Category: Uncategorized

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 implementedā€”some old, some new.

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Audio summary of OHS and workers’ compensation article

In the latest 5-minute audio episode, I discuss the intersections of occupational health and safety (OHS) and workers’ compensation, inspired by a recent seminar on “Using Biopsychosocial Risk Profiling to Inform Claim Triage” by ISCRR.

This episode explores the importance of integrating OHS findings into claim triage processes, the need for a more comprehensive understanding of workplace mental health, and the economic and legal implications of prevention.

Stepping outside one’s discipline can sharpen perspectives and drive meaningful change in workplace safety and health.

This is a summary of a longer and more detailed SafetyAtWorkBlog article from August 20, 2025.

Kevin Jones

Audio summary of employer accountability article

In this 5-minute episode, I question the common narratives that shift the focus to affordability and government intervention, emphasising the fundamental obligation of employers to protect their workers. I explore the role of media in shaping public perception and highlight the importance of bringing occupational health and safety professionals to the forefront of discussions. By shifting the narrative, we can move towards sustainable, effective solutions that improve worker safety.

This is a summary of a longer and more detailed SafetyAtWorkBlog article from July 2025.

Kevin Jones

The Seductiveness of Action Without Change

The challenge in addressing psychosocial hazards at work comes not from the dangers posed but from the executives’ willingness to change. Recently, David Burroughs reflected on his years of advising executives on this hazard. Burroughs’ experience of corporate responses to workplace bullying is indicative of the challenge of organisational change.

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Audio summary of suicidality article

For those of you who follow my blog posts but are not prepared to pay a SafetyAtWorkBlog subscription (you know who you are šŸ˜), I have produced a daily audio summary of a blog article for the next few days to entice you to subscribe.

The first audio summary is now available, discussing the often-overlooked human impact of workplace incidents and the institutional blind spots that perpetuate harm and contribute to suicidality. This is based on a text article published earlier this month.

If this article has raised issues you would like to discuss with a support person in Australia, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or throughĀ the website.

Kevin Jones

Why are the bossesā€™ knickers in a twist over work-from-home?

Two major Australian media outlets are continuing to focus on the issue of working from home (WFH), criticising the concept and some local political moves. WFH offers some significant mental health benefits that are being largely ignored. The front page of The Australian newspaper for September 1, 2025, provides the latest example.

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