Some day, your car and the roadway could be in constant communication and able to suggest route changes to avoid accidents, construction and congestion; coordinate your vehicle with traffic lights, other vehicles and lane markers; and let you know where you can park. Right now, a fleet of instrumented vehicles is testing these systems on two instrumented test beds - one in Northern Virginia and one in Southwestern Virginia. [ + ]

Noisy workplaces can be costly, both economically and physically, so all care should be taken to try and reduce the noise before it affects workers’ health, says WorkCover NSW. [ + ]

Shock resistance is the great benefit of safety glass. However, the cut of the glass pane can make this difficult: with conventional processes, only straight cuts are possible. Yet a newly developed method makes it possible to apply any cutting technique. Researchers displayed an undulating-cut pane of safety glass at the Glasstec trade fair in Düsseldorf. [ + ]

Social media channels provide a new, rich source of information from which disaster managers and emergency response agencies can obtain real-time awareness of developing situations. CSIRO has created Emergency Situation Awareness (ESA) software to detect unusual behaviour in the Twitter stream and alert users in the emergency services when a disaster event is being broadcast online. [ + ]

The recent classification of diesel emission as a carcinogenic by the World Health Organization signals the need for Australian mining operations to review their mine ventilation risks and immediately implement any necessary actions that reduce the contingent health risk for Australian underground mining personnel. [ + ]

The acceptable amount of mould in Adelaide workplaces has been officially set for the first time following a collaborative scientific study by Flinders and Adelaide University. [ + ]

Cylinders storing carbon dioxide and nitrogen - which are used to carbonate beer and soft drinks - can be dangerous if they develop leaks, particularly when stored in enclosed spaces like cellars and cool rooms. [ + ]

Many modern workplaces involve exposing the workforce to hazards such as noise, noxious gases, dusts, fumes, etc. [ + ]

Cleaning and maintenance of respirators is important but sometimes overlooked - respiratory equipment must be in good condition to work effectively and supply the required level of protection. Respirators should be checked before each use and fitted correctly. For reusable types, after use they should be cleaned and inspected to ensure they are in good working order and ready for the next use. [ + ]

Designing or modifying buildings and communities to facilitate physical activity must include strategies to maximise safety. The ‘Active Design Supplement: Promoting Safety’ report provides explicit guidelines for urban planners, architects, public health advocates and others to consider when promoting active designs. [ + ]

Master Electricians Australia (MEA) has urged Sydney contractors and tradies to remain diligent with electrical safety precautions following two separate incidents late last week where one man received burns to 90% of his body and another man died. [ + ]

Optimum Handling Solutions provided a number of custom 300 kg lift and tilt work platforms for national power board manufacturing company at its facility in Sydney. [ + ]

An Enerpac gantry lifting system was deployed by Tutt Bryant Heavy Lift & Shift to deliver generators to a power station in Alice Springs, Northern Territory. [ + ]

In the early days of the industrial revolution, labour was cheap and there was little regard for pain and suffering of injured workers. In more recent times, we have evolved through changes in social attitudes, placing more value on people who work with machines. These changes ensure that we continue to develop safeguarding measures for existing and new machinery. The challenge is to continue to improve the existing safety of machinery and also, as we make advances in technology, any new hazards need to be managed in a way that aligns with what is expected from the modern-day employer. [ + ]

Same-level workplace falls have accounted for nearly 20% of all recorded injuries in NSW workplaces. WorkCover NSW has provided ways to reduce these falls. [ + ]