Many Australian newspapers include articles about workplace health in their job ad or professionals sections. On May 3 2014 the Weekend Australia included an article called “Working harder for health“. The article touches on most of the usual elements of such articles individual responsibility; increased productivity; medical screenings; and vaccinations and fruit bowls. But (finally) the interviewee acknowledges …
In late August 2012 at a breakfast seminar, the Director of Construction Code Compliance, Nigel Hadgkiss outlined the 1999 Victorian Code of Practice for the Building and Construction Industry, which complements a 1997 National Code, and recently released implementation guidelines being imposed on many Victorian construction companies by the Liberal Government. The Code and implementation guidelines … Continue reading “Safety culture change through a regulatory-based market mechanism”
Australia is a big country and people work in very remote locations. However OHS obligations do not apply only when it is convenient. The law and duties apply equally wherever work is undertaken. One example of safety improvements for remote work has been illustrated by the Community & Public Sector Union (CPSU). On 10 November … Continue reading “Working remotely does not mean it has to be unsafe”
There is a big push for occupational safety and health decisions to be made on evidence. OHS academics in Australia are particularly big on this and there is considerable validity in the lobbying but as academics can have a vested interest in research, the calls are often dismissed. There is also, around the world, a … Continue reading “Evidence, subjectivity and myth”
Some time ago SafetyAtWorkBlog was critical of OHS regulators releasing swine flu information because the advice was not being easily translated in the workplace, and some of the advice was just silly. Much better advice is available from the New South Wales government however, curiously, the Workplace Guide to Managing Influenza Pandemic has been issued … Continue reading “The latest OHS advice on managing swine flu”
There is some debate today about whether Swine Flu (in deference to the request from some pig farmers, now renamed “the Mexican Flu outbreak of 2009“) has peaked. Colleagues in Asia over the weekend told SafetyAtWorkBlog that in most circles, the Mexican Flu outbreak has not generated the same level of interest, or concern, as … Continue reading “Swine Flu lessons – presenteeism is real”
Everyone knows that we are cleaner for the washing of our hands. The childhood fibs of our parents that potatoes will grow behind our ears if we don’t wash there regularly have been pretty much dismissed. There was little evidence for the benefits of washing behind our ears other than the authority and wisdom of … Continue reading “Handwashing as a risk control”