistance Typical mould and moisture investigations are often routine • Flood impacts exponentially greater Impacts rapidly worsen due to trapped moisture • Rapid attendance is key Many impacted sites were fast moving goods • Required immediate advice to restore business continuity Unknown unknowns: • How big were the impacts? • What still remained on site? • Could we even get there?
  • 18.
    Probe • Determine ifsite was accessible • Identify potential hazards • Electrical, structural, chemical, wildlife? • Gather insight from local facility managers Sense • Attend site • Make observations and categorise damage • Collect moisture, mould and contamination data Respond • Identify high value items for initial action • Provide make safe advice • Provide remedial advice • Arrange for further attendance if needed ABC News: Megan Hendry Case Study 3 – Complex Domain Post flooding mould & disaster assistance
  • 19.
    Navigating H&S inComplex Times Unordered & Unpredictable Context Characteristics Approach Chaotic • Domain of the unknowables • Relationship between cause and effect is impossible and shift constantly • No manageable pattern • Novel practice • Leader and decision makers must: • Act to establish order • Sense where stability is present • Work to transform from chaos to complexity
  • 20.
    March 2020 – Outsetof COVID-19 pandemic: • Little known about true infectious potential • Scant data on mortality and morbidity • Identified infections rapidly increasing • Conflicting or contentious government advice Scientific observations social effects Heightened state of fear YOU ARE HERE Case Study 4 – Chaotic Domain COVID-19 Infection prevention & control assistance to essential services
  • 21.
    Greencap was approachedby a major supplier of medical gas to hospitals • Cylinders needed to be collected, refilled and returned • Oxygen supply was critical to hospital function and patient outcomes – the work couldn’t stop • Workers needed to be protected from a rapidly changing, frightening infectious threat • Just to make it more complicated…. “You can’t use disinfectants” Medical Oxygen Cylinders is a photograph by Mark Thomas Case Study 4 – Chaotic Domain COVID-19 Infection prevention & control assistance to essential services
  • 22.
    Act • Categorized activitiesand proposed controls • Proposed a non-residue forming chemical treatment of all cylinders • Workforce trained on infectious disease principals and controls • Hospital, Vehicle, Depot Sense • Workforce health monitored • Feedback process implemented from worker to manager Respond • Process open to redesign based on feedback, limitations and changing Case Study 4 – Chaotic Domain COVID-19 Infection prevention & control assistance to essential services
  • 23.
  • 24.
    Thank You. www.greencap.com.au Thank You. greencap.com.au Adelaide| Auckland | Brisbane | Canberra | Darwin | Melbourne | Newcastle | Perth | Sydney | Wollongong Thank You. www.greencap.com.au Thank You. Adelaide | Auckland | Brisbane | Canberra | Darwin | Geelong | Melbourne | Perth | Sydney | Wollongong info@greencap.com.au greencap.com.au