Luke Hilakari became the Secretary of the Victorian Trades Hall Council (VTHC) in late 2014. He has spoken at the 2015 Workers’ Memorial ceremony and in February 2016 he launched a new campaign focussing on occupational health and safety (OHS). Continue reading ““We want to build this OHS safety army””
Overburden exposes the social burden of workplace death and illness
On 26 February 2016, a recent documentary about a portion of the American coal-mining industry, Overburden, was shown with a panel discussion, as part of the Transitions Film Festival in Melbourne. The film is commonly promoted as an environmental film but it also touches on
- Corporate and executive arrogance;
- A complete disregard to worker safety;
- Excessive influence of industry lobbyists in the political process;
- The socio-economic impacts of allowing an industrial monopoly;
- Personal perspectives of risk.
The trailer hints at some of these issues. (A traditional mainstream review of the film is available HERE)
The panel drew direct lines between the Appalachian issues raised in the film with the socio-economic issues in Victoria’s LaTrobe Valley that resulted from the Hazelwood Mine Fire. Continue reading “Overburden exposes the social burden of workplace death and illness”
Master Builders keeping up with tech changes in safety
On February 2016, the New South Wales division of the Master Builders of Australia (MBANSW) launched a new mobile app that applies augmented reality (AR) to access safety information related to construction sites. The software has the capacity to access safety information in the form of videos, text, documents and internet links that can put occupational health and safety (OHS) information into the hands of workers.
There is great potential in this software application and the MBANSW should be acknowledged for supporting a technology that is still in its early development but offers an additional way of accessing important occupational health and safety information at the place where may be most needed – in the hands of workers.
But the app is not the answer to everything and, thankfully, MBANSW never claimed it was. There are technical and organisational limitations to the app but it is a very good start.
Continue reading “Master Builders keeping up with tech changes in safety”
Business case seems to miss worker safety
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A top Business Blog for 2016
SmartCompany includes SafetyAtWorkBlog in its 2016 list of Best Business Blogs, saying:
“Occupational health and safety consultant Kevin Jones brings two decades of experience to his editorship of the Safety At Work Blog, bringing together news and commentary on workplace safety and health. Regularly updated, this blog is a great resource for SMEs operating without a dedicated human resources team.”
It is well worth looking at the other entries on the list to gain an understanding of how safety is perceived, particularly in the small business sectors.
WorkSafe enters battle over quadbike safety
A decision by WorkSafe Victoria about the fitting of crush protection devices (CPD) to quad-bikes (All Terrain Vehicles/ATV) gained the major prominence in the latest edition of a major Australian farming newspaper, The Weekly Times. The newspaper reports that
“WorkSafe Victoria is tightening rules around quad bikes that will see them banned in workplaces unless appropriate rollover protection is fitted.”
Some of the argument over the last 24 hours has been around whether this means that CPDs are mandatory and, as always, cost.
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If you build it, they will come
The Safety Institute of Australia (SIA) continues to rebuild its reputation and its credibility. In February 2016 it released a draft Strategic Planning Framework and is seeking public comment. (Consultation closes on March 25) A major difference in this approach is that the SIA is encouraging this draft plan to be distributed widely, outside of the SIA’s membership and is seeking comments from non-members. The SIA has never been known for its transparency and this new openness is to be applauded.
Interested parties are encouraged to provide the SIA with as much feedback as possible on the draft framework. Continue reading “If you build it, they will come”