Bringing an OHS focus to Timor Lestes national hospital

15 Dec 2016

15 December 2016

St John of God Health Care is committed to keeping its caregivers safe in the workplace, no matter where in the world they are based.

OHS is an emerging field in Timor-Leste and many of the structural supports and resourcing that underpin workplace safety in countries like Australia do not exist.

Leisa’s objective was to support our team of International Health caregivers (which include ex-pats and Timorese nationals) by gaining an insight into their working environment with a view to formulating a suitable OHS management framework that could easily be applied.

The OHS framework has been developed in two parts. The first focuses on areas of the HNGV that our caregivers have control over, such as their office, the St John of God Training Room and our storage containers.

The second part of the OHS framework focused on influencing a particular area of concern within the broader HNGV environment that isn’t under SJGHC’s direct control.

“The OHS Committee will find ways to work with stakeholders at the HNGV to improve risks to hospital staff through solutions such as storing oxygen bottles securely in designated spaces, away from high traffic areas,” Leisa said.

Leisa said her trip to Timor-Leste was extremely rewarding and noted the excellent efforts of the SJGHC team in evolving OHS.

“The next step is to give caregivers and OHS Committee a tailored action plan that is appropriate and implementable so more positive changes can be made and we can build on our success,” Leisa said.

“Not only do our team benefit, they’re also working with the broader HNGV community to up-skill them on workplace health and safety.

“It was really rewarding to see how OHS in Timor-Leste starting to take shape and how our team is taking ownership of ensuring a safe environment for themselves, their Timorese colleagues and their patients.”