PETER MACCALLUM CANCER CENTRESPETER MACCALLUM CANCER CENTRES
PROJECT
Support System Development for ISO 45001 Certification
WHAT WE DID
Initial Review, Detailed Gap Analysis, Applicability Analysis, System Development, Implementation and Support
CLIENT
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centres https://foundation.petermac.org/
TIMELINE
6 Weeks Initial Review and Gap Analysis, System Development 40 weeks, Support Implementation 12 months
Strengthening Safety Systems at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre is a globally renowned leader in cancer treatment, research, and care. With a highly skilled workforce operating in a complex healthcare environment, ensuring staff safety is vital to sustaining excellence in patient outcomes. Peter Mac recognised the need to enhance their safety management systems to better support their people and sought expert guidance to align with ISO 45001 certification requirements.
Work Safety Hub provided technical expertise and strategic support to assess gaps within Peter Mac’s existing safety management system. Using our Applicability Analysis Process, we worked alongside their safety team to develop a clear pathway towards ISO 45001 conformance. Our approach was grounded in human-centred principles, ensuring that new processes were both effective and practical for frontline teams. Through extensive engagement with personnel, we helped create systems that not only met certification standards but also supported safer, more capable work.
CHALLENGES
- Complex Healthcare Environment
Balancing the demands of patient care, research, and clinical operations presented challenges in ensuring safety processes were practical and fit for purpose. - Opportunities for System Improvements
An internal review revealed opportunities for improvement in their existing safety systems, highlighting the need for a structured approach to align with ISO 45001 standards. - Navigating ISO 45001 Requirements
Meeting the rigorous requirements of ISO 45001 requires developing tailored processes that are suited to the unique healthcare setting without creating administrative burdens. - Workforce Engagement Across Roles
Engaging a diverse workforce—including clinical, research, and support teams—was crucial to ensuring safety systems were relevant and embraced at all levels.
- Avoiding a Compliance-Driven Culture
Peter Mac sought to avoid safety becoming a "tick-the-box" exercise, instead aiming to build processes that genuinely supported staff and patient safety. - Ensuring Systems Supported Human Performance
The challenge was to develop safety processes that enabled workers to succeed in complex, high-pressure situations rather than adding unnecessary complexity. - Bridging Safety and Operational Goals
Integrating safety management improvements without disrupting daily operations required balancing the pursuit of conformance with the realities of patient care delivery. - Sustaining Long-Term Improvement
Peter Mac aimed not only to achieve ISO 45001 certification but also to embed a culture of continuous improvement—ensuring safety systems remained adaptive and people-focused over time.
Moving safety forward
RESULTS
- Clear Roadmap to ISO 45001 Conformance
A structured, practical plan was developed using the Applicability Analysis Process, giving Peter Mac a clear pathway towards ISO 45001 certification. - Strengthened Safety Management System
Gaps in the existing system were addressed, resulting in more robust, fit-for-purpose safety processes aligned with international best practice. - Practical, Human-Centred Processes
New processes were designed with the realities of healthcare work in mind, supporting staff to work safely without creating unnecessary administrative burdens. - Enhanced Workforce Engagement
Extensive consultation fostered greater buy-in across clinical, research, and operational teams, ensuring safety processes reflected the needs of those doing the work.
- Increased Confidence in Safety Systems
The safety team gained confidence in their systems and processes, knowing they were aligned with ISO 45001 while supporting frontline performance. - Improved Integration of Safety and Operations
Safety became better integrated into daily work, ensuring that risk management supported—not hindered—patient care and operational efficiency. - Leadership Alignment and Support
Senior leaders gained clarity on safety priorities, strengthening their commitment to both certification and fostering a positive, safety-focused culture. - Foundation for Continuous Improvement
The work established a sustainable framework for ongoing safety improvement—enabling Peter Mac to adapt, learn, and enhance safety practices well beyond certification.
“Work Safety Hub provided invaluable expertise and guidance as we worked towards aligning our safety management system with ISO 45001. Their human-centred approach ensured our processes were both practical and effective, supporting our people while meeting certification requirements. The team’s insight and partnership have strengthened safety across our organisation.”
Amber AtkinsonManager, Health Safety, and Wellbeing