The last sixty years’ of research into the effects of hours of work, shiftwork, associated workload, fatigue and affects on social life and families has produced many findings, but no general detailed agreements. There are interesting debates about who and what to research, what methods to use, what to measure and how to interpret results. … Continue reading “All exposure standards must consider hours of work”
The Australian Government’s plans to harmonise the country’s OHS legislation will fail. In the Australian newspaper on 6 May 2010 the president of the Safety, Rehabilitation & Compensation Licensees Association, Dean Stone, said “Harmonisation was aimed at having the same law in force across the country but it is simply not going to be able to do … Continue reading “Harmonisation strategy will fail and legal costs for OHS will increase”
On 12 April 2010, the electronic media (video report available) reported a fatality at a BHP Billiton mine in Western Australia where “a truck plunged 18 metres down a shaft at the Perseverance nickel mine near Leinster.” Newspapers on 13 April 2010 have provided further details. The 45-year old man, Wayne Ross, was operating a … Continue reading “BHP Billiton has another mining fatality at Leinster mine”
One of the most powerful motivators for behavioural change in workplaces is the legislative obligation on employees to not put themselves at risk of injury nor to act in such a way as to place others at risk. Reported in the Australian media on 31 March 2010, Fair Work Australia has ruled that employees in … Continue reading “Employees’ OHS responsibility and working beyond the maximum hours”
On 15 March 2010, the Australian Government congratulated the winners of, and participants in, the 2009–10 National Work–Life Balance Awards. According to a media release from the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: “The Awards…. recognise family friendly practices like flexible working hours, options for working from home, paid parental leave, job sharing, onsite carer’s … Continue reading “OHS awards consider work/life balance but not vice versa”
There are several initiatives throughout the world under the banner of workplace health that have little relation to work. They are public health initiatives administered through the workplace with, often, a cursory reference to the health benefits also having a productivity benefit. So is a fat worker less safe than a thin worker? Such a general question … Continue reading “Does being fat equate to being unsafe at work?”
In 2007, Pedro Balading fell off the back of a utility vehicle while working in remote outback Australia and died. On 16 March 2010, the owner of the Wollogorang cattle station, Panoy P/L, was fined $A60,000 over the death. According to one media report: “Pedro Balading, a 35-year-old father of three, was a Manila piggeries supervisor who arrived … Continue reading “The fatal consequences of riding in the tray of a pick-up or ute”