What's News - Occupational Health & Safety

GPs writing more sick certificates under WorkChoices: report coverage

January 2008 A study of General Practitioners in Australia has found they are writing more medical certificates since the introduction of WorkChoices. The report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows a 70% increase in the number of certificates issued in 2007. Musculoskeletal problems were the most common work-related ailment treated, followed by depression and stress. The most common musculoskeletal work-related problems were back complaints (14.8% of work-related problems), sprains and strains (10.4%), musculoskeletal injury (9.0%) and fractures (3.7%). Work-related psychological problems accounted for 9.3% of work requests made to GPs with depression and stress being the most common. General practice activity in Australia, 2006–07; Britt, Miller, Bayram, Henderson, Valenti, O’Halloran, Harrison, Fahridin. more....Note: Guides are available for industry standards for: Strains and manual handling and Stress. 

Work can be a risky business

13 February 2008 New Federal Government figures show, your choice of occupation significantly affects the probability that you will be killed at work, with blue-collar jobs heading the most-dangerous list. Miners, agricultural workers and those working in transport, run a greater risk of meeting their end on the job, data from the Australian Safety and Compensation Council shows. It's not just those on the job who are at risk, but also bystanders. Of the 162 workplace deaths reported in 2006-07, 16 were bystanders. Even in high-risk industries, adhering to safety protocols can reduce the risk to a minimum. more...

Unions urge action over industrial death figures

The ACTU has called for urgent action following the release of figures revealing Australia’s worsening workplace death toll. A report from the Australian Safety Compensation Council (ASCC) shows 162 people died at work in 2006 – 07, up from 157 in the previous 12 months. ACTU President, Sharan Burrow, said “the figures highlight the change to federal IR laws”. She said “the previous government’s WorkChoices legislation had reduced health and safety standards and made it more difficult for workers to express safety concerns”. Unions want the Rudd Government to ensure workers can meet union representatives in their workplace and allow OHS reps to fix problems. more.. .

WA WorkSafe: 'Ignorance' no excuse for OHS failures

6 February 2008 WA WorkSafe has won an appeal against a Perth Magistrates Court decision, to dismiss OHS charges against a builder who claimed he was unaware of the risks which led to the death of a worker in 2002. In the original trial in 2005, Perth Magistrate, Peter Malone, said “there was no evidence to suggest the builder should have known about the inadequate restraint which caused concrete panels to collapse, trapping and killing the worker”. However the appeal judge found that it was no defence to claim that the person owing the duty of care was ignorant of the hazard, if there were means available for preventing it. A penalty has yet to be decided. WASC, Reilly v Tobiassen. more...

Practice notes/directions

UK: HSE launches web tool to help manage OHS risks in construction