Articles
Status of OHS in Australian construction
The Office of the Federal Safety Commissioner recently released its ‘Biannual Report July to December 2009’, an analysis on OHS data collected from reports from accredited construction companies for the second half of the 2009 calendar year.
[ + ]Is your roof as safe as you think it is?
It seems that in a world dominated by social and corporate responsibility, little of this goodwill is cascading down to the operational grassroots of roof maintenance and inspection work. Either that, or initial good intentions are being changed or diluted by people with little regard for people’s safety or insufficient experience to make good decisions about roof safety.
[ + ]The path to a safety culture
I find it interesting that many executives that I’ve met over the years say “I want a strong safety culture in my organisation”, but when I enquire about their goal, most can’t explain what safety culture is, and even fewer know how to achieve it.
[ + ]Hand protection research responds to global needs
The development of new gloves and other hand protection products is expanding to a global focus, drawing feedback on needs of users in many diverse industries from around the globe.
[ + ]WorkCover NSW launches program to stamp out workplace bullying
WorkCover NSW is stepping up the fight against workplace bullying with a new awareness campaign.
[ + ]European survey shows gaps in dealing with work-related stress
A recent European workplace health and safety survey shows that there are many concerns over work-related stress, but few companies are in a position to deal with it.
[ + ]What will the Victorian accident compensation reform mean for your business?
The reform of workers compensation legislation in Victoria will impact employers and their employees in a number of ways.
[ + ]Does human error cause accidents?
‘Human error’ is often associated with workplace accidents. But is that really the cause or is it more a case of ‘human action’?
[ + ]Two-pronged approach to tackle long-distance trucking fatigue
Following a recent series of tragic road incidents involving heavy vehicles, the NSW government launched a campaign to encourage heavy vehicle companies and drivers to take greater responsibility for road safety.
[ + ]Glass prescription safety glasses outlawed
An Australian eye-wear manufacturer suggests that many employers have been ‘blind’ to changes to the Australian standard for prescription eye protection.
[ + ]Emerging risks and new forms of prevention in a changing world of work
The International Labour Organisation’s ‘World Day for Safety and Health at Work’ focuses on emerging risks and new forms of prevention in the ever-changing workplace.
[ + ]Aussies are ‘best dressed’ in PPE, but keep falling over
Australian workers rate among the best dressed in the world with safety clothing and ancillary items; but when it comes to striding out, they have a habit of falling over!
[ + ]Your test returned a positive result, sir
Drug and alcohol testing is one of the most contentious issues in the workplace - detection versus impairment, employees’ rights versus employers’ responsibilities, ensuring worker safety versus dictating workers’ lifestyles, just to name a few of the issues. Despite the polarised views that often exist towards drugs and alcohol in the workplace and testing for them, there are important practical issues that must be understood and addressed to ensure the workplace is safe and fair.
[ + ]Increasing sustainable production with safety
The global imperative for companies to operate in a socially responsible manner is driving the interest in sustainable production. Here, a key area that can influence success is safety. Marcia Walker, Program Manager, Rockwell Automation and Dan Hornbeck, Safety Market Development Manager, take a closer look.
[ + ]Seven steps to maximising safety and profits
Safety and profitability can and should coexist in every company, even in industries like mining and construction, where hazards are a daily issue for workers and production schedules are critical to management. For safety and profitability to successfully coexist, it is essential for the people who employ workers in these fields to understand that an outstanding safety record is directly linked to the company’s bottom line.
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