VIC: WorkSafe awards Past Finalists
- Health and Safety Representative of the Year - Tarek Soueid – Woolworths (Broadmeadows)
- Health and Safety Committee of the Year - One Steel Laverton Wire Mill (Laverton North)
- Best Design for Workplace Safety - GTS Freight Management (Mildura)
- Best Health and Safety Initiative for a Small Business - Laddersmart (Myrtleford)
- Best Solution to for Sprain and Strain Injuries - Scope (Box Hill), Special Commendation to Capral Aluminium (Campbellfield)
- Best Solution to a Health and Safety Risk - EARS Australia (Knoxfield)
- Best Strategies for Health and Safety Management – The Australian Ballet (Southbank)
- Outstanding Leadership and Contribution to Health and Safety - David Murden
Look online for past finalists and recipients in your area at www.worksafe.vic.gov.au
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VIC: Compliance codes – Public Comment requested
Compliance codes provide practical guidance to people who have duties or obligations under the OHS Act or regulations. An important part of our work to develop compliance codes involves providing the general community with an opportunity to comment on them. The public comment period for these draft compliance codes is from 28 March 2008 – 24 April 2008. Draft documents available for public comment are as follows:
Communicating Health & Safety Across Languages, Workplace Amenities and Work Environment, Lead, Confined Spaces, First Aid in the Workplace, Prevention of Falls in General Construction, Foundries, Management of Asbestos in Workplaces, Removal of Asbestos in Workplaces.
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VIC: New guidelines to making jumping castles safer for our kids
Owners and operators of inflatable jumping castles are being urged to make them safer for children by applying new guidelines released by WorkSafe Victoria. The guidelines call for jumping castles to be secured and supervised and their mechanical and electrical parts to be properly guarded and protected. Owners and operators of jumping castles can also include parents who buy inflatable jumping castles from retail outlets.
The guidelines and more information on WorkSafe’s role public safety role are available by calling WorkSafe’s Advisory Service on 9641 1444 or 1800 136 098 (toll free).
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VIC: Separation of cattle and people while loading cattle at saleyards
This health and safety solution provides simple design solutions for preventing injuries while loading cattle at saleyards. Click her to:
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VIC: Changes to WorkSafe's "Laws and Regulations - OHS" webpage
There have been some improvements made to the "Laws and Regulations - Occupational Health and Safety " page on WorkSafe’s website. The page now incorporates new text explaining the Victorian legislative framework, with links to the Victorian Compliance Framework Handbook, the Australian Safety and Compensation Council (ASCC) homepage and the Heads of Workplace Safety Authorities (HWSA) homepage. A new tab "Enforcement" on the left side bar now contains the compliance and enforcement policies previously found on the "Occupational Health and Safety" page. Click here to:
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ACT: Manual Tasks Training for Shopping Centre Staff
This program focuses on small businesses within the retail industry whose employees are required to undertake manual tasks as part of their daily work activities.
Australian Workers Compensation statistics show that one third of all occupational injuries at work happen during manual tasks, with the retail industry identified as having a high number of manual task related injuries reported each year. This practical program is being undertaken at major shopping centres by the Office of the ACT OHS Commissioner in conjunction with and Coles. For dates and venues Contact 6205 0333 or email ohsc@act.gov.au
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ACT: Reminder of OHS Regulation in Force - 26 May 2008
The Occupational Health and Safety (General) Regulation 2007 was signed in November 2007 and comes into force on 26 May 2008. For more info:
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ACT: Workers Compensation and Labour Hire Arrangements
The ‘Labour Hire’ market is enjoying rapid growth due mainly to the increase in double income families and their tendency to ‘out source’ many domestic duties. However, this type of employment relationship does not necessarily negate the workers compensation obligations of a labour hire agency, as the employer. Further information on labour hire arrangements and other workers compensation matters can be obtained by calling the workers compensation information line on (02) 6205 0200.
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NSW: Improve your workplace safety with the 2008 Mentor Program
Do you own a small manufacturing or construction business and need help improving your workplace safety practices? Register now for the WorkCover NSW Mentor Program. Through this FREE program you will receive advice and practical assistance from a large mentor business to help you grow your business and comply with OHS and workers compensation legislation. Applications close soon!
To register your interest in participating, please visit:
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NSW: Call for public comment - Code of Practice: Tree Work
WorkCover is seeking written submissions on a revised draft of the Tree Work Code of Practice (formerly the Amenity Tree Code of Practice). The Code provides practical guidance on safe practices during tree work to protect the safety of workers. For more info:
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NSW: New publications and guides
Working with Asbestos, Preventing and Dealing with Workplace Bullying, Babysitting Guide for Young People and Parents. To read more, see:
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NSW: NSW leads safety campaign for improved machine guarding
Workplace Safety Authorities across Australia have commenced a safety campaign to improve machine guarding in the manufacturing industry.
The national campaign is designed to reduce workplace injuries by improving the capability of businesses in the manufacturing industry to manage safety risks associated with operating machinery and equipment.
Heads of Workplace Safety Authorities Chair John Watson said unguarded machinery has the potential for causing severe injuries, including crushed fingers or hands, amputations, burns, or blindness. To read more:
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NSW: Review of Part 9.2 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 2001
WorkCover NSW has recently released a discussion paper for the review of Part 9.2 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 2001 (Certificates of Competency for Formwork and the Operation and use of Explosive Powered Tools).
WorkCover NSW strongly encourages all stakeholders to review the discussion paper and provide comments on all items listed by 28 March 2008:
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NSW: Manual Handling Conferences May 2008
WorkCover will be holding three conferences in May 2008 to provide participants with knowledge on the prevention and management of manual handling related incidents and injuries. These conferences are designed to look at a holistic approach to manual handling within specific industries and will feature sessions on risk management, and injury management and will include case studies, workshops and panel discussions.
To read more:
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WA: Inspection program for tower cranes to begin this month.
Tower cranes will be the focus of a WorkSafe inspection campaign to begin later this month. The campaign will involve inspectors visiting construction sites in the Perth metropolitan area that have tower cranes to identify any common safety risks and to ensure that sites are complying with tower crane regulations. To read more:
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WA: Guidance note Alcohol and other drugs in the workplace
The Commission for Occupational Safety and Health, in conjunction with its Mining Industry Safety Advisory Committee, has recently revised and published their Guidance note: Alcohol and other drugs at the workplace. To obtain a copy click here:
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QLD: Small Business Grant Scheme
The Small Business Grants Scheme was created in 2005 to provide funding for industry groups to assist employers to better manage and improve workplace health and safety.
Proposals are sought from industry groups between February and April each year and the grants are allocated on a financial year basis commencing on 1 July that year. To prepare a grant proposal, see:
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QLD: Industry Action Plans 2008-2010
New industry action plans have been developed to support the second stage of the Queensland Workplace Health and Safety Strategy 2004-12, which aims to reduce the incidence of work-related injuries by 40 per cent and fatalities by 20 per cent.:
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SA: $18,000 Safety Lesson for New Business Owner
Anyone buying a new business is being urged to familiarise themselves with the safety measures of their acquisition and their full responsibilities under workplace safety laws. SafeWork SA’s warning comes after a company was convicted and fined $18,000 plus costs over an incident in 2005 where a crane toppled during an unloading operation. Click here to:
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SA: $15,000 Fine for City Fireworks Mishap
A prominent pyrotechnics firm has been convicted and fined in the SA Industrial Relations Court over an incident involving a city fireworks display in 2005:
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SA: $18k safety lesson for new business owner
Anyone buying a new business is being urged to familiarise themselves with the safety measures of their acquisition and their full responsibilities under workplace safety laws.
To read the media release, click here:
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SA: Penalty for electrocution fatality
The proprietor of an Adelaide sign installation business has been fined a total in excess of $46,000 over an incident in which one of his workers was electrocuted, and a second was put at risk. To read the media release, click here:
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NT: New 1800 number for Workers' Rehabilitation and Compensation Branch
Workers' Rehabilitation and Compensation Branch now has a new phone contact number which goes direct to their department. Phone number is 1800 250 713
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TAS: In 2006, 9768 worker were injured in Tasmanian workplaces
Alarmingly, 2503 of these injuires were sustained by new workers: with 110 of these occurring in their first week of work. New workers are often nervous, excited and eager to impress. They will be inexperienced and unlikely to be aware of what can hurt them in a workplace. To read more:
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TAS: Tasmanian OHS Professional wins coveted award
Caroline Langley is a Certified Occupational Hygienist and Director of Injury Prevention & Management (IPM). IPM is a regular supporter of WorkCover Tasmania’s Workplace Safe Week events. The Airmet Scientific Professional Award provides for professional development through attendance at the American Industrial Hygiene Conference and
Trade Exposition, which will be held in Minneapolis this year. To ready story:
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NAT: National campaign to reduce hospital worker injuries
A national campaign aimed at reducing the number of slip, trip and manual task injuries
sustained by non-clinical hospital workers is now underway. Heads of Workplace Safety Authorities Chair, John Watson, said the health and community services industry is a key contributor to the high levels of slip, trip and manual task injuries in Australia.
“Nationally, 17,400 compensation claims were made by workers in the health and
community services industry during 2004–2005,” Mr Watson said. To read more:
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NAT: INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LABOUR INSPECTION 2008 CONFERENCE – ADELAIDE
Pacific region labour inspectors are to receive greater technical assistance from Australia and New Zealand as part of a commitment to greater international sharing of expertise and resources.
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NAT: INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LABOUR INSPECTION 2008 CONFERENCE – ADELAIDE
Pacific region labour inspectors are to receive greater technical assistance from Australia and New Zealand as part of a commitment to greater international sharing of expertise and resources.
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NAT: ASCC: Advancing National Safety, Volume 7
The Australian Safety and Compensation Council have released the March 2008 edition of Advancing National Safety, Volume 7. It is produced quarterly and provides information on the work of the Council, including research, events, and recent publications. This edition features the National Safe Work Australia Awards, Ninth Comparative Performance Monitoring report and Outcomes of the seventh ASCC meeting.
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NAT: Public Comment Sought on Draft Australian Code for the Transport of
Explosives by Road and Rail, Third Edition
The Australian Forum of Explosives Regulators (AFER) Chairman, Mr Drew Wagner, has announced the release of the draft Australian Code for the Transport of Explosives by Road and Rail, Third Edition (Australian Explosives Code) for public comment.
“The Australian Explosives Code has been revised to update the technical provisions and operational content, including the listing of explosives,” Mr Wagner said.
“I encourage stakeholders to engage in this public comment process and provide their feedback on the draft code.
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