SafetyNet Journal

Prosecutions

Posted on 22 July 2020

Victoria: Large food manufacturer enters into $1m Enforceable Undertaking George Weston Foods Limited (GWF), a large scale food manufacturer, produces Don and KR Castlemaine smallgoods...

Regulator news

Posted on 22 July 2020

Safe Work Australia COVID-19 Information for workplaces There is a lot of information for workplaces on the SWA website - for specific industries, case studies,...

Research

Posted on 22 July 2020

Research on when workers should be wearing masks Researchers from the UK's Institute of Occupational Medicine, say the current advice and knowledge around COVID-19 make...

Union News

Posted on 22 July 2020

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update According to the latest figures, there are 12,894 cases of coronavirus disease diagnosed in Australia - an increase of 2,014 since last...

Prosecutions

Posted on 15 July 2020

Aged care operator fined $10k after resident dies as a result of burns Aged Care Group Pty Ltd (ACG) operates nine aged care facilities across...

Regulator news

Posted on 15 July 2020

Victorian news Face Masks now required for Aged care workers An announcement that aged care staff who work in residential facilities or provide home care...

Research

Posted on 15 July 2020

Europe: Chemical restrictions drive use of safer substances Replacing harmful chemicals with safer alternatives and greener technologies is strongly driven by regulation, with companies reporting...

Union News

Posted on 15 July 2020

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update As of this morning, there had been 10,880 cases of coronavirus disease diagnosed in Australia - an increase of 1,607 since last week,...

Prosecutions

Posted on 8 July 2020

t appears that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there have not been any prosecutions during this period, and consequently no update to prosecution outcomes in...

Regulator news

Posted on 8 July 2020

WorkSafe Victoria New Safety Alert: Rock fall hits worker Worksafe has issued a reminder about the importance of managing the risks associated with rock falls whilst...

Research

Posted on 8 July 2020

Controversy over how COVID-19 spreads COVID-19 has been considered as a droplet transmitted disease by WHO, which means that it can be prevented using surgical...

Union News

Posted on 8 July 2020

Fatality in Bendigo A fifty year old man was killed in an industrial incident a Thales site in North Bendigo at about 7.30 am on...

International News

Posted on 1 July 2020

South Korea: Workplace focus for second wave of infections Health officials in South Korea believe the country is going through a second wave of coronavirus...

Prosecutions

Posted on 1 July 2020

It appears that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there have not been any prosecutions during this period, and consequently no update to prosecution outcomes in...

Regulator news

Posted on 1 July 2020

NSW news New Silica strategy The NSW Government’s Silicosis Reduction Strategy has come into effect today, July 1. The strategy introduces a comprehensive series of reforms which aime...

Research

Posted on 1 July 2020

Coronavirus spreads more easily than other viruses Measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus should have been more stringent because modelling was based on...

Union News

Posted on 1 July 2020

Workplace manslaughter: a criminal offence in Victoria Workplace manslaughter today became a criminal offence in Victoria with tough new laws introduced by the Andrews Labor...

Events

Posted on 24 June 2020

TONIGHT Wednesday 24 June: Dangerous Goods Advisory Group meeting The DGAG bimonthly meeting is a general networking/discussion update meeting, open to all, to discuss issues...

International News

Posted on 24 June 2020

England: WHO warns against relaxing lockdown England’s coronavirus lockdown should not be further lifted until the government’s contact-tracing system has proven to be “robust and...

Prosecutions

Posted on 24 June 2020

It appears that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there have not been any prosecutions during this period, and consequently no update to prosecution outcomes in...

Regulator news

Posted on 24 June 2020

WorkSafe Victoria News New Safety Alert WorkSafe has released a new Safety Alert: Precast pile falls from piling rig while being pitched after a recent incident in...

Position paper on Musculoskeletal disorders The Human Factors and Ergonomics Society of Australia (HFESA) last week released a position paper on Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) in which...

Union News

Posted on 24 June 2020

Fatality in Melbourne's western suburbs It is with great sadness that we report that another Victorian worker was killed in Geelong at about 4.20am on...

Events

Posted on 17 June 2020

Wednesday 24 June: Dangerous Goods Advisory Group meeting The DGAG bimonthly meeting is a general networking / discussion update meeting, open to all, to discuss...

Prosecutions

Posted on 17 June 2020

There has not been any news regarding prosecution outcomes in Victoria - to find out whether there are any new prosecutions before next week, check...

Regulator news

Posted on 17 June 2020

WorkSafe Victoria News Updated resource WorkSafe has updated the “Working Alone and in Isolation” action in the WorkWell Toolkit. It has been compiled in collaboration...

Research

Posted on 17 June 2020

Whole body vibration risk to pregnant workers An increasing number of women are choosing to work in industries where whole-body vibration exposure is common, but...

Union News

Posted on 17 June 2020

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update As of this morning, there had been 7335 cases of coronavirus disease diagnosed in Australia. 102 people have died - this means that...

Prosecutions

Posted on 10 June 2020

There has not been any news regarding prosecution outcomes in Victoria - to find out whether there are any new prosecutions before next week, check...

Regulator news

Posted on 10 June 2020

WorkSafe Victoria News Reducing the risks of working with lead WorkSafe is urging employers at workplaces where lead processes are carried out to follow updated...

Research

Posted on 10 June 2020

New discussion paper on Victoria's fatalities released OHSIntros has released a new OHS discussion paper- “24. Deaths at Work. Victoria 2019”. It is available to...

Union News

Posted on 10 June 2020

Fatality in Melbourne's western suburbs It is with great sadness that we report that another Victorian worker was killed on last Friday afternoon after being...

International News

Posted on 3 June 2020

India: Residents exposed to toxic gas while sleeping On 7 May 2020, in the early hours of the morning in Vizag, India, LG Polymers, a...

Prosecutions

Posted on 3 June 2020

There has not been any news regarding prosecution outcomes in Victoria - to find out whether there are any new prosecutions before next week, check...

Regulator news

Posted on 3 June 2020

Safe Work Australia news COVID-19 workplace guidance Safe Work Australia has continued to develop guidance. In the past week the following has been added to...

Research

Posted on 3 June 2020

Models show big infection risks in ‘low risk’ office work New studies from the UK and the US, modelling virus risks in offices and other...

Union News

Posted on 3 June 2020

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update Latest figures As of this morning, there had been 7229 cases of coronavirus disease diagnosed in Australia. 102 people have died - an increase...

Prosecutions

Posted on 27 May 2020

Victoria: $15k fine after 6 metre fall increased on appeal Chloch Homes & Development Pty Ltd, was the principal contractor for a domestic building site in...

Regulator news

Posted on 27 May 2020

WorkSafe Victoria news New targetted COVID-19 advice Following the COVID-19 outbreak at Cedar Meats, WorkSafe Victoria has developed and issued information aimed specifically at the meat...

Research

Posted on 27 May 2020

Prolonged sitting - or standing - and thrombosis risk In concerning news - given how much time many workers spend in static positions - a...

Union News

Posted on 27 May 2020

Fatality near Ballarat It is with great sadness that we report that a worker was killed on a site in Golden Point, near Ballarat, on Monday...

International News

Posted on 20 May 2020

UK: Johnson accused of 'criminal negligence' and 'social murder' A top safety law academic has accused UK's prime minister Boris Johnson of criminality and ‘social...

Prosecutions

Posted on 20 May 2020

Hazelwood Power fined $1.56m after mine fire The operator of Hazelwood mine, Hazelwood Power Corporation Pty Ltd, was this week fined a total of $1.56 million...

Regulator news

Posted on 20 May 2020

WorkSafe Victoria news Webinar on Workplace Manslaughter WorkSafe ran an extremely informative and interesting webinar yesterday on the upcoming workplace manslaughter legislation. The all male...

Research

Posted on 20 May 2020

Work-related asthma triggered within two years A US study spanning five decades has found that a significant proportion of adult asthma cases can be attributed...

Union News

Posted on 20 May 2020

Webinar on Occupational Disease available to check out The unit's Wednesday May 13 webinar on Occupational Disease is available to check out on our Facebook...

International News

Posted on 13 May 2020

WHO Return to work publication flawed The World Health Organisation (WHO) this week issued return-to-work guidance which, while of interest, has some serious gaps and...

Prosecutions

Posted on 13 May 2020

WorkSafe Victoria has not published any further prosecutions. To keep up to date with new prosecutions, check WorkSafe Prosecution Result Summaries and Enforceable Undertakings webpage. NSW: Sole...

Regulator news

Posted on 13 May 2020

WorkSafe Victoria news Safety alert on falls WorkSafe has issued a safety alert after there were two fatal falls in construction over a seven day...

Research

Posted on 13 May 2020

Why are work-related musculoskeletal injuries still so prevalent? A major research review commissioned by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) has...

Union News

Posted on 13 May 2020

Latest reported workplace fatalities Since the last journal, WorkSafe has reported on two workplace fatalities in Victoria. The first was a self-employed builder who died...

International News

Posted on 6 May 2020

ILO: COVID-19 and our world of work The ILO's Director-General, Guy Ryder, has written an 'op-ed' for May Day, in which he says the COVID-19 pandemic...

Prosecutions

Posted on 6 May 2020

Solar company fined after worker’s deadly fall On 30 November 2018 a 21 year old worker was killed after he fell from a roof. On...

Regulator news

Posted on 6 May 2020

WorkSafe Victoria news Reminder: Webinar on the Workplace manslaughter laws This is a reminder of the WorkSafe webinar on Tuesday May 19, at 11am - 12.30pm,...

Research

Posted on 6 May 2020

Work-related impact of COVID-19 worse than GFC In an editorial in BMJ journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine Professor Malcolm Sim from the Monash University Centre for Occupational and Environmental...

Union News

Posted on 6 May 2020

Two more workers killed in Victoria Tragically two young workers were killed in the state last week. The first fatality was a 26 year-old man, who...

Events

Posted on 29 April 2020

Tonight, Wednesday April 29: Dangerous Goods Advisory Group The DGAG bimonthly meeting is a general networking / discussion update meeting, open to all, to discuss...

International News

Posted on 29 April 2020

Singapore: migrant workers bear brunt of COVID-19 Although Singapore early on looked like it had the spread of the coronavirus under control, it has seen...

Regulator news

Posted on 29 April 2020

Victorian news Government announces COVID-19 testing blitz of four industries The Victorian Government has announced a plan to ramp up its coronavirus testing regime, and...

Research

Posted on 29 April 2020

ACTU survey of workers confirms fears of who is impacted by COVID-19 pandemic People in insecure work and with lower incomes are more likely to...

Union News

Posted on 29 April 2020

Four Police Officers killed in horror crash The whole of Australia will know of the horror crash last Wednesday evening April 22 in which four...

International News

Posted on 22 April 2020

UK: New Coronavirus guidance from HSE As covered in Union news, the situation in the UK is much worse than it is in Australia with tens...

Prosecutions

Posted on 22 April 2020

Victoria Unfortunately there have not been any updates to WorkSafe's page once again. That's two weeks now. To keep up to date with any new...

Union News

Posted on 22 April 2020

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update Over the past week and a bit, Australia's infection rate has been under 1 per cent, demonstrating that the strict physical distancing...

Research

Posted on 22 April 2020

Why Zoom meetings are so tiring Not a recent research article, but very interesting during these times when so many of us are working from...

Regulator news

Posted on 22 April 2020

WorkSafe Victoria news Respect our health care workers! The regulator sent out a communication today calling for respect for health care workers. This is their message:...

International News

Posted on 15 April 2020

Malaysia designates COVID-19 as occupational disease Employees in Malaysia who are infected with COVID-19 due to direct exposure to the disease from their nature of...

Prosecutions

Posted on 15 April 2020

There have not been any updates to WorkSafe's page since the last edition, but to keep up to date with any new prosecutions before next week's...

Regulator news

Posted on 15 April 2020

WorkSafe Victoria news New guidance on COVID-19 WorkSafe has issued new guidance for the healthcare sector: Prevention and Management of exposure to coronavirus in healthcare and social...

Research

Posted on 15 April 2020

Working from Home: Opportunities and Risks The Australia Institute's Centre for Future Work has released a briefing paper looking at the potential opportunities and risks...

Union News

Posted on 15 April 2020

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update The infection rate has continued to 'flatten', and if the measures introduced are maintained, Australia may escape the deaths of thousands. At the...

Prosecutions

Posted on 8 April 2020

Company fined $300,000 for gas bottle explosion A Bayswater maintenance firm was this week convicted and fined $300,000 after a worker was permanently disabled in...

Regulator news

Posted on 8 April 2020

WorkSafe Victoria news High level of coronavirus-related queries According to the ABC, as of last week, WorkSafe Victoria had received 647 calls requesting information about...

Research

Posted on 8 April 2020

Hand-arm vibration test found Researchers from Sweden's Orebro University and the Norwegian National Institute of Occupational Health have identified a way to detect whether workers could...

Union News

Posted on 8 April 2020

Farmer killed by livestock Notification of this fatality reached us late last week. A man died after he was crushed by a cow and bullock at...

International News

Posted on 1 April 2020

Niger: journalist jailed for reporting on Coronavirus Niger’s authorities have detained journalist Mamane Kaka Touda for informing the public about a suspected case of COVID-19...

Prosecutions

Posted on 1 April 2020

There have been no summaries added to the WorkSafe Prosecutions page since March 11. There may be no news here for a while.

Regulator news

Posted on 1 April 2020

WorkSafe Victoria news New Safety Alert: Increased demand for transport and logistics WorkSafe Victoria has issued a Safety Alert as the COVID-19 pandemic has led...

Research

Posted on 1 April 2020

Impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions on COVID-19 New research co-authored by Xihong Lin, professor of biostatistics at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, provides insight...

Union News

Posted on 1 April 2020

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update As expected the situation is changing daily. At the time of posting, Australia had recorded its twentieth death. Our state and federal governments...

Regulator News

Posted on 25 March 2020

WorkSafe Victoria News Nominations for WorkSafe 2020 Awards now open Here's something to look forward to: the 2020 WorkSafe Awards are now open. The WorkSafe Awards...

Research

Posted on 25 March 2020

Experts warn some children may become seriously ill with coronavirus Evidence shows that coronavirus disease (COVID-19) most often affects older adults, who are 60 years...

Union News

Posted on 25 March 2020

Another Victorian worker killed On Friday March 20, a young worker was killed after being crushed by a silo on his family’s dairy farm at Mooroopna...

Events

Posted on 18 March 2020

CANCELLED: March 27 Conference on Working hours, shifts and fatigue conference The ANMF has announced: "It is with sincere regret, due to the current concerns...

International News

Posted on 18 March 2020

USA: Amazon’s disposable worker model exposed Online retailer Amazon relies on an extreme high-churn model, continually replacing workers in order to sustain a dangerous and...

Regulator News

Posted on 18 March 2020

New guidelines to combat gendered violence in the workplace Last week new guidelines were launched by Jill Hennessy, Minister for Workplace Safety, regarding eradicating gendered...

Prosecutions

Posted on 18 March 2020

Construction company fined $15,000 after supervisor falls down stairwell void Pivot Construction Group Pty Ltd was the principal contractor of a workplace in Cranbourne East...

Research

Posted on 18 March 2020

COVID-19 Medical journal editorial An editorial in the journal Occupational Medicine has noted that a wide range of workers had ‘probable occupationally-acquired’ coronavirus, with 17 of the...

Union News

Posted on 18 March 2020

Two workers killed this week In an absolute horror start to this week, two workers were killed in Victoria on Monday. WorkSafe Victoria has issued...

Events

Posted on 11 March 2020

Please remember: If you have an OHS related event you would like us to advertise, please email Renata at ohsinfo@vthc.org.au with details, including location, cost...

Prosecutions

Posted on 11 March 2020

Company faces new chemical stockpile charges WorkSafe Victoria has charged Bradbury Industrial Services Pty Ltd with an additional 21 alleged breaches of the Dangerous Goods...

Regulator News

Posted on 11 March 2020

WorkSafe Victoria news New Campaign to improve the safety of Young Workers The Andrews Labor Government is warning employers to protect young workers and making...

Research

Posted on 11 March 2020

National inquiry recommends new duties on employers to manage s-xual harassment Not research as such, but rather the release of the Australian Human Rights Commission...

Union News

Posted on 11 March 2020

Three more fatalities We are saddened to report that three more Victorian workers have lost their lives since our last edition: On March 3 a...

Events

Posted on 26 February 2020

Please remember: If you have an OHS related event you would like us to advertise, please email Renata at ohsinfo@vthc.org.au with details, including location, cost...

International News

Posted on 26 February 2020

India: Fire deaths in denim factory that had no way out On February 8 this year, workers in an Indian denim factory struggled to claw...

Prosecutions

Posted on 26 February 2020

Builder fined $15k after contractor fell 6m Cloche Homes & Developments Pty Ltd, the principal contractor for a domestic building site in Mount Waverley, engaged...

Regulator News

Posted on 26 February 2020

Victorian news Reminder: Silicosis Summit, tomorrow, 27 February WorkSafe is organising a full day summit on Silicosis: A preventative approach. The summit will be held...

Research

Posted on 26 February 2020

Workload and stress This is not a research paper, but rather an article by Dr Lorraine Patterson, a long-time subscriber to SafetyNet, who completed a...

Union News

Posted on 26 February 2020

Three workers killed in Victoria on one day In the past week there have been two incidents in which three workers were killed. The VTHC...

SafetyNet Journal

Ask Renata

SafetyNet

OHS Training