In today’s regulated safety environment the need for reliable, effective gas detection has never been so important. New players have seen the opportunity to generate cash by jumping on the confined spaces bandwagon and making detectors, leaving consumers with a bewildering array of choice. So how do you choose?

An asbestos register for apprentices and young workers has been established by a law firm to capture historical information in the unfortunate event of a claim many years after exposure to the hazardous substance.

Working in hot or humid conditions calls for appropriate sweat management programs to ensure workers don’t have to contend with obscured vision or eye irritation from sweat.

A survey conducted at the recent Sydney Safety Show has highlighted the significance of safety as a key element to risk mitigation strategies for businesses in 2011.

Continuing on from our discussion on the impact of human errors with workplace accidents, Part 2 presents guidance on how to make safe behaviour a habit for workers in their workplace.

An Australian Institute of Company Directors survey states that the personal liability aspect of OHS laws is stifling Australian business.

Human error prevention specialist Cristian Sylvestre analyses the human and environmental conditions that frequently lead to workplace accidents and injuries.

The NSW Minerals Council has reacted strongly to the NSW Government’s stance on national OHS harmonisation.

An insurance and risk adviser firm has called on safety professionals to get more involved with senior executives to ensure their companies and management fully comprehend their new responsibilities under the new OHS Act.

Australia’s largest workplace health and safety trade show, The Safety Show Sydney, and Sydney Materials Handling will be held at the Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park from 26 to 28 October 2010.

The Workplace Relations Ministers’ Council has approved model provisions that will be adopted throughout Australia from 1 January 2012 as the Work Health and Safety Act. There have been a number of significant changes to the model Act since the draft was first released for public comment.

I was honoured to be appointed as the new Federal Safety Commissioner in July this year, and I look forward to working closely with stakeholders in the building and construction industry to improve its OHS performance.

Training is a critical factor in ensuring that workers are able to carry out their activities effectively and safely. So, it stands to reason that a question that every purchaser or consumer of training should ask themselves is: “How do I know that I am getting the best training possible?”

There are many categories of safety garments available in the Australian marketplace, designed to protect workers in any number of ways. We can get safety garments that are ‘hi-vis’, weatherproof, thermally insulated, fire-retardant, breathable, fully sealed, heavy-weight cotton drill, and the list goes on. However, there are some common work environments where the level of protection afforded by these ‘general’ levels of protection is not enough.

Australian employers are required by law to provide a safe workplace for not only workers, but for all who visit their facilities. The following extract from a Worksafe Victoria publication outlines a succinct list of rights and responsibilities that employers have, to their workers, contractors, visitors and the workplace itself, with regard to health and safety.