Research by Australia’s most prominent ergonomist may make the committee rethink the standard AS1657. [ + ]

PPE companies Bata Company and Hutchwilco have both had their products certified with Bureau Veritas ‘S’ mark certification. [ + ]

More than 2700 people will be diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer and 450 more will die this summer, according to a top Australian dermatologist. [ + ]

Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories and the University of New Mexico are comparing supercomputer simulations of blast waves on the brain with clinical studies of veterans suffering from mild traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) to help improve helmet designs. [ + ]

Older North American farmers work fewer hours than their younger peers but spend more time operating heavy machinery and equipment - raising their risk of serious injury, according to new research from the University of Alberta. [ + ]

Sitemed managed the health and medical needs of Downer EDI staff working on an NT rail project by creating an on-site medical centre and mobile response service. [ + ]

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. [ + ]

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. [ + ]

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. [ + ]

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. [ + ]