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Size doesn’t matter – Australian dentists get their teeth into ISO 26000

by Garry Pearson

ISO 26000 can be implemented by all types of organization, whatever their activity, as exemplified by this account of an Australian dental association that has adopted the social responsibility standard, translating its guidance into concrete actions.

ISO 26000:2010 Guidance on social responsibility has been designed for implementation by all types of organization regardless of size or location, with the intention of helping them contribute to sustainable development.

As proof of its suitability for any organization. large or small, the Australian Dental Association Victorian Branch (ADAVB) has become one of the first entities to adopt ISO 26000, using it to guide its council, committees and staff, and encourage even the smallest dental practice to follow the same guidance.

ADAVB is a professional association of dentists dedicated to improving the oral health of all residents of the State of Victoria, Australia, and to enhancing the professional lives of its members.

ISO 26000 defines social responsibility (SR) as the “responsibility of an organization for the impacts of its decisions and activities on society and the environment, through transparent and ethical behaviour that

• Contributes to sustainable development, including health and the welfare of society
• Takes into account the expectations of stakeholders
• Is in compliance with applicable law and consistent with international norms of behaviour
• Is integrated throughout the organization and practised in its relationships.

It states that: This International Standard provides guidance on the underlying principles of social responsibility, recognizing social responsibility and engaging stakeholders, the core subjects and issues pertaining to social responsibility and on ways to integrate socially responsible behaviour into the organization. This International Standard emphasizes the importance of results and improvements in performance on social responsibility.

How to implement ISO 26000

As a socially responsible organization, ADAVB’s policies, by-laws, procedures, and activities mean that it overwhelmingly meets ISO 26000, as demonstrated in Table 1 (see below), which lists the core subjects and SR issues of the standard maps these against ADAVB’s stance on each.

By mapping the standard against its actions, ADAVB provides some practical examples for those who may think that SR sounds like a good idea, with a standard offering excellent advice, but question how, in concrete terms, one should implement it.

Some of the association’s interpretations of ISO 26000 subject and issues and its corresponding implementation initiatives may suggest similar actions that the reader could apply to his or her own area of specialization.

“Dentists for Cleaner Water”

Although ADAVB formally adopted ISO 26000 as policy in October 2010, its path to the standard began in 2006 when the State of Victoria Government and industry policy papers highlighted the importance of a sustainable water strategy, coupled with a reduction or elimination of hazardous wastes such as mercury.

In response, the ADAVB commissioned an environmental report on dental amalgam waste to highlight the need for ADAVB members to be proactive and to recommend the installation of amalgam waste separators for about 80 % of dental surgeries* across Victoria.

Separators that meet International Standard ISO 11143:2008, Dentistry – Amalgam separators, are capable of removing more than 95 % of wastes – and most are rated to capture over 97 %.

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) of Victoria and a group of regional water boards formed a partnership with the ADAVB to develop “Dentists for Cleaner Water” – a three-year programme to help eliminate such waste from the sewerage systems by encouraging dentists in private practice to install amalgam separators.

Launched in August 2008 by Gavin Jennings, then Victorian Minister for the Environment and Climate Change, the programme was well on the way to reaching its goal 30 months later with hundreds of members having already placed orders for the supply and installation of the equipment.

The dental profession expects to spend more than AUD 5 million on the purchase and installation of amalgam separation devices in about 900 dental practices across the State, supported by a rebate scheme providing subsidies worth almost AUD 1 million to help offset the substantial capital and installation costs of the filtration technology. To qualify for the rebate, dentists must also commit to having the captured waste collected for recycling.

Showing the way in SR and sustainability initiatives

Numerous other SR and environmental sustainability initiatives have been undertaken by ADAVB and its members, including:

• Purchase of a new office in a four-star energy-rated building close to a railway station to reduce energy costs and increase use of trains by staff
• Printing newsletters on paper sourced from managed forests and with vegetable inks
• Giving members the option of receiving newsletters in digital form rather than hard copy
• Adopting a Sustainability Policy to commit ADAVB to reducing its carbon emissions and assist members and their practices to do likewise
• Encouraging dental suppliers to reduce packaging through liaison with the Australian Dental Industry Association
• Providing information to members on how to make their practices more environmentally friendly and sustainable
• Encouraging members to take part in the annual Earth Hour.

Community welfare

ISO 26000 offers guidance well beyond environmental issues and encompasses a broader concern for the welfare of the community. In that context, ADAVB has been closely involved in a range of health promotion campaigns and activities.

For example, ADAVB actively promotes the fluoridation of drinking water and is a member of the Government Health Department steering committee which guides this programme – 90 % of Victorians now have access to fluoridated water and thus benefit from greater protection against dental decay.

ADAVB also promotes oral health through annual Dental Health Week campaigns and encourages members to participate in charity fun runs and bike rides wearing oral health promotion T-shirts and jerseys.

ADAVB’s commitment to social responsibility is ongoing. The branch continues to identify areas where members and staff can extend their social responsibilities, being aware that members and other organizations are at various stages of understanding and SR integration.

At the same time it liaises with governments, their agencies and third parties to promote social responsibility more broadly in the delivery of dental services.  

* Not all orthodontic practices place, polish or remove amalgam fillings.

Table 1 - Core subjects and issues of ISO 26000 and corresponding ADAVB stance.

Core subjects and issues of ISO 26000	ADAVB’s corresponding stance
Core subject: Organizational governance	Has the decision-making system to put into practice the principles of social responsibility
Core subject: Human rights	Recognizes that human rights transcend laws and cultural traditions
Issue 1: Due diligence	Ensures compliance with law and manages risk of harm to human rights
Issue 2: Human rights risk situations	Challenges: – Health – the dental profession’s core priority – Children – promotes oral health – Indigenous communities – aids aboriginal communities Natural resources and the environment (water – Dentists for Cleaner Water programme; more than 600 Victorian dental practices so far have installed ISO 11 143 compliant amalgam separators and received rebates)
Issue 3: Avoidance of complicity	No – Branch uses By-laws to discipline members who have carried out wrongful acts breaching the ADAVB constitution, and reports wrongful acts in the community to appropriate authorities
Issue 4: Resolving grievances	Community Relations Officer/ Professional Consultant mechanism for handling grievances between member-patient, member-external agency, member-member
Issue 5: Discrimination and vulnerable groups	No – Prohibition of discrimination
Issue 6: Civil and political rights	Acknowledges these rights
Issue 7: Economic, social and cultural rights	Acknowledges these rights
Issue 8: Fundamental principles and rights at work	For ADAVB staff, abides by laws; informs members of labour practices and promotes good employee relations
Core subject: The environment
Issue 1: Prevention of pollution	Advocates prevention of pollution and runs the Dentists for Cleaner Water programme. (There is interstate and overseas interest in the programme)
Issue 2: Sustainable resource use	Office is energy efficient (4 Star rating); branch staff consciously recycle; promotes “green dentistry” to members; etc. Provides information to members on making surgeries more environmentally friendly and sustainable Works with the Australian Dental Industry Association (ADIA) to encourage dental suppliers/ manufacturers to consider the environment in packaging and products
Issue 3: Climate change mitigation and adaptation	Carbon emission reduction and offset programme implemented. Branch staff use public transport whenever possible for work.
Issue 4: Protection of the environment, biodiversity and restoration of natural habitats	Dentists for Cleaner Water programme
Core subject: Fair operating practices
Issue 1: Anti-corruption	Mechanisms to prevent corruption and bribery
Issue 2: Responsible political involvement	Apolitical – makes representations to governments and political parties on behalf of members and the dental profession, etc.
Issue 3: Fair competition	Opposed to anti-competitive behaviour – By-laws and adherence to legislation
Issue 4: Promotting social responsibility in the value chain	Community Relations Officers’ activities and ADAVB communications to members
Issue 5: Respect for property rights	Adherence to physical assets, copyrights, patents, funds, moral and other rights
Core subject: Consumer issues
Issue 1: Fair marketing, factual and undiased information and fair contractual practices	By-laws for fair marketing, Community Relations Officers employed, produces documents for members to use with patients, information sheets, ADA HR Services
Issue 2: Protecting consumers’ health and safety	This is the first priority of dentists – branch supports
Issue 3: Sustainable consumption	Branch seeks ways to reduce and eliminate unsustainable patterns of work and consumption Promotes green dentistry to members e.g. use of plants to purify air in practices; reduce reliance on transport of supplies and goods by ordering less frequently Works with ADIA to reduce excess packaging of dental goods and supplies
Issue 4: Consumer service, support and complaint and dispute resolution	Role of Community Relations Officers
Issue 5: Consumer data protection and privacy	Promotes protection of patient data patient privacy to members; advises members of e-Health developments; works with Office of Health Services Commissioner; protects privacy of branch staff and members
Issue 6: Access to essential services	Regular fire drills for branch office and emergency procedures in place
Issue 7: Education and awareness	Advises/educates members about patients/staff rights Same applies to ADAVB staff
Core subject: Community involvement and development
Issue 1: Community involvement	Dental Health Week – The Branch supports and advocates the continuing fluoridation of Victorian drinking water supplies (more than 90% of Victorians now have access to fluoridated water) – Community Relations Officers provide advice to the public; media releases on oral health issues when necessary – Branch uses regional groups to directly liaise with the public – Produces information sheets and posters for members patients – Uses website to inform the public and members about oral health issues – Accepts invitations from talk-back radio to speak on oral health subjects – Victorian Oral Health Alliance (VOHA) and VOHA website – Promotes and supports public dental clinics – Assists Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative
Issue 2: Education and culture	Acknowledges that the preservation and promotion of culture and education contributes to human rights; through the Victorian Medical Insurance Agency assists disadvantaged dental students
Issue 3: Employment creation and skills development	Promotes and supports education at all levels (dental assistants course; encourages students to consider dentistry; aids overseas trained dentists)
Issue 4: Technology development and access	Public have access to the VOHA website and parts of the ADAVB website
Issue 5: Wealth and income creation	Not applicable
Issue 6: Health	Health is the primary concern of members; ADAVB promotes oral health to the community Along with the Oral Health Cooperative Research Centre, eviDent, Australia’s first dental practice based research network, provides opportunities for dentists to participate in research projects to benefit patients and the Australian community
Issue 7: Social investment	Members provide health care; ADAVB’s community education (Dental Health Week etc.); protecting the environment and sewerage infrastructure (Dentists for Cleaner Water programme); philanthropic activities by members including local and international aid projects; staff support community appeals e.g. Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea and Jeans for Genes (cancer fund raising); first aid and other training for staff.