What's News

02 June 2010

Latest News

Safety rules lag in biotech industry
29 May 2010
The New York Times reports that safety rules for biotechnology workers sometimes expose them to dangerous pathogens. Whether handling deadly pathogens for biowarfare research, harnessing viruses to do humankind’s bidding or genetically transforming cells to give them powers not found in nature, the estimated 232,000 employees in the nation’s most sophisticated biotechnology labs work amid imponderable hazard. More...

Industry needs flexible fatigue management: Williams
28 May 2010
Nationals Senator John Williams has called for changes to fatigue management regulations to give the trucking industry some more flexibility. Fatigue management law requires drivers to rest at set times, with the length of breaks varying depending on how long the driver has been on the road. Those who breach the provisions face fines and the possible loss of their licence. More...

Diesel fumes will be monitored
28 May 2010
The Rail, Tram and Bus Union requested monitoring after a QR Sarina site report suggested diesel fumes posed a health hazard. A report prepared by an independent consultants in epidemiology, occupational health and public health stated lung and bladder cancer were the two cancers most strongly associated with exposure to diesel engine exhaust. More...

CBD building site accident: construction worker on the mend
28 May 2010
A construction worker who fractured his skull after falling off a ladder on a CBD building site yesterday is recovering in hospital. It was the second serious accident to occur on a CBD building site in three days, prompting calls from the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union and Greens to bolster workplace health and safety standards. More...

Recycling company fined after 15-year-old’s toes crushed in baling machine
25 May 2010
RECYCLA-Plas has been fined $50,000 over an incident which resulted in the amputation of two of a 15-year-old employee’s toes. The WA recycling company was found guilty of failing to provide a safe workplace, and by that failure, causing serious harm to a worker. More...

Safe use of portable ladders: WorkCover NSW
27 May 2010
Workcover NSW has issued a safety alert about the use of portable ladders after two incidents where painters fell from ladders. According to Workcover NSW, ladders should only be considered as an option if other safer alternatives, such as scaffolding or elevating work platforms are not reasonably practicable. More... WorkCover release: More...

The future of OHS and nanotechnology
27 May 2010
Senator Carr has reinforced the Government’s determination to achieve a balance between occupational health and safety and leadership in nanotechnology, in an address to the ACTU OHS and Workers’ Compensation Seminar on Nanotechnology. The Government has asked the National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme to assess whether carbon nanotubes should be classified as hazardous substances, to be completed by August 2010. More...

Changes to accredited contractor reporting requirements
25 May 2010
The Federal Safety Commissioner has announced changes to the accredited contractor reporting requirements, to take effect from 1 July 2010. The changes, according to the OFSC, will allow it to collect more reliable data which will enable additional relevant, timely and targeted analysis of OH&S information. More...

80,000 public servants hit by bullying each year
25 May 2010
More than 80,000 police, teachers, nurses and other Victorian public servants confront bullies in their workplace each year. A leaked report reveals intimidation and abuse in state departments and agencies is getting worse under the Brumby Government, with more than a third of workers now affected annually. More...

Company fined $550k over worker injury
21 May 2010
A Victorian timber company and its director have been fined almost $550,000 over injuries suffered by a worker two years ago. More...

Mates looking after mates
27 May 2010
While occupational health and safety is an ongoing concern at construction sites, new mandatory training for workers at the Queensland Children’s Hospital site aims to address the mental health of the tradesmen employed there as well. More...

430 dead, bureaucracy sleeps
17 May 2010
Statistics showed that more than 430 people had been killed in the 18 months since the National Transport Commissions’ (NTC) landmark report was handed down calling for changes across the industry. The Transport Workers Union has criticized Australia’s slow-moving bureaucrats saying the number of deaths due to truck crashes was rising while the industry waited for reforms aimed at improving safety. More...

Charges dropped over cyclone death dongas
25 May 2010
The prosecution case against a group of companies accused of negligence after cyclone George killed two workers and destroyed a Pilbara rail camp appears to be unravelling, after charges against a company which designed the dongas involved were dropped. More...

Biosecurity Queensland confirms Hendra Virus case
20 May 2010
The Queensland Government including Biosecurity Queensland, Queensland Health and Workplace Health and Safety Queensland has been working with the Queensland Horse Council and the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) to promote the required changes to horse handling and work practices. More...

Publications/ Conferences

Biannual Data Analysis and an Updated Reporting Pack
27 May 2010
The Biannual Report July to December 2009has been released by the Office of the Federal Safety Commissioner, based on OHS data collected from accredited companies for the July to December 2009 biannual reporting period. The top three notifiable incidents accounted for 73% of all incidents in the reporting period. These incidents related to mobile plant, electrical and fall from heights. The biannual report is available on the Research page of the FSOs website. More...

OFSC: Performance Comparison Tool
The OFSC has updated the Performance Comparison tool with the latest biannual data. The PCT enables companies to better understand where they stand in terms of OHS performance within the Scheme. The Performance Comparison Tool is available on the Performance Comparison page website. More...

Safety Alert: Tractor roll-over protective structure (ROPS) limitations
26 May 2010
The safety advice alerts plant owners/operators, including workers, employers, self employed persons and suppliers, of the circumstances that led to a tractor driver sustaining fatal injuries when the roll-over protective structure (ROPS) attached to the tractor failed during a roll-over incident on a sealed road. More...

Safety Alert: Guarding on a mast climbing work platform
20 May 2010
The safety advise alerts installers, owners and operators of mast climbing work platforms (MCWP) of: the risks associated with erecting and dismantling MCWPs and how to best manage such risks through effective control measures. More...

Working together: Public sector workplace health and safety and injury management strategy 2010-2012
The strategy guides and support improvements in the public sector workplace safety and injury management systems, policy, procedures and outcomes in NSW. It will reduce the incidence and severity of injury and illness to public sector workers, and decrease the duration and cost of workers compensation claims. Working together. More...

Safe use of portable ladders: Safety alert
This safety alert is published following two recent incidents where painters fell from ladders and suffered serious injuries, one being a fatality in NSW. In both cases the painters used portable ladders and were working at a height of approximately five metres. More...

FSO: Changes to Accredited Contractor Reporting Requirements
The Federal Safety Commissioner has announced changes to the accredited contractor reporting requirements, to take effect from 1 July 2010. These changes will allow the OFSC to collect more robust data that will enable additional relevant, timely and targeted analysis of OH&S information. The Reporting pack and reporting forms on the FSC website will be updated in June 2010, to provide companies with assistance in completing the new incident report form. More... More...

National Code of Practice for the Prevention of Falls
The National Code of Practice for the Prevention of Falls in Housing Construction, declared by Safe Work Australia in April 2010, was released on 18 May 2010. This provides guidance to the housing construction industry until the model Work Health and Safety laws commence on 1 January 2012. More...

Comcare Better Practice Guide: OHS Reporting in Annual Reports
14 May 2010
Comcare has developed the Better Practice Guide: OHS Reporting in Annual Reports to assist premium paying agencies in reporting important information concerning the health and safety of workers. The guide addresses section 74 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1991 which applies to all Commonwealth Entities and authorities. More...