SafeWork NSW recently commenced a safety compliance blitz focusing on the safe installation of rooftop solar devices. Inspectors are ensuring rooftop solar business owners are checking the safety of subcontractors and that those working in the industry are incorporating safe work practices across the board.
WHS regulators have recently issued reminders to employers that strict controls to protect workers from crystalline silica dust will be enforced in the lead-up to the nationwide engineered stone ban from 1 July 2024. The ban will affect builders, renovators, fabricators, and those working in the construction industry, who will no longer be permitted to carry out work involving manufacturing, supplying, processing or installing engineered stone.
Multiple WHS regulators have issued safety reminders and alerts to the farming sector as recent data shows March and November are peak months for workplace fatalities in agriculture, corresponding with the busy sowing and harvest seasons. A particular risk faced by farmers during these seasons is fatigue, which can play a significant role in contributing to workplace incidents on farms.
While fall prevention has been a significant focus in many organisations for a long time, the effectiveness and success of different approaches to address fall risks varies significantly. There are several reasons why different approaches to fall prevention are more (or less) successful, according to Scott Barber, CEO of the Working at Heights Association (WAHA).
Many organisations are unprepared for natural hazards, according to an area expert who said WHS professionals play a key role in resilience and recovery in the face of unexpected events. “Unfortunately, many organisations are not well prepared for the occurrence of natural hazards,” said Andrew Gissing, CEO of Natural Hazards Research Australia.
Many of the key findings from a recent US report which examined the critical organisational failures that contributed to the two Boeing 737 MAX crashes are equally applicable to many other major accidents and industries, according to Australian National University Emeritus Professor Andrew Hopkins.
Prepare your safety gear for autumn with our cleaning tips. Inspect, clean, and maintain helmets, goggles, gloves, and more to stay safe in the new season!
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) recently announced that it will launch an on-road targeted operation focused on mechanical safety and compliance with mass, dimension and loading requirements of heavy vehicles operating in support of the construction sector.The operation will commence this month and run for four weeks across NSW, QLD, VIC, SA, ACT, and TAS, according to NHVR COO Paul Salvati.
The NSW Government recently announced that SafeWork NSW will become a standalone, independent regulator following a 12-month inquiry. An independent report commissioned by the government and conducted by former judge Robert McDougall KC made a significant number of reform recommendations for creating a more modern, stronger and fit-for-purpose WHS regulator.
There are important governance considerations for WHS professionals and their organisations in developing and rolling out artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, according to Schellie-Jayne Price, an expert in the area. While many organisations are at different stages of the AI adoption curve, Price said she has yet to encounter any organisation that believes it has fully mastered AI governance.
