hazards – SafetyAtWorkBlog

Heat, Harm and the Cost of Denial

As Victoria shivers in the middle of its Winter and a cop-killer runs loose in the mountains in the middle of the state, it may seem odd to think about the occupational health and safety (OHS) context of working in excessive heat. However, give us a couple of months, and it will be a hot topic again in the Southern Hemisphere. (First and last weather pun, I promise)

A recent article in The New York Times (paywalled) examined excessive heat in Spain, providing useful details on the changes being implemented—some old, some new.

Subscribe to SafetyAtWorkBlog to continue reading.
Subscribe Help

Already a member? Log in here

When Safety Is Optional: The OHS Blind Spot in Childcare Abuse Reform

Improvements in safety and health at work are almost always begun after fatalities, catastrophes and scandals. This says much about the prominence of occupational health and safety (OHS) in Australian society. The latest industrial scandal is in the childcare industry. Non-compliance with safety requirements was exposed in March 2025, but now allegations of sexual abuse of babies, toddlers and children have been levelled against several workers. The industry and the governments that oversee it are struggling to identify solutions. OHS can provide a legal and managerial framework, as determined in a safety review published only last week.

Subscribe to SafetyAtWorkBlog to continue reading.
Subscribe Help

Already a member? Log in here

Is it possible to prevent psychosocial hazards?

The Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) legislation states that employers must eliminate hazards as far as is reasonably practicable. If you start your safety journey from this point, you will forever be frustrated in your OHS achievements and disappointed in your job. OHS may be forever linked with laws and regulations, but the safety and health of ourselves, colleagues and others is based on our personal moral code and the values we bring to our actions. OHS satisfaction comes from accepting that OHS laws are only part of our purpose

Subscribe to SafetyAtWorkBlog to continue reading.
Subscribe Help

Already a member? Log in here

The Hidden OHS Emergency Behind Victoria’s Firefighting Fleet

New documentary “Breaking Point” is a curious mix of propaganda, lobbying, whistleblowing, fear, stress, with an occupational health and safety (OHS) undertone. According to Victorian firefighters, they are being sent to fight fires and save lives with equipment that is known to be faulty—a problem that could easily be solved.

Subscribe to SafetyAtWorkBlog to continue reading.
Subscribe Help

Already a member? Log in here

Assessing ‘Union’: A Missed Opportunity in Safety Storytelling

There was a row of cheering trade union supporters in the late session of the documentary “Union” at Carlton’s Cinema Nova earlier this week. The film was showing as part of a documentary festival, and the cinema was less than half-full. The film showed an example of grass-roots union organising. There were optimism and failures, and the occupational health and safety (OHS) catalysts for the unionism were mentioned in passing.

Subscribe to SafetyAtWorkBlog to continue reading.
Subscribe Help

Already a member? Log in here

Avoiding Burnout in the Corridors of Power

Last week, some of the Nine newspapers reported on a spate of departures (paywalled) from the Australian Prime Minister’s office. There is always a constant churn of political staffers, with regular movement between private enterprise and public service.

There are some sound economic reasons for leaving just after 12 months into a new government, and the departures are not indicative of a toxic workplace, but working hours in the Australian Parliamentary and political sector have been contentious recently. This latest newspaper article notes the role of working hours but, curiously, primarily in passing.

Subscribe to SafetyAtWorkBlog to continue reading.
Subscribe Help

Already a member? Log in here

Safety With Minimal Jargon: Tim D’Ath’s Refreshing Approach

Late last year, Tim D’Ath added to the occupational health and safety management (OHS) literature with a modern, open-minded (and short) book called “Humanising Safety”. His perspective cuts across many of the heady discussions of Safety I vs. Safety II, safety cultures, and organisational versus individual approaches… I found his clarity of advice refreshing, as he focused on core harm prevention principles while acknowledging the difficulty of communicating these principles to employers who have been taught to view OHS as a nuisance to be avoided whenever possible.

Subscribe to SafetyAtWorkBlog to continue reading.
Subscribe Help

Already a member? Log in here