The Weekly Times newspaper can feel justifiably chuffed that it has played a significant role in changing some of the attitudes on the safe operation of quad bikes. It’s front page article on 23 November 2011 reports on a considerable backdown by quad bike manufacturers in Australia on the issue of rollover protection structures (ROPS) [...]
All posts for the month November, 2011
Quad bike manufacturers withdraw from the safety campaign
Posted by Kevin Jones on November 29, 2011
http://safetyatworkblog.com/2011/11/29/quad-bike-manufacturers-withdraw-from-the-safety-campaign/
OHS app is attractive but may be no better than a paper system
Over the last few months I have been using my iPad to take photographs of good and bad workplace practices. These photos are usually shown to a site or business manager after a visit so that control measures can be identified. The advantage of an iPad is that no one has to squint at a [...]
Posted by Kevin Jones on November 22, 2011
http://safetyatworkblog.com/2011/11/22/ohs-app-is-attractive-but-may-be-no-better-than-a-paper-system/
OHS Strategy to nowhere
Throughout 2011, Safe Work Australia (SWA) has been conducting consultative workshops in the development of the next ten-year National OHS Strategy. SafetyAtWorkBlog reported previously on the Melbourne meeting. SWA has released their report into that Melbourne meeting. The meeting had a set of criteria for the stakeholders to consider. Sadly, there was no forewarning of the issues to be [...]
Posted by Kevin Jones on November 21, 2011
http://safetyatworkblog.com/2011/11/21/ohs-strategy-to-nowhere/
Australia risks OHS ridicule in the media
The Sunday Herald-Sun ran an article that would not have been out-of-place in the English tabloid newspapers. The article, “Safety regulations taking the fun out of schools”, indicates many of the confused lines of responsibility that English articles include. In Victoria, the safety requirements of government schools are determined by the Department of Education and [...]
Posted by Kevin Jones on November 14, 2011
http://safetyatworkblog.com/2011/11/14/australia-risks-ohs-ridicule-in-the-media/
Some journeys should never be needed
Relatives of people who have died in workplaces regularly complain about the lack of communication from OHS regulators and other government and legal agencies who are charged with investigating an incident. A recent example of this is Ann Maitland whose daughter, Michelle, died in a gymnastics class in 2009, but Ann Maitland took action and the safety level of [...]
Posted by Kevin Jones on November 14, 2011
http://safetyatworkblog.com/2011/11/14/some-journeys-should-never-be-needed/
Explosive near-miss deserves safety investigation
There was a brief ABC report from Western Australia on 12 November 2011 about a young man receiving serious burns from an industrial explosion. Information is scant on this incident in the press but SafetyAtWorkBlog has been told that the incident occurred at drinks after work. As the incident is not considered related to work, [...]
Posted by Kevin Jones on November 13, 2011
http://safetyatworkblog.com/2011/11/13/explosive-near-miss-deserves-safety-investigation/
Australian politician jumps on possible OHS concession from Government
Politics has again entered the OHS harmonisation debate in Australia. Federal Workplace Relations Minister, Chris Evans, issued a statement on 10 November 2011, part of which that has been pounced on by the Opposition and slightly twisted by the online media. “Senator Evans also announced that transitional arrangements for the model OHS laws have been developed [...]
Posted by Kevin Jones on November 11, 2011
http://safetyatworkblog.com/2011/11/11/australian-politician-jumps-on-possible-ohs-concession-from-government/
Small fine of $1250 but important safety lessons
An OHS fine of $A1250 hardly seems newsworthy but several important issues are illustrated by a prosecution in Western Australia on 10 November 2011, particularly, individual responsibility and accountability. WorkSafe WA has released details of a prosecution against an individual worker over the fall of material from 15 metres towards fellow construction workers. The media release [...]
Posted by Kevin Jones on November 10, 2011
http://safetyatworkblog.com/2011/11/10/small-fine-of-1250-but-important-safety-lessons/
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