OHS REPS @ WORK

Issue 127 - SafetyNet Journal 127

Welcome to SafetyNet 127 – your source for all the latest OHS news from Victoria, Australia and the world.  Feel free to pass this news on to your fellow workers and other reps.

If you want a hard copy of the newsletter, just go ahead and print it – with our new site it will be automatically ‘Print Friendly’

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Union News
Research
WorkSafe News
Worksafe Prosecutions
International News
Events

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Union News

Activities for reps

An interview with OHS Representative of the Year – Tarek Soueid
Tarek Soueid was announced as the OHS Representative of the year at the 19th Annual WorkSafe Awards Dinner on Tuesday 23 October 2007. Tarek has been an OHS Rep for eight years and in that time has worked hard to build a culture that recognises health and safety as a crucial part of the workplace.
He tells his story to SafetyNet

IDSA October newsletter online
The Industrial Deaths Support and Advocacy Inc (IDSA) October newsletter is on their website. The newsletter has a number of interesting items including updates on the OHS regulation review and news from around the network. 

IDSA has also produced a DVD, The Impact of Workplace Deaths,  which shares the stories of several families who’ve experienced losing a loved one through a workplace death. The DVD encourages people to speak up about their experiences and includes valuable information especially relevant to young workers heading into workforce. Contact IDSA for a free copy.
 
OHS Reps Conference materials available online
A range of materials from the VTHC health and Safety Reps’ Conference are now on the website including speakers notes and panel discussions as well as presentations on fatigue, drug and alcohol impairment, the Zero Occupational Cancer campaign, and OHS negotiating and communicating with members.
 
New resource for meatworkers
The AMIEU has developed a Guide to the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The booklet fits into your pocket and helps the reps to know their rights giving examples from abattoirs, boning rooms, retail meat and smallgoods manufacture. Meat workers can get copies of the guide from the AMIEU via email amieuvic@bigpond.com or phone 03 9662 3766.
 
New Hazards section on Nanotechnology
The OHS Reps site now has a new Hazards section on nanotechnology. Nanotechnology refers to the production and use of tiny nano-scale particles. These are particles that are less than one hundred nanometres or about one thousandth the width of a human hair. A nanometre is one billionth of a metre.

Currently there is no regulation in Australia. There is widespread concern, both locally and internationally, about the potential harmful impacts of nanomaterials on worker health and the general community. Learn more about this important issue. 

Return to Work training courses
The VTHC Return to Work provides training to workers and their representatives. The training includes practical tools, information and advice about injured workers’ rights to return to works.
Courses will be held throughout November and December.
See the VTHC website for more details.

Asbestos news

Unions celebrate win for asbestos sufferers in Alimta campaign
The intense campaign by unions and asbestos support groups has been successful: Mesothelioma sufferers are to get cheaper access to the treatment drug Alimta via the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). 

The decision by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee comes a week after noted anti-asbestos campaigner and mesothelioma sufferer, Bertie Banton, and others  attempted to hand Health Minister Tony Abbott a petition calling for the listing. At the time Mr Abbott was forced to apologise for questioning Mr Banton’s integrity. Martin Kingham, CFMEU National Assistant Secretary and Tony Medina, former CFMEU organiser and Victorian asbestos campaigner were also part of this delegation.

Read more about the significant win in the Alimta campaign.

Tell Canada to stop exporting asbestos
While most developed countries, including the European Union and Australia have banned asbestos, Canada persists in exporting the substance to the world. The World Health Organization (WHO), the International Labour Organization, the Canadian Cancer Society and other respected organisations have called for a ban on all forms of asbestos. But instead of banning asbestos, the Canadian government uses tax-payers dollars and Canadian embassies to actively promote the sale of asbestos around the world.
You can take action; join the campaign to call on the Canadian government to stop exporting asbestos. 
 
US moves one step closer to asbestos ban
October 4th, 2007 marked an important milestone in the battle against asbestos poisoning in the US. By unanimous vote, the US Senate passed SB 742, the Ban Asbestos in America Act of 2007. This bill, which many activists and advocacy groups have worked long and hard to realize, would bring us one step closer to banning asbestos in products in America.

The bill calls for mandatory testing of products by the government to identify where asbestos is to be found, funding for medical research under the Department of Defense and civilian departments, establishment of a medical database on asbestos related diseases, and public education on these issues. The bill allows exemptions only for NASA and the military and temporary exemptions for one type of chlorine production facility and crushed stone production.
 
Asbestos Awareness Week: November 26 – 30
The last week of November each year is Asbestos Awareness Week.  The theme for this year is Asbestos: Towards a Coordinated Approach.

The focus is to remind workers and community members that all forms of asbestos, including asbestos dust, is 'unfinished business' requiring a coordinated approach.
There will be a range of events and commemorative services taking place over the week.  Read more .

Gillard talks up new OHS agenda

Shadow Workplace Minister Julia Gillard has promised that a federal Labor government would “sit around the table and get it done” with the states when it comes to OHS issues. Speaking at the Sydney Safety Conference, Ms Gillard said the ALP will harmonise standards and cut red tape for businesses over the next five years.

She also promised a moratorium on companies seeking self-insurance licences under Comcare, as Comcare had weakened health and safety standards. The ASCC will also be replaced with an independent and non-adversarial body to conduct OHS data analysis and research.
Source: OHN 757

OHS losing out under WorkChoices
Evidence is mounting on WorkChoices negative impact on OHS, with another study finding employers are refusing to address OHS issues and workers have been left feeling ‘disposable’.  An independent SA inquiry into WorkChoices has revealed there may be a gradual decline in OHS standards due to a reduced level of union sponsored OHS training and that employees feel ‘inhibited’ in raising safety issues. Initiated by the State Government in March the inquiry’s final report  handed down last week says there is ‘cause for concern’ that OHS standards will fall because union sponsored OHS training is now prohibited content in a workplace agreement.
This follows the study reported in the last SafetyNet conducted by Victoria’s employment rights legal centre JobWatch which analysed responses from a selection of callers (527) to the centre’s telephone advice line since the commencement of WorkChoices in March 2006.  This study found that workers report feeling disposable and marked increases in stress related issues.
 
Funding announced for ABC cancer cluster study
A new study into the ABC cancer cluster at the broadcaster’s former Brisbane headquarters will receive $200,000 funding. The National Breast Cancer Foundation has set aside the money for the research which is to be conducted by the Queensland University of Technology, the Queensland Institute of Medical Research and the University of Queensland. The two-year study will begin in December and look at the genetic make-up of breast tumours from the women who worked at the Toowong studios. The site was shut down after a report found that there was a significant increase in the incidence rate of breast cancer at the site. Source: OHNews

International union news

European unions dismayed at postponement of EMF law delay
A law intended to protect workers from the health risks of exposure to electromagnetic fields has been delayed by four years in a move that has dismayed UK and European unions. The European Commission decision came as the law could restrict the use MRI scanners.

The UK’s TUC believes the MRI issue could have been dealt with without losing what should have been seen as solely a workplace health and safety issue. Hugh Robertson, head of health and safety at the TUC, says it is a disappointment to all those who have campaigned on the issue and the decision will put millions of workers at risk.
Electromagnetic radiation has been linked to a range of occupational cancers. Read more on the risks of EMR.
Source Risks 329  
 
Call for Urgent Global Action on Toxic Food Flavouring Ingredient Diacetyl
The union representing Food, Farm and Hotel Workers World-Wide, the IUF, is calling for government regulatory authorities around the world to take urgent action to control the use of the food flavouring chemical diacetyl. Used as an ingredient in artificial butter flavours, diacetyl has been shown to cause serious and even fatal illnesses in workers exposed to it in the manufacturing process. Evidence has linked diacetyl to the crippling lung disease bronchiolitis obliterans, now widely known in the US as "popcorn workers lung."

Due to insufficient regulatory and labelling requirements, the full extent of worker exposure in food manufacturing in the US and around the world is not known. However in the European Union, the IUF has uncovered an alarming pattern of complacency and denial of responsibility in the face of this dangerous threat to worker health.
Read more about the campaign here .

Research

Safety specialists cut accidents: Research shows

New research demonstrates that the more an organisation invests in safety specialists, the safer the organisation becomes, according to new research from Scotland. The research commissioned by safety professionals' organisation IOSH and carried out by Glasgow Caledonian University researchers also found organisations where health and safety personnel vet sub-contractors have an accident rate almost 60 per cent lower than in those that don't.
Dr Iain Cameron, Dr Billy Hare and Dr Roy Duff, from Glasgow Caledonian University, analysed data from 101 contractors in the construction industry employing over 200,000 workers. The research is the first of its kind in the UK.
IOSH News Release Source: Risks 330

WorkSafe News

Free Schools OHS Solutions Workshop

WorkSafe Victoria has extended an invitation to all school principals, managers, Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) management nominees and Occupational Health and Safety Representatives across government and non-government schools to attend and participate in an OHS solutions workshop. There will be two workshops - Workshop 1: Thursday 6 December 2007 in Bendigo and Workshop 2: Friday 7 December 2007 in Preston.
For further information please contact the WorkSafe Advisory line on 1800 136 089 or visit the WorkSafe website.
 
New Licence to Perform High Risk Work
Do you operate high risk equipment? There’s a new Licence to Perform High Risk Work.
The safety laws that allow you to operate forklifts, cranes, boom lifts and other high risk equipment have changed.  As a result, you need to transfer from your existing ticket to the new “Licence to Perform High Risk Work”.

The new licence is being introduced to align with national safety standards, improve interstate recognition of your skills and better protect against fraud by incorporating your photo into the licence. 

First time applicants should contact an authorised license assessor to book in a test.
Transferring to the new licence is simple, all existing tickets will expire between 31 January 2008 and 30 June 2012, depending on when they were first issued.  You do not need to re-qualify or be re-assessed if you transfer to the new licence before your current ticket expires. To transfer to the new licence, or for more information, go to the  this page on the VWA website or call WorkSafe on 1800 136 089.
 
Victoria moves into the pre-Christmas death zone
WorkSafe is urging Victorian employers, supervisors and workers to do all they can to prevent serious injuries and deaths before Christmas. There were five fatalities in November and three in December 2006. Twenty fatalities have been reported to WorkSafe so far this year. WorkSafe media release .

Worksafe Prosecutions

Chairlift operators fined $110,000

A County Court judge has said sabotage was an ‘unlikely’ cause of the 2004 Arthurs Seat safety incident in which an elderly woman’s legs were crushed when a chair slid down the cable and crashed into another. This despite attempts by the company to cite sabotage as a reason for the collapse.

The judge said inadequate maintenance was more likely before convicting and fining the Arthurs Seat Scenic Chairlift Pty Ltd $110,000. The company pleaded guilty to one charge laid under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1985. WorkSafe’s investigation found few bolts holding the chairs to the cable were correctly tightened and that scheduled monthly checks were three weeks late at the time of the crash.
 
Two timber industry companies fined $80,000 
WorkSafe has issued a safety warning to the timber industry after two companies were fined due to incidents caused by lack of guarding and not keeping pedestrians and forklifts separate.
Associated Kiln Driers Pty Ltd was fined $50,000 for two incidents, one where a worker was struck by a forklift and another incident which happened only nine days later while clearing a blockage on a conveyor.

Shelton Timber Treatment Co. Pty Ltd was fined $30,000 after a worker was dragged into the unguarded in-feed rollers of a post peeler.

International News

ILO Forum on Decent Work for a Fair Globalization

Political and opinion leaders from around the globe met in Lisbon, Portugal from 31 October to 2 November 2007 to discuss the role of decent work as the key to economic, social and environmental sustainability and a fair and inclusive globalization. The ILO forum was one of the most substantive and wide-ranging discussions on fair and inclusive globalisation and decent work. The Forum follows three years on from the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalisation and brought together policy makers to report on the key areas of core labour standards, corporate social responsibility, global framework agreements, UN reform, and a multilateral framework for labour migration.
Read more

China: Dozens die in shoe factory fire
A fire in an unlicensed shoe factory in Fujian province, China, killed 37 people and critically injuring many more on October 21. This is the latest industrial disaster in the in the world’s fourth-largest economy where 320 people are killed every day in work-related accidents. Fujian province is the home to one of the densest concentrations of sweatshops on the Chinese mainland. Officials have had little success in improving workplace safety, partly as the incentives to crack down on illegal operators are low compared with the economic benefits they bring. Risks 329

Chinese workers lose their lives producing goods for America
A journalist from the Salt Lake Tribune has produced a powerful series on occupational health in China. The series American Imports, Chinese Lives focuses on Chinese workers who make goods for American manufacturers. The reporter visited more than 25 factories and observed first-hand how Chinese workers routinely risk their health and sometimes their lives making products for export to the United States and other countries. 
Read the full series        
 
US: NIOSH booklet on ergonomics in the construction industry
From NIOSH (USA) an excellent booklet on ergonomics in the construction industry. Simple Solutions: Ergonomics for Construction Workers the entire booklet  is available for download and offers quality information on the topic.

Events

Trade Union Family Race Day – November 11

10th Anniversary; Sunday 11 November at 11am
Cranbourne Race Club, Grant Street Cranbourne
Free BBQ lunch , Victorian Athletics League Races, Children’s entertainment, including rides, roving clowns, face painters and jumping castles and the Jelly Bugs will also be performing.
More details  
 
Sex Workers  - November 14
The School of Population Health is holding a seminar on sex worker health to be conducted by Professor Christopher Fairley, Chair of Sexual Health, Melbourne School of Population Health & Director, Melbourne Sexual Health Centre.
Date:   Wednesday 14 November 2007
Venue:  Seminar Room 515, Level 5, 207 Bouverie Street, Carlton
Time:   Seminar 12.30 - 1.30pm  (Lunch 12 noon – 12.30pm)
All welcome - RSVP not required.
A seminar flyer with full details is available online

Big Day Out Against Racism – November 17
The Western suburbs RACISM NO Community Festival in support of African communities in Australia and the March for Multiculturalism will now happen on Saturday November 17. The March will start at 1pm at the State Library and participants will then be invited to attend the Festival in Footscray, starting 4pm.
The Community Festival will be held at  Victoria University, Nicholson Street Campus, Corner Nicholson & Buckley Streets, Footscray
 
Training at Trades Hall
There’s still time to register for courses before the end of the year and to start thinking about courses in the new year.  Go to the training section of the website to check the courses scheduled at the VTHC OHS Training Unit. 
 
Contact Judith Rodda on 03 9663 5460 for more information either scheduled courses or what we can do for your workplace, and to enrol.