Most of us would agree that there is no place for illicit drugs in the workplace. However, testing for drug use in the workplace remains a hotly debated topic. Proponents say it reduces risks in the workplace, while opponents say it is an imposition on workers’ private lives. Amidst the extremes, there has to be a workable solution.

The European Commission has extended the deadline for the transition from standard EN 954-1 to standards EN ISO 13849-1 and EN/IEC 62061. Gary Milburn, Rockwell Automation Area Manager - Safety, explores the implications to Australia’s industrial community.

BPO Ltd of Hamilton, New Zealand, environmental consultants, purchased a confined space harness, rig and gas detector back in 2001 because it was a requirement of one of their clients. The company undertook confined space training to the AS/NZS standards for the same reason. BPO saw the equipment and procedures more as a competitive edge rather than as a necessity and, for this reason, always followed the procedures and used the equipment. The equipment was always looked after and inspection certificates were kept current. At the time, many companies regarded the whole confined space thing as a bit of an overreaction to the Aquatec disaster in Auckland.

In most states, the law points to six-monthly inspections of anchor points and static lines but the answer in your circumstances might not be quite so straightforward.

A new safety initiative developed by the Australian Reinforcing Company has resulted in no lost-time injuries at the company’s Victorian and Tasmanian sites.

Ahead of his presentation at the Safety Institute of Australia’s Safety in Action conference in April, a leading workplace safety lawyer contends that the only way to get money out of a CEO for business that’s otherwise been ignored for OHS is to create a slogan that’s appealing to the CEO.

The advent of the discovery of oil and consequently all the by-products of oil (fuels, lubricants, solvents) used in modern society has been highlighted as one of the greatest advances of the industrialised period. Unfortunately this white cloud also has a darker lining. When fuel and by-products (hydrocarbons) are spilt, leak or worse still dumped into drainage systems the potential for explosion, fire or poisoning is significant. Contamination can also occur from stormwater runoff where low levels of hydrocarbons aggregate to form a hydrocarbon layer over water.

WorkCover NSW has published new guidelines for injury management consultants.

New mine safety laws for Tasmania came into effect on 28 February 2011.

WorkSafe has issued an eleventh-hour reminder to businesses and workers to comment on the model Work Health and Safety Regulations before the public comment period closes on 4 April.

Safety switches are widely recognised as vital to making electrical systems in business and residential premises all over the world. In recent years, safety switches have been mandated by the Wiring Rules for inclusion in all new electrical installations in Australia. But what about existing electrical systems - shouldn’t they be mandated to be equipped with safety switches as well?

The Safety In Action and Melbourne Materials Handling expos return to Melbourne from 5 to 7 April 2011, offering a range of safety solutions that goes well beyond personal protective equipment and high-tech automation; they also encompass a comprehensive source of expert knowledge.

Too many people still have the misconception that the dangers associated with working at height can be removed simply by wearing a fall-restraint harness. But that’s completely wrong, as two height-safety subject matter experts point out. In this article, they show that there is much more than just harnesses to take into consideration in keeping workers safe at height.

Under the existing and soon-to-be-released new workplace health and safety regulations, employers are obligated to ensure their workplaces are safe. While the focus of that responsibility has largely been on the workplace itself, work practices, safety systems and education, compliance to these regulations extends beyond just the workplace - it encompasses staff attitudes and their propensity to safety. But how do employers ensure the staff they recruit are going to be safe?

TAFE SA is a network of three independent institutes that provide vocational education and training in South Australia, to an average of 80,000 students in courses ranging from building and furnishing to engineering and transport. Part of South Australia’s Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology, TAFE SA plays a key role in the development of the state’s workforce and community. In building South Australia’s skill base, the institutes work with industry and business to deliver relevant vocational training to better link skills and training with job opportunities, ensuring sustainable employment within the state. This means offering the best possible quality of teaching and searching for ways to update their services.