SafetyNet Journal

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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:...

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...

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...

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...

Events

Posted on 19 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 19 February 2020

USA: Industry wide silica clampdown begins As the US government’s respirable crystalline silica (RCS) standard takes full effect, its safety regulator OSHA has beefed up...

Prosecutions

Posted on 19 February 2020

Last week we reported on two cases of employers being prosecuted after workers received hand injuries. Since the last edition,there have been two more prosecutions...

Regulator News

Posted on 19 February 2020

Victorians to freecover massive clean up bill The media has reported that, unfortunately, it will be Victorian taxpayers who will have to pay for the...

Research

Posted on 19 February 2020

Reducing the harm of sedentary work We now know that sitting for long periods of time is a health risk, and something employers of office...

Union News

Posted on 19 February 2020

Update on fatality figures The VTHC has confirmed with WorkSafe Victoria that the fatality in Bruthen (reported in SafetyNet 518) was not work-related. Although the...

Events

Posted on 12 February 2020

Events 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,...

Prosecutions

Posted on 12 February 2020

Victorian prosecutions Company fined $60,000 for amputated fingersA kitchen manufacturer has been convicted and fined $60,000 (plus $4,248 in costs) after a cabinet maker had...

Regulator News

Posted on 12 February 2020

Reminder: WorkSafe is recruiting Victoria's regulator WorkSafe Victoria is excited to announce that recruitment for the next intake of Health and Safety Inspectors is now open. Applications close...

Research

Posted on 12 February 2020

Caring jobs linked to burnout and ‘compassion fatigue’ Social workers providing care and support to people in distress are at risk of developing compassion fatigue,...

Union News

Posted on 12 February 2020

Worker dies in fall A 69-year-old painter has died in hospital after he fell through a carport roof at a Kilsyth home on Friday. He...

Events

Posted on 5 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...

Prosecutions

Posted on 5 February 2020

Company charged over chemical stockpiles in Campbellfield Last week WorkSafe has charged Bradbury Industrial Services Pty Ltd over alleged breaches of the Dangerous Goods Act...

Regulator news

Posted on 5 February 2020

WorkSafe issues Coronavirus advice Last week WorkSafe Victoria issued an alert: Exposure to coronavirus in workplaces about the risks associated with potential exposure to novel...

Research

Posted on 5 February 2020

USA: Sharp rise in blue collar suicides The US government’s Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has reported a 40 per cent increase in working age...

Union News

Posted on 5 February 2020

Truck driver killed On Thursday January 30, a 26-year-old truck driver was killed while working in the Yarra Ranges. The thoughts of the union movement...

Events

Posted on 29 January 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 29 January 2020

China: Officials punished for burying blast death toll A total of 29 officials have been punished after the death toll in a factory blast in...

Prosecutions

Posted on 29 January 2020

WorkSafe enters into three Enforceable Undertakings Retpro Management Pty Ltd: a large leasing and management company which operates shopping centres across Australia and New Zealand,...

Regulator news

Posted on 29 January 2020

Compliance Code Amendments Effective from 19 December 2019, the Minister for Workplace Safety, Jill Hennessy, has approved minor amendments to 11 compliance codes made under...

Research

Posted on 29 January 2020

PM2.5 pollution - No safe level Australian researchers say there is "no safe level" of PM2.5 air pollution after a large-scale study found a significant...

Union News

Posted on 29 January 2020

More workers killed this month in shocking start to 2020 It is with great sadness that we report that it has been confirmed that three...

Events

Posted on 22 January 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 22 January 2020

US: regulation of chemical risks in jeopardy Since the election of Donald Trump in the White House, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has shifted...

Prosecutions

Posted on 22 January 2020

Charges laid after school student's death WorkSafe Victoria has charged the Department of Education and Training for alleged health and safety breaches. Three charges have...

Regulator news

Posted on 22 January 2020

First aid in the workplace compliance code available for public comment WorkSafe is inviting comment on the proposed First aid in the workplace compliance code...

Research

Posted on 22 January 2020

Best sleeping time for shift workers A team of sleep disorder experts from Brigham and Women's Hospital in the US has identified a simple strategy...

Union News

Posted on 22 January 2020

Four Victorian workers killed It is with great sadness that we report that since the last edition of the journal, four Victorian workers have been...

Events

Posted on 18 December 2019

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 18 December 2019

Cardboard company fined after hand crushed in roller A Campbellfield cardboard box manufacturer was last week convicted and fined $55,000 after two workers’ hands were crushed...

Regulator news

Posted on 18 December 2019

WorkSafe Victoria news Latest edition of Safety Soapbox The December edition of WorkSafe's Safety Soapbox arrived today. In this edition, the editorial announces that a...

Research

Posted on 18 December 2019

Common asbestos lung disease does not increase risk of lung cancer A new study led by Curtin University has found that people who are diagnosed...

Union News

Posted on 18 December 2019

VTHC OHS Unit news: Webinar Tonight! Wednesday December 18 Tune in on our Facebook page at 7pm tonight for the final Webinar for the year....

Events

Posted on 11 December 2019

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 11 December 2019

India: Factory fire kills dozens Indian authorities are investigating the cause of a devastating fire that killed at least 43 people in a crowded market...

Prosecutions

Posted on 11 December 2019

Charges laid in milk processing death WorkSafe Victoria has charged a Cobram engineering company, a Bendigo crane hire company and a New Zealand engineer following...

Regulator news

Posted on 11 December 2019

Victorian news Three workers fall in past week In a media release last week, WorkSafe says three led to the hospitalisation of three workers. On...

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