There have been a number of recent unfair dismissal cases involving the termination of the employment of employees because of what employees have said on social media websites. These cases, including the two referred to below, have highlighted that without a clear social media policy, employees may be confused about what they can and cannot write on social media websites. This may lead to employees making comments which results in them losing their jobs and employers facing costly litigation and negative publicity where they seek to take action against these employees. [ + ]

Working within confined spaces poses many risks to health and safety. Each year, many people are seriously injured or killed due to adverse conditions in confined spaces. Although it is not always possible to prevent these incidents, employers have a duty to minimise the health and safety risks associated with working in confined spaces. [ + ]

Occupational cancers reportedly claim 600,000 lives a year - one life every 52 seconds. While work-related cancers are not easily identifiable, it is estimated that around 5000 cancers a year in Australia can be attributed to occupational exposure to carcinogens. [ + ]

Statistics indicate that return to work rates have not improved in Australia over the past five years. In recent years, the focus of research internationally has been in two areas: what workplaces could do to better support people who have been unwell to return to work; and what we can do to empower workers to have more control in the return to work process. [ + ]

The recent and unfortunate death of a wheel fitter in New South Wales, Australia, as a result of the explosion of a container handling reach stacker, five-piece split rim wheel assembly, has highlighted the dangers of using pneumatic tyres on mobile equipment. [ + ]

In a bid to reduce workplace accidents, improve workplace safety standards and performance, Decmil Australia formulated the SHIELD (safety and health in every level at Decmil) initiative. The primary objective of the program was to drive the behaviours, attitudes, decisions and actions required of all individuals within the business to achieve a working environment that is free from injury or incident. The purpose was to create a safety culture within the business that accepts nothing less than this objective. [ + ]

Hydratight’s updated Emergency Pipeline Repair System (EPRS) is designed to offer better disaster planning and contingency services to operators and contractors in the oil and gas industry. The EPRS provides a way for operators and installation contractors to meet their pipeline contingency needs with greater urgency. [ + ]

WorkCover NSW is urging all businesses and workers to take extreme care while using forklifts following a number of recent serious incidents where workers have had forklift loads fall onto them. [ + ]

SuccessFactors has released a white paper titled ‘Workforce Planning Pitfalls’. The paper provides six tips on how to deliver the workforce of the future, and discusses how this workforce can help achieve consistent business success. [ + ]

A WorkSafe Victoria project, underway until the end of June, is targeting the safety of delivery drivers, with safety inspectors visiting company offices, distribution centres and places where items are being delivered. [ + ]

Alert Disaster Control (Asia), a Singapore-headquartered global emergency response and integrated risk management solutions service company, has signed a contract with Konecranes that helps the company keep the vital lifting equipment on its training vessel Alert 1 - Sri Kresna in working order. [ + ]

In keeping with an election campaign commitment, the Equal Opportunity For Women In The Workplace Amendment Bill 2012 was introduced into the House of Representatives on 1 March 2012. Its focus is to improve workplace participation and flexibility, recognising that equal remuneration, and family and carer responsibilities are central to the achievement of gender equality. Importantly, it highlights that these issues are not only for women, but men also. [ + ]

A Safety Alert has been released by NSW Trade & Investment after a major plant fire broke out at an above ground mine. Rob Regan, Director of the Department’s Mine Safety Operations Branch, has asked that the alert and knowledge of its contents is distributed to all relevant parties in mining companies. It should also be placed on the mine’s noticeboard. [ + ]

Noise-induced hearing damage and industrial deafness are major health and safety issues for employers and employees. In addition, they represent permanent disabilities for the worker, which increases workers compensation premiums and replacement and training costs. [ + ]

The Kingsgrove to Revesby Quadruplication (K2RQ) Alliance is using a different, more personalised approach to safety training and coaching on its project to expand rail capacity on the East Hills line in Sydney’s south. Working with specialist safety coaching and training organisation PaQS (People & Quality Solutions), K2RQ is focusing on empowering personnel to take personal responsibility for their actions on-site. [ + ]