Australia has released a draft Code of Practice on “preventing and responding to workplace bullying“. As it is the latest publication on this issue by an OHS authority, it deserves some analysis. The draft code has applied the established definition of workplace bullying as: “repeated, unreasonable behaviour directed towards a worker or a group of workers, that [...]
All posts for the month September, 2011
Working Alone gets regulatory boost
Over many years OHS regulators in Australia have produced guidance notes and Codes of Practice to assist businesses in addressing the hazard of workers working alone. The new model Work Heath and Safety (WHS) Regulations due to be released with several Codes on 26 September 2011 brings the serious hazard of working alone to the front of [...]
Posted by Kevin Jones on September 26, 2011
http://safetyatworkblog.com/2011/09/26/working-alone-gets-regulatory-boost/
New WHS Regulations present a challenge to quad bike manufacturers
In late 2009, SafetyAtWorkBlog discussed the relevance of plant safety regulations and the hierarchy of controls to quad bikes. “The Hierarchy of Controls has some questionable OHS applications to psychosocial hazards but it applies very well to “traditional” hazards, those involving plant. The Hierarchy also emphasizes that the first step in any hazard control is to consider whether the hazard can be eliminated. But what happens when [...]
Posted by Kevin Jones on September 26, 2011
http://safetyatworkblog.com/2011/09/26/new-whs-regulations-present-a-challenge-to-quad-bike-manufacturers/
Helmet debate misses the point of safe design
Workplace safety is rarely simple or easy. It has become a standard recommendation in Australia recently for quad bike riders to wear helmets. Quad bike manufacturers recommend the wearing of helmets and some OHS regulators are making it mandatory but this should not be the end of the safety discussion. The Weekly Times newspaper on [...]
Posted by Kevin Jones on September 23, 2011
http://safetyatworkblog.com/2011/09/23/helmet-debate-misses-the-point-of-safe-design/
Work Health and Safety Regulation Impact Statement could do better
[Originally submitted as a comment to a "safety costs" article] I’ve spent a coupla hours dipping into what looked to me like the important bits of the WHS reg RIS, and I gotta say it don’t add up. I’d also say that the RIS does, in general terms, do what it should do, in terms [...]
Posted by colrf on September 21, 2011
http://safetyatworkblog.com/2011/09/21/work-health-and-safety-regulation-impact-statement-could-do-better/
Religious wisdom on workplace safety
It is rare to visit the Bible when thinking about occupational health and safety but this week Australia’s Uniting Church, its Creative Ministries Network and the United Voices trade union released a report on the working condition of shopping centre cleaners. In the report “Cutting Corners” there are many references to the Bible’s and the Church’s thoughts [...]
Posted by Kevin Jones on September 19, 2011
http://safetyatworkblog.com/2011/09/19/religious-wisdom-on-workplace-safety/
Editorial policy and copyright
Recently one SafetyAtWorkBlog reader accused SafetyAtWorkBlog of closing down debate by rejecting or questioning a comment. SafetyAtWorkBlog is a moderated blog meaning that all comments are read and assessed prior to posting. It is essential for a blog of this type to apply editorial scrutiny and will continue to do so. Part of our editorial policy, or discretion, is [...]
Posted by Kevin Jones on September 18, 2011
http://safetyatworkblog.com/2011/09/18/editorial-policy-and-copyright/
OHS objectors get support from South Australia parliamentarian
The last seven days has seen many of the conservative speakers express concerns or objections to the Australian government’s close-to-completed process for harmonising workplace safety laws. Although one may not agree with the objections, in most cases there is some ideological sense. On 15 September 2011, South Australia’s shadow Minister for Industrial Relations (IR), Rob Lucas, launched a broadside attack on the [...]
Posted by Kevin Jones on September 16, 2011
http://safetyatworkblog.com/2011/09/16/ohs-objectors-get-support-from-south-australia-parliamentarian/
Safety costs of harmonised laws revealed
The Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) on Australia’s Work Health and Safety laws has been released and will be available through the Safe Work Australia website shortly (probably today given the media attention). Much attention will be given to the cost estimates of the laws’ introduction but the 336-page RIS seen by SafetyAtWorkBlog emphasises in the [...]
Posted by Kevin Jones on September 14, 2011
http://safetyatworkblog.com/2011/09/14/safety-costs-of-harmonised-laws-revealed/
http://au.loadedweb.com/
