Below is a quick summary of some workplace incidents that have occured in Australia. Often these sorts of incidents can be useful in reinforcing safe work practices to employees and clients. The Metropolitan Ambulance Service in Victoria reports the following work-related incidents Angle Grinder Blade “…(a) 55 year old man… told us he’d been working with an angle … Continue reading “Recent workplace incidents”
Australia’s Environment Minister, Peter Garrett, has provided a clear indication that, although Julia Gillard may understand OHS, his department does not. In 2009, several installers of domestic insulation died. One died from heat stress from working in the ceiling space, another was electrocuted as the metal staple he was using to install foil insulation pierced an electricity cable. Now the political heat is … Continue reading “Workplace deaths lead to reforms but not of workplace safety”
King Gee recently released a range of work clothing that is manufactured using a technique that reduces the wearer’s body odour. A sample was sent to SafetyAtWorkBlog unrequested. For those tradespeople with a body odour issue, the clothing may be a godsend, maybe more so for the people they have to work with. … Continue reading “Okay, I don’t smell but am I safe?”
Newspapers regularly report of home mechanics being trapped or killed while working under their cars and the jack slips. This type of event is less likely in workplaces because workshops have hoists or pits where work can be undertaken under a fairly stable vehicle. However not all vehicle repair happens in a workshop. On 26 January 2010 a judge in … Continue reading “Inadequate support under a vehicle costs one life and £90,000”
One of the occupations with the clearest need for personal protective equipment (PPE) is that of a firefighter. There are few other industries where PPE has such a high priority in workplace safety but sometimes PPE can still be forgotten. A report on ABC radio and online in Australia on 11 January 2010 shows that … Continue reading “PPE can be a lazy OHS solution”
On 4 November 2009, the United States’ National Toxicology Program (NTP) upgraded formaldehyde to a “known human carcinogen”. This widely used chemical, principally in wood products, has been suspected of being carcinogenic for some time. The suspicion was a major reason why, in Australia, Comcare issued a cautionary safety alert on using some shipping containers … Continue reading “Formaldehyde upgraded to human carcinogen”
For decades OHS professionals have known that the Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR) does not accurately measure the safety performance of an organisation. LTIFR can be manipulated and is responsive to single catastrophic events. The consensus has always been that LTIFR is one indicator of safety improvement but should not be relied upon at … Continue reading “The Senate inquiry into Australia Post should provide important lessons in OHS, HR, RTW and LTIFR”