One of the most important professional lessons is to only talk about what you know. I found this out personally after a disastrous pre-conference workshop many years ago where I did not understand what the workshop participants expected until I began seeing blank and quizzical expressions from the, thankfully, small audience. On Australian radio on 14 … Continue reading “Tread carefully when speaking with the media”
Chris Evans, the Australian Minister for Workplace Relations issued a media statement on 28 April 2011 concerning the World Day for Safety and Health at Work. As well as some generalities about OHS harmonisation and government commitment, he said “The Australian Government is also in the process of ratifying the ILO Asbestos Convention 1986 (convention 162) and … Continue reading “Australian IR Minister mentions international OHS conventions action”
Various sectors of the Australian media have been reporting on the potential use of asbestos-tainted sacks by Australian soldiers and Defence personnel. Asbestos exposure is a recurring risk for the Australian armed services due to items in use, such as the dummy, and the existence of asbestos in various buildings. The issue of asbestos persisting in sacks was given … Continue reading “Army notice on asbestos bags is warning for all workplaces”
Following on from Asbestos Awareness Week, an ABC media report on 3 December 2009 says that the Australian Workers Union is continuing to apply pressure to the Tasmanian Government and Cement Australia for testing of former employees and local residents for exposure to asbestos. An epidemiological study of former employees has been agreed to by the company and is being conducted … Continue reading “Union continues pressure on asbestos as an urgent public health issue”
On 25 November 2009, the Victorian Trades Hall hosted a conversation on asbestos and corporate management between two well-respected Australian journalists and writers, Matt Peacock and Gideon Haigh. Over the last few years both have produced excellent books focusing on the role of James Hardie Industries in the asbestos industry in Australia. The books, Killer Company and Asbestos House, respectively, provide different perspectives … Continue reading “Asbestos Awareness Week – journalist conversation”
In Matt Peacock’s book, “Killer Company“, an entire chapter is devoted to the legacy of the James Hardie chairman, John B Reid. In Peacock’s talk at Trades Hall in October 2009, he mentioned that Reid had once published a book called “Commonsense Corporate Governance”. The apparent hypocrisy of an executive of a company that knowingly … Continue reading “Good corporate advice tainted by poisonous product”
Almost as a follow-on from the Matt Peacock podcast the UK’s Health and Safety Executive has given asbestos the feature slot in its October 2009 podcast that has just been released. The podcast and accompanying campaign is aimed at the recent tradespeople who may be under the impression that, as asbestos was banned in the … Continue reading “Grandad’s disease”