SafetyNet Journal

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Events

Posted on 14 October 2020

Wednesday October 21: Dangerous Goods Advisory Group The DGAG bimonthly meeting is a general networking / discussion update meeting, open to all, to discuss issues...
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Prosecutions

Posted on 14 October 2020

Maximum penalty after fatal truck crash A road maintenance company and its director have been convicted and fined more than $466,000 after the death of...
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Regulator news

Posted on 14 October 2020

Victorian news WorkSafe: Health and Safety Month helping to navigate COVID-19 The focus of WorkSafe's first fully virtual Health and Safety Month will be helping...
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Research

Posted on 14 October 2020

Australia: Experts accuse federal government of ignoring science on airborne COVID spread This week, news in the Australian media revealed that according to our won doctors...
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Union News

Posted on 14 October 2020

October 15: 50th Anniversary of West Gate Bridge collapse live streamed event At 11.50am on October 15 1970, a span of the West Gate Bridge, then...
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Prosecutions

Posted on 7 October 2020

There still has not been an update to WorkSafe Victoria's Prosecution Result Summaries and Enforceable Undertakings webpage since our last edition. However, go to it to check for further...
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Regulator news

Posted on 7 October 2020

Victorian news Independent review of Dangerous Goods Act and Regs - submissions sought In April 2020 the then Minister for Workplace Safety, the Hon. Jill...
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Research

Posted on 7 October 2020

Electrolytes important in hot weather US researchers have found that providing electrolyte drinks those working in hot and humid conditions can prevent muscle damage and associated...
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Union News

Posted on 7 October 2020

Victorian worker killed It is with great regret that we note that a bindery finishing operator died in hospital on Monday after falling about 1.4 metres...
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International News

Posted on 30 September 2020

China: Factory leak spreads animal disease Thousands of people in northwest China have been diagnosed with a highly infectious bacterial disease after an outbreak caused...
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Prosecutions

Posted on 30 September 2020

There has not been an update to WorkSafe Victoria's Prosecution Result Summaries and Enforceable Undertakings webpage since our last edition. However, go to it to check for further prosecutions...
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Regulator news

Posted on 30 September 2020

WorkSafe Victoria news New safety alert: Burst paint can causes fire in drill rig's engine bay Recently a fire broke out in the engine bay of...
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Research

Posted on 30 September 2020

Workplace COVID-19 saliva test pilot A workplace saliva test pilot program has begun in Victoria to help in understanding the logistics of continuous testing in...
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Union News

Posted on 30 September 2020

Register now: VTHC HSR Conference October 27 We now have 1560 people registered to attend our 2020 VTHC OHS Conference on October 27th 2020. We...
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Prosecutions

Posted on 23 September 2020

There has not been an update to WorkSafe Victoria's Prosecution Result Summaries and Enforceable Undertakings webpage since our last edition. However, go to it to check for further...
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Regulator news

Posted on 23 September 2020

WorkSafe Victoria news New guidance Last week WorkSafe published new guidance: "Managing the risk of exposure to coronavirus (COVID-19) - a checklist for employers"  September...
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Research

Posted on 23 September 2020

Australian workers exposed to multiple carcinogens Australian researchers from the School of Public Health, at Western Australia's Curtin University, examined data from the the Australian Work Exposures Study,...
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Union News

Posted on 23 September 2020

October 27: VTHC HSR Conference The registrations keep coming in: there are now over 1200 people who have registered to attend our 2020 VTHC OHS...
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Prosecutions

Posted on 16 September 2020

Prosecutions Tomato farm fined $30k for crushed arm Tatura Fresh, a hydroponic tomato farm was this week convicted and fined $30,000 in the Shepparton Magistrates’...
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Regulator news

Posted on 16 September 2020

WorkSafe Victoria Safety Alert following serious fall WorkSafe has issued a Safety Alert following an incident where a worker slipped off a roof and fell...
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Research

Posted on 16 September 2020

Carpel tunnel risks doubled by tool vibrations After identifying a high prevalence of vibration-related chronic pain, diseases and neurological disorders in a large group of...
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Union News

Posted on 16 September 2020

October 27: VTHC HSR Conference There have been over 940 registrations for our 2020 VTHC OHS Conference, on October 27th 2020. We are going to...
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Events

Posted on 9 September 2020

TONIGHT: Wednesday 9 September - Chemical Hazard Communication Network (CHCN) meeting The DGAG bimonthly meeting is a general networking / discussion update meeting, open to...
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International News

Posted on 9 September 2020

Ship with 43 crew goes down in typhoon Livestock carrier Gulf Livestock 1, with 43 crew members (39 from the Philippines and two each from...
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Prosecutions

Posted on 9 September 2020

John Holland charged over Sydney Metro rail incident Comcare has charged construction company John Holland with breaching federal work health and safety laws over an...
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Regulator news

Posted on 9 September 2020

WorkSafe Victoria Wind warning for construction sites WorkSafe has this week warned of wild winds and urged Victorian employers to ensure their work sites were...
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Research

Posted on 9 September 2020

‘Outdated’ physical distancing rules criticised Current rules on safe physical distancing are based on outdated science, with evidence suggesting the coronavirus responsible for COVID-19 may...
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Union News

Posted on 9 September 2020

October 27: VTHC HSR Conference You can now register for the Section 69 approved 2020 VTHC OHS Conference, being held October 27th 2020. This year, the theme...
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International News

Posted on 2 September 2020

Global: Action call on big airborne COVID risks Transmission of COVID-19 through an airborne ‘aerosol’ is “stronger than that for any other pathway”, greatly increasing...
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Prosecutions

Posted on 2 September 2020

Aggravated charges for alleged chemical stockpiles Last week WorkSafe announced that it has charged Bradbury Industrial Services Pty Ltd with new alleged breaches of the Dangerous...
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Regulator news

Posted on 2 September 2020

Victorian news Advice on COVID-19 and WorkCover WorkSafe has produced advice which is now available on its website on Workers' Compensation and COVID-19. The information provides...
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Research

Posted on 2 September 2020

Creating mentally healthy workplaces in uncertain times There has been research into the factors that help manage and support workplace mental health for some time....
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Union News

Posted on 2 September 2020

Tonight 7pm: Psychosocial Health Standard Live Show A reminder that tonight at 7pm VTHC OHS Unit will be running a live show to launch our...
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Events

Posted on 26 August 2020

TONIGHT: Wednesday 26 August - Dangerous Goods Advisory Group meeting The DGAG bimonthly meeting is a general networking / discussion update meeting, open to all,...
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International News

Posted on 26 August 2020

Global: Nearly half schools lack basic hand washing facilities As schools worldwide struggle with reopening, the latest data from UN agencies has revealed that 43...
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Prosecutions

Posted on 26 August 2020

WorkSafe media releases on previous prosecutions 1 - Austin Health  Last week WorkSafe issued a media release on the prosecution of Austin Health which was...
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Regulator news

Posted on 26 August 2020

Victorian news August edition of Safety Soapbox The August edition of Safety Soapbox was posted this morning.  The editorial in this month's edition is on the expansion...
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Research

Posted on 26 August 2020

Victorian Report on Healthcare workers The Victorian government has released a new report through the Department of Health and Human Services, which has led the government...
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Union News

Posted on 26 August 2020

Electrician dies under house On Tuesday last week a self-employed electrician was killed after being electrocuted while working under a house in Croydon. The death...
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Prosecutions

Posted on 19 August 2020

There have been no new prosecutions announced in Victoria since last week - check WorkSafe's Prosecution Result Summaries and Enforceable Undertakings webpage if you want to check...
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Regulator news

Posted on 19 August 2020

Victorian news Charges laid over Tottenham fire WorkSafe has charged a Harkness man with endangering people at a workplace following a 2018 chemical fire at...
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Research

Posted on 19 August 2020

Remote workers more likely to engage in self-endangering behaviours According to German researchers, workers working remotely because of COVID-19 or other reasons are more likely...
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Union News

Posted on 19 August 2020

Vale Paddy Garrity Born: 1937, Seaham Harbour, England. Died: 2020, Melbourne, Australia.  Paddy was a seaman, renovator, arts activist, administrator, circus rigger, concert manager, festival...
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Prosecutions

Posted on 12 August 2020

SKM Pty Ltd convicted and fined total of $165k for multiple contraventions SKM Services Pty Ltd is a company providing recycling sorting services to councils...
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Regulator news

Posted on 12 August 2020

Victorian news August 25: Maintaining mental health at work through COVID-19 A webinar is being run at 7pm on August 25 with the Minister for Workplace...
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Research

Posted on 12 August 2020

Loss of sense of taste and smell best COVID-19 predictors An emphasis on the presence of a persistent cough and fever as evidence of infection...
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Union News

Posted on 12 August 2020

Coronavirus (COVID-19) -  update   According to the latest official figures, there are 21,750 cases of coronavirus disease diagnosed in Australia - an increase of 3,022 since last...
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International News

Posted on 5 August 2020

Lebanon: huge chemicals explosion at Beirut port There have been two huge explosions in Beirut at about 6pm local time, killing at least 78 people,...
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Prosecutions

Posted on 5 August 2020

Company convicted, fined $850,000 following death of sub-contractor Residential construction company, Seascape Constructions Pty Ltd, was last week convicted and fined $850,000 in the Melbourne...
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Regulator news

Posted on 5 August 2020

Victorian news New strategy for health care workplaces Improving health and safety outcomes for health care and social assistance workers is the focus of a...
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Research

Posted on 5 August 2020

IARC: Night shift work and cancer - not just breast cancer! The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has made the IARC Monograph Volume...
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Union News

Posted on 5 August 2020

Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Further Victorian restrictions and update   Metropolitan Melbourne is now in Stage 4 restrictions, and the rest of Victoria is now under Stage...
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International News

Posted on 29 July 2020

Global: Stop sending toxic chemicals to poor nations – UN expert The practice of wealthy states exporting their banned toxic chemicals to poorer nations lacking...
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Prosecutions

Posted on 29 July 2020

Austin Health fined after nurse assaulted Last week Austin Health was fined $30,000 after pleading guilty to breaching section 21 of the OHS Act in failing...
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Regulator news

Posted on 29 July 2020

Victorian news New regulation on notifying positive COVID-19 cases in the workplace The Victorian government yesterday, July 28, 2020, declared the Occupational Health and Safety (COVID-19...
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Research

Posted on 29 July 2020

PTSD affects multiple job types, women face "mobbing" Researchers looking at cases of work-related post-traumatic stress disorder, in what were ‘low-risk’ occupations, have found that...
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Union News

Posted on 29 July 2020

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update   According to the latest figures, there are 15,580 cases of coronavirus disease diagnosed in Australia - an increase of 2,686 since last...
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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...
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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,...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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,...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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Research

Posted on 24 June 2020

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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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