what’s news in occupational, health & safety?

latest news 11 June 2008

Victoria tackles manual handling injuries

28 May 2008 Victorian food manufacturers will soon face tougher safety regulation as the State Government’s scheme to tackle manual handling injuries begins on 1 July. Under the plan, WorkSafe Victoria inspectors will visit food manufacturers and processors, and issue Improvement Prohibition Notices where safety breaches are found. Companies with serious breaches will face prosecutions. more...

'Banton law' brings Victoria into line on asbestos laws

24 May 2008 Victorian asbestos victims will be able to seek greater compensation for their illnesses under new State Government laws which bring this state into line with the rest of the country. Currently in Victoria asbestos disease sufferers are able to claim compensation only once and are prevented from claiming further compensation if they develop further illnesses later in life. The new laws, to be introduced into Parliament this year, will allow sufferers to reserve the right to seek additional damages. Corresponding amendment to the Victorian Administration and Probate Act 2000, so that dependants, such as widows, can not be financially penalised if their loved one dies from an asbestos related disease prior to full settlement of a claim. more...

Crane fall injures driver at Melbourne Uni

27 May 2008 A crane fell 5 storeys with the driver inside while working on a Melbourne University building site in Carlton. The 27-year-old driver was lucky to escape serious injury when the crane collapsed, hitting another crane before coming to rest only metres above the ground. WorkSafe is investigating the incident. more...

NSW workers suffer 17,000 manual handling injuries per year

26 May 2008 Workers across NSW suffer 17,000 injuries related to physical activities in the workplace every year, at an estimated cost to industry of up to $1.4 billion. more...

Carcinogenic chemicals being misused in Tas: Senator

26 May 2008 Herbicides linked with cancer are being used at 4 times recommended levels in Tasmania and those responsible should be jailed, a Senate committee has been told. more...

Union says Flinders Uni building site unsafe

3 June 2008 The construction union is threatening a mass walkout over safety issues at a building site at Flinders University in Adelaide. more...

Federal Govt committed to harmonising OHS laws in Australia

Deputy Prime Minister and IR Minister Julia Gillard told the recent ACTU OHS Conference that the Federal Government is committed to the harmonisation of OHS laws in Australia. In her speech she outlined the benefits of harmonisation and guaranteed the process would not be a ‘race to the bottom’ on OHS standards. The Deputy PM also said the review of Comcare was under way and a draft report of the review will be completed by the end of July. Julia Gillard’s speech at the ACTU Annual Occupational Health and Safety and Workers' Compensation Conference.

Fire Union calls for cancer cluster monitoring

5 June 2008 The United Firefighters Union wants ongoing monitoring of staff at the site of a cancer cluster in far north Queensland. more...

Army sued over death of Melbourne student

6 June 2008 Comcare; the Commonwealth occupational health and safety authority, launched proceedings against the Australian Defence Force in the Federal Court in Melbourne. Comcare will allege that the ADF failed to take all steps to protect the health and safety of its allergic cadets. Before the trip, Mr Francis was 1 of 7 cadets who had reported peanut allergies to the Scotch College army cadet unit. more...

Gas shutdown to cost industry 'millions of dollars'

5 June 2008 The body investigating the explosion at a gas plant off the Karratha coast says it can not put a time line on how long the investigation will take. Analysts expect the shutdown to cost the mining industry millions of dollars. Alex Passmore, from Pattersons Securities, says “at least 6 companies have announced that they are winding back production due to electricity shortages”. more...

Pinetec denies safety concerns

5 June 2008 Safety and employment have been a topic of contention between Pinetecs Collie pallet mill and the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU). CFMEU state secretary Paul Ferreira said there were still safety issues onsite claiming orders had to be made for an occupational health and safety (OHS) representative to be trained. more...

Food-for-thought campaign

4 June 2008 A Campaign targeting safe manual labour at food manufacturing plants will be conducted next month in a bid to crack down on unsafe work places. WorkSafe Victoria will visit food manufacturers and processors from 1 July and issue improvement and prohibition notices where occupational health and safety issues are identified. more...

Articles

Hazardous Substances: Geneva, 10-13 December 2007: final report. Author: International Labour Organization. Sectoral Activities Programme Source: Geneva, International Labour Office, 2008: pp38 Subjects: Hazardous chemicals; Occupational health and safety; Standards; Conferences; Overseas item more...

Occupational asthma in Australia Author: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Source: Canberra, AIHW, 2008: pp27Subjects: Asthma; Occupational diseases; Risk; Statistics more...

practice notes/directions

WorkSafe Seminars

WorkSafe Victoria is offering free information sessions on managing health and safety, understanding workplace injury insurance and assisting injured workers. Sessions are being held at a range of venues across the State. more...

Working safely with containers

This handbook provides guidance to help identify practices that eliminate or reduce risk specific to working with containers in the stevedoring industry. more...

Qld: Safety Alert

Edge Protection on stairwells, balconies and walkways Prompted by a 2002 fatality, this safety alert focuses on edge protection.

Working safely with general cargo - steel products

Handbook provides guidance to help identify practices that eliminate or reduce risk specific to working with containers in the stevedoring industry. more...