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Will BP’s ‘disaster-prone’ board face jail
Directors of BP’s London-based global board seem to be above justice when it comes to the firm’s serial workplace safety and environmental crimes, claims a new report. However, it says that may be changing as the company’s corporate oversight and relationship with regulators has been the subject of much critical comment in recent weeks. More... More...
Case for banning insecticide ‘overwhelming’
10 June 2010
Australia’s chemical regulator says its reviewing studies on the insecticide Endosulfan, which has now been banned in the United States because it poses an unacceptable risk to farm workers and wildlife. Endosulfans are banned in more than 60 countries, but in Australia they are still used on some vegetable, fruit and nut crops. More...
Company fined over worker fall
A flooring company which failed to provide edge protection on a Rockingham building site has been fined $4000, after a sub-contractor fell 2.4m down a stairwell void. More...
EPA hazardous wastes audit
9 June 2010
A Victorian Auditor General’s report tabled this week audit examined whether the Environment Protection Authority’s (EPA) control and regulation of hazardous waste has reduced inappropriate disposal. It concluded that there is little assurance that hazardous waste in Victoria is being stored and disposed of appropriately. More...
Sale workplaces disappoint on safety
8 June 2010
Businesses in Sale need to make more of an effort with workplace safety, WorkSafe Victoria said today. Inspectors visiting small businesses in Sale between May 17 and 21 found little done to address workplace safety since WorkSafe s previous targeted visits to the area. More...
HIV, hepatitis fears after failings in hygiene care at clinic
8 June 2010
Thousands of people could have been exposed to HIV and hepatitis after being treated with inadequately cleaned medical equipment at a clinic near Wollongong, health authorities say. More...
Conviction for director who risked workers’ lives
8 June 2010
A construction company director who continued to expose workers to obvious safety risks despite warnings from WorkSafe, was convicted and fined. The Sunshine Magistrates’ Court found that that Springvale company Ascoli Developments Pty. Ltd and director David Gurvich failed to comply with five legal notices issued by WorkSafe at their Port Melbourne construction site. More...
Unions call for urgent nano information
8 June 2010
Australian workers need more information to protect themselves from the risks of nanomaterials, say unions. Renata Musolino, nanotechnology spokesperson for the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), says the findings are contained in a new report commissioned by Safe Work Australia. More...
Construction worker dies after construction site fall
7 June 2010
A construction worker who was seriously injured after a fall at a domestic construction site has died in hospital after being taken off life support. WorkSafe Victoria’s Construction and Utilities Director Chris Webb said construction is one of the fastest growing industries in Victoria and falls from height are one of our biggest workplace killers. More...
WorkSafe puts licence conditions on Mobil Altona Refinery
3 June 2010
WorkSafe Victoria has imposed new conditions on Mobil s licence to operate its Altona refinery. Conditions have been put in place due to persisting health and safety incidents since the facility was last licensed in 2007. More...
Forklift safety urged after prosecutions and investigations
1 June 2010
According to the Minister, workers should have the appropriate training, and risk management to preventing injuries and fatalities. Queensland Industrial Relations Minister Cameron Dick has urged employers to ensure they have safe work practices in place for the use of forklifts, after the resolution of several prosecutions over workplace forklift incidents, with fines of up to $40,000 involved. More...
First insulation death court hearing
4 June 2010
The first prosecution over a death linked to the Rudd government’s botched home insulation program will begin in a Queensland court today, with QHI Installations Pty Ltd, has been charged with failing to conduct its business in a way that was electrically safe. More...
Publications/ Conferences
ACTU OHS and Workers Compensation Conference: Ministerial statement
The Minister announced that a NICNAS assessment on whether carbon nanotubes should be classified as hazardous should be complete by August – and if so, then regulation would follow. The federal government, was looking to improve information on nanomaterials and that Safe Work Australia was considering this as part of the review of the national codes of practice on Safety Data Sheets. More...
ETU bans uranium work
The Queensland and Northern Territory branches of the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) have banned their members from working in uranium mines, nuclear power stations or any other part of the nuclear fuel cycle. The Northern Territory branch of the Public Health Association of Australia has endorsed an Electrical Trades Union decision to ban its Queensland and Northern Territory members from working in uranium mines. More...
Proposed Recommendation: HIV/AIDS and the world of work
There will be the second, and final, discussion on the development of a labour standard on HIV/AIDS and the world of work at this conference. If adopted, the recommendation will be the first international human rights instrument on AIDS in the workplace. The ILO has a widely supported 2001 Code of Practice which is a set of principles, but has found that there can be selective implementation of the 10 principles. More... More...
Legionnaires’ disease cases still increasing
There have already been an alarming number of legionnaires’ disease cases recorded this year, the number has now increased to 40, three resulting in death. The state’s chief health officer Dr John Carnie has written to 4,000 businesses and authorities warning them that cooling towers must be properly maintained. More...
QLD: Safe use of nailing tools
3 June 2010
The hazards when using nailing tools, such as nail guns, and provides examples of their correct and safe usage are highlighted in this alert. The information provided is designed to help people meet their obligations under the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 in relation to the risks associated with the use of nail gun. More...
NSW: Safety alert after severe electric shock from power tool
7 June 2010
The NSW Department of Primary Industries has issued an alert after a mine maintenance contract fitter received a severe electric shock from a power tool. More...