Why is a government workers’ compensation agency promoting first aid when a different agency has had that role for over twenty years? And why do the program’s first aid kits contain commercial products that are no more effective in the first aid treatment of burns than water from the tap? On May 12 2011, WorkCover SA launched, … Continue reading “The Commercial Kitchens Campaign needs further examination”
In early 2010, Australia’s Heads of Workplace Safety Authorities (HWSA) established a trans-Tasman working party to look at the safety issues of quad bikes, often called all-terrain vehicles. The working group is in the final stages of its report and a major motorcycle industry representative has not liked the findings and has apparently withdrawn from the working group. A report on … Continue reading “Quad bike manufacturers walk out of safety working group”
Col Finnie has provided the following article in response to OHS compliance checklists: It’s gotta be time to bite-the-bullet. The wish-fulfilment approach – that people will apply some sort of system to how they look after safety because that’s the only sensible way to do it – well, that’s not working, particularly it seems, in the … Continue reading “Regulating The Great Leap Forward (Into The Bleeding Obvious)”
Lawyer Andrew Douglas’ latest article for SmartCompany illustrates the conflicting approach to the enforcement of alcohol and drug policies in workplaces. Douglas illustrates the constant struggle for business operators between employment law and safety law, workplace relations and human resources. Case law has progressed the management of human capital more quickly than has safety management … Continue reading “Australian Governments’ flawed strategy on new OHS laws”
Victoria, Australia, had a State Coroner who trailblazed on the issue of workplace safety for well over a decade. Graeme Johnstone saw the coroner’s role as improving the quality of life of the community by examining its failures. Victoria’s current coroner, Jennifer Coate, seems to be continuing Johnstone’s work and addressed the crowd at Melbourne’s … Continue reading “State Coroner speaks at Workers’ Memorial”
Recent attention on the presentation of the Crimes Amendment (Bullying) Bill 2011 to the Victorian Parliament has, understandably, focussed on the changes to the criminal code. However some of that attention should also have been given to the existing rules and control measures under workplace law, particularly considering that the proposed amendments, commonly referred to … Continue reading “Brodie’s Law on bullying needs more consideration for workplace application”
Online newspaper, Indaily, has released a report by DeakinPrime which summarises a November 2010 summit conference on workers compensation. DeakinPrime facilitated the summit InDaily focuses on the following criticisms, amongst others, from the report: a silo approach by Workcover the lack of feedback injured workers were not the prime consideration of Workcover politicisation was leading … Continue reading “Online media slams Workcover SA report”