Soundshield provides protection from acoustic shriek injury caused by sudden exposure to loud noises, which can result in painful ears, hearing loss, vertigo and even anxiety and depression. The device was developed and commercialised through a collaboration between Polaris Communications, an Australian supplier of headset devices into the contact centre industry, and the HEARing Cooperative Research Centre. [ + ]

Through advanced computer modelling of house fires, mechanical engineers at UNSW are giving firefighters a new suite of tools to investigate and battle dangerous blazes - just in time for the high-risk winter months. [ + ]

More than 20 Victorian tradies a week were seriously injured on housing constructions sites last year, costing the industry $17 million in medical costs, wages and other expenses, according to WorkSafe Victoria. WorkSafe Inspector Steve Thornely said the figures could be significantly higher as sole traders do not make claims under WorkSafe’s injury insurance scheme. [ + ]

The Australian Industry Group has announced its opposition of unions’ attempts to reduce casual employment flexibility, with CEO Innes Willox saying the unions’ claims are “not in Australia’s interests”. [ + ]

The 2012 WorkCover NSW SafeWork Awards are open for entries. WorkCover NSW would like to invite you and your organisation to enter. [ + ]

The winners of the 2012 AHRI Diversity Awards will be announced at a Melbourne luncheon this week on 17 May. The awards recognise and celebrate outstanding individuals and organisations, and the contribution they have made to their business and the HR profession in the area of diversity. [ + ]

Australian travel agency Flight Centre is at the centre of a case of corporate workplace bullying, with Maurice Blackburn Lawyers filing action against the company in the Federal Court. Employment Law Principal Josh Bornstein said the action was filed under the Fair Work Act’s adverse action provisions - laws which play an important function in protecting whistleblowers from victimisation and retribution. [ + ]

The Centre for Eye Research Australia has found that more than half of the people presenting to the emergency department for eye damage, caused by metal fragments, were not wearing eye safety glasses at the time of their accident. The injuries were commonly caused by high-velocity impact machining such as metal grinding, welding, repair work and drilling. Work-related eye injuries account for about 3,500 emergency presentations and cost the Victorian community $39 million each year. [ + ]

RCR International has launched a new online store for its Pro-Val range of safety products. To celebrate the launch, the company is offering all customers 15% off all orders placed in the first week (Monday 14 May - Sunday 20 May). [ + ]

The NSCA is accepting nominations for the National Safety Awards of Excellence. The awards are open to any Australian operating business, organisation, alliance or individual in the public or private sector with a workplace health and safety or environment initiative that complies with one of the seven categories. Nominations close 29 June 2012.

New Zealand has recently launched Best Practice Guidelines for Working at Height. The guidelines give clear, simple advice that will help bring down the death and injury toll from avoidable falls in the construction industry. [ + ]

Last week the NSW Minister for Finance and Services Greg Pearce announced a shake-up of the WorkCover Board to address the $4.1 billion deficit and implement a reform agenda following the outcomes of the Parliamentary inquiry. [ + ]

New South Wales miners from the Illawarra/Wollondilly and Hunter Valley regions were reconised at the 2012 NSW Minerals Council OHS Innovation Awards in front of around 550 of their peers. [ + ]

Protective solutions company Ansell has concluded its acquisition of the Trelleborg Protective Products (TPP) business. Ansell will operate the former Trelleborg business under the name Ansell Protective Solutions (APS), and as part of its Specialty Markets Global Business Unit. [ + ]

The former sole director of a retail company has been fined $11,000 after the Federal Magistrates Court found he presided over “seriously reckless” employment practices. [ + ]