MEDIA RELEASE
ACCI represents over 350,000 businesses in every State and Territory and all industries. Our network employs around
4 million employees, ranging from the top 100 companies to tens of thousands of small and medium businesses.
MR 127/10
LEADING AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS
Sunday 24 October 2010
ACCI CALLS FOR 30 MINUTE DIALOGUE ON OHS
Statement by Mr Peter Anderson, Chief Executive
The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Australia’s largest and most
representative business organisation, is a major supporter of the sixth annual Safe Work Australia
Week, which runs from 24 – 30 October 2010. ACCI is calling on management to this week set
aside 30 minutes with staff in each workplace to open a dialogue on health and safety.
ACCI Chief Executive Peter Anderson has been appointed a Safe Work Australia Week Safety
Ambassador in recognition of ACCI’s leadership role in the area.
“Workplaces with good health and safety cultures and records make good business sense as much
as good environments for staff.”
“We should not allow the recent differences over harmonising OHS regulations to distract
workplaces from getting on with the job of talking about ways of improving work systems and
safety cultures.”
“ACCI helped to develop the first National Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Strategy back
in 2002, as well as our own Modern Workplace: Safer Workplace Policy Blueprint in 2005.”
“Safer workplace practices and cultures require leadership from the top and shared responsibility.
Two-way communication, and improving workplace culture and practices offer the best ways for
long term and sustainable improvements to be achieved.”
“Effective management of OHS requires commitment from everyone in a workplace.”
Workplaces may need to improve internal communication to achieve further improvements to
safety. The challenge for governments and industry is to provide the right guidance to assist small
business who often struggle with the regulatory burden, and develop and promote simple, easy to
understand information material.
ACCI represents employers on Safe Work Australia and convenes the National Employers
Occupational Health and Safety Forum, which is communicating industry views to governments
on harmonisation regulations.
For further information:
Peter Anderson Chief Executive 02 6273 2311 / 0417 264 862
David Gregory Director of Workplace Policy 03 9668 9950 / 0417 052 390
Brett Hogan Director of Communications 03 9668 9950 / 0407 273 884
NEWS 
