Western Australia recently prosecuted a company over an incident where a worker was blinded in one eye by a nail that ricocheted from a nail gun. According to a WorkSafeWA media release: “The injured contractor was using a nail gun to attach steel holding straps to roof timbers. The nail gun had been purchased 12 … Continue reading “Nail gun incident results in $25k fine and lifelong blindness”
The Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) on Australia’s Work Health and Safety laws has been released and will be available through the Safe Work Australia website shortly (probably today given the media attention). Much attention will be given to the cost estimates of the laws’ introduction but the 336-page RIS seen by SafetyAtWorkBlog emphasises in the … Continue reading “Safety costs of harmonised laws revealed”
According to a media release from Senator Chris Evans, the Australian Minister for Workplace Relations, the Regulatory Impact Statement for the new OHS regulations will be released today, 14 September 2011. The release is not yet publicly available on-line so the full text is included below: New health and safety regulations to boost national productivity “Historic health and safety … Continue reading “Regulatory Impact Statement to be released on 14 September 2011”
A recent article on workplace bullying by the CEO of Diversity Council Australia, Nareen Young, is a good introduction to the issue but, as with many other articles on the issue, the content requires careful consideration. One statistical resource used on workplace bullying articles is the very important and influential March 2010 Productivity Commission (PC) … Continue reading “Workplace bullying statistics remain muddy”
Australia’s Comcare agency has identified a “54% increase in mental stress claims” since 2006-2007. This is of great concern to the agency, which covers the OHS and compensation needs of Australian government agencies and others, as Work Health and Safety General Manager, Neil Quarmby, outlines in a media release on 21 July 2011. Quarmby states “Clearly this trend could … Continue reading “Noticeable increase in workplace mental stress claims”
Medical research rarely provides definitive answers to occupational hazards. What research provides are clues. These clues lead to additional research which, over time, can generate answers and solutions. But OHS specialists often do not have the luxury of waiting for an answer before taking some action to reduce risk and harm and often the clues … Continue reading “Occupational Medicine provides OHS clues”
Workplace health and safety made the front cover of the Australian Financial Review on 1 July 2011 (once the liftoff financial special cover was thrown away). When this happens there is a serious issue to be dealt with or it is a beat-up. Today’s article entitled “Danger: work safety laws just got stricter” (not accessible … Continue reading “Conservative media begins to examine new OHS laws”