SafeWork NSW recently issued a reminder to employers about the dangers of taking children to workplaces such as construction sites, following an incident in which a teenage boy was seriously injured while attending a worksite in December. On 22 December, a 13-year-old boy attended a construction site with an adult, and the boy subsequently fell from scaffolding and sustained a serious head injury which required surgery.
There is no evidence that individual-level mental health interventions such as mindfulness, resilience and stress management, relaxation classes, and wellbeing apps improve workplace wellbeing, according to recent research. Instead, deeper organisational changes – such as flexibility of scheduling, management practices, staff resources, performance review, or job design – are likely to play a greater role in improving wellbeing at work.
Work Health and Safety Ministers have agreed to an immediate reduction to the workplace exposure standard for welding fumes (not otherwise classified) has been reduced from an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) of 5 mg/m3 to 1 mg/m3. The change to the workplace exposure standard become mandatory once implemented in the WHS/OHS laws in the Commonwealth, states and territories.
NT WorkSafe recently issued a safety alert for owners of LP gas appliances that use small portable LP gas cylinders not to use adaptors to connect their gas appliance to the gas cylinder. The warning was issued following a serious incident in which a Perth homeowner received severe burns while using a barbecue.
In the realm of industrial safety, one aspect holds paramount importance: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Serving as a crucial line of defense, PPE plays a significant role in safeguarding workers against potential hazards. This comprehensive guide aims to shed light on the significance of PPE in industrial safety and its various applications. At Workwear Direct, Australia's trusted provider of Workwear & Safety solutions, we recognize the importance of PPE and offer a wide range of high-quality products to ensure the safety of your workforce.
WorkSafe ACT recently announced that it is proactively taking enforcement action after the Managing the Risks of Airborne Crystalline Silica (Silica Dust) in the Workplace Code of Practice came into effect late last year. The code includes information about identifying hazards, air monitoring, health monitoring, controlling the risks, maintenance of control measures and safe work method statements (SWMS).
WorkSafe Victoria recently issued a safety alert about the risks associated with operating mobile plant on batters and slopes following an incident in which an operator was injured when an eight-tonne excavator overturned while moving felled trees. A contract arborist was using an excavator with a log grab attachment to move felled trees down a batter, and while slewing the excavator down slope, a log slipped through the ‘log grabber’ attachment pulling on the excavator’s boom.
Shift work and working long hours significantly increase the chances of preterm birth, however, most work roles can be modified to reduce this risk. A Monash University-led study has found that pregnant women who worked long hours, shift work, physically demanding jobs, or in jobs that exposed them to whole-body vibration, were at increased risk of preterm birth.
While there is increased awareness of how psychological health can impact workers, some of the largest companies and government departments in Australia are yet to respond to the increasing regulator focus on workplace psychosocial risks
NT WorkSafe recently issued new guidance material on managing the risks of fatigue when driving heavy vehicles.The new guide is intended to assist heavy vehicle owners and operators in the Northern Territory in developing and implementing appropriate fatigue management systems to eliminate or minimise the risks of fatigue, so far as is reasonably practicable.
