Tractor rollovers are far less frequent in Australia than in previous decades due, principally, to major safety campaigns and financial rebates for the compulsory fitting of rollover protection structures (ROPS). This fact makes the near death of a Victorian farmer on 17 August all the more surprising. The most detailed report on the rescue, to the moment, is by … Continue reading “Farmer rescued from rare tractor rollover incident”
In June 2011, Victoria’s Environment Protection Authority (EPA) released a revised Compliance and Enforcement (C&E) policy. There seemed to be some similarities to WorkSafe’s C&E policy, developed in 2006, so SafetyAtWorkBlog spoke this afternoon to John Merritt, who became the CEO of the EPA in early 2010 after many years as the executive director of WorkSafe Victoria. … Continue reading “Similarities between the regulation of environmental and workplace safety”
This August the Victorian Government is conducting a month-long event the Small Business Festival. The Festival is run by the Department of Business and Innovation and promises to “…provide attendees with the essential inspiration, skills and information to start, build and run a business.” Occupational health and safety does not feature. WorkSafe Victoria, the state OHS … Continue reading “Governments need to coordinate resources for small business OHS needs”
SafeWorkSA has announced that its OHS awards program for 2011 has received a record 80 nominations. This is a useful counterpoint to the initiatives that WorkSafe Victoria has instigated to stem declining interests in its awards program. SafeWorkSA has provided a breakdown of the award categories: Best Workplace Health and Safety Management System – 16 … Continue reading “OHS awards can provide a market awareness”
The Australian newspaper reports today (26 July 2011) of a clash between the Construction Forestry Mining & Energy Union (CFMEU) and BHP Billiton over fatigue management. Fatigue management is one of the workplace hazards scheduled for a draft code of practice under the OHS harmonisation process. The CFMEU believes that the current mining-related guidance is inadequate. “The Construction Forestry … Continue reading “Fatigue dispute illustrates ideological clash”
The occupational health and safety of sex workers is one of the most difficult areas to write about as the industry is politically and ideologically charged with matters of feminist ideology, human rights and sex trafficking, religious morality and NIMBY lobbying. In such an environment, it is important that the OHS needs of sex workers … Continue reading “Brothel safety gains new media attention”
In 2009 Australian OHS regulators made the definitive statement on the use of back belts. The guidance stated that: Back belts don’t reduce the forces on the spine Back belts don’t reduce the strain on muscles,tendons and ligaments Back belts do nothing to reduce fatigue or to increase the ability to lift Back belts are … Continue reading “Back support devices don’t work but new designs should be investigated”