SafetyNet Journal

Events

Posted on 31 March 2021

Tuesday 13 April: Central Safety Group Musculskeletal Issues - what's new in risks and prevention, Speaker: David Trembearth, Safety Business Partner, Coles Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs), often...

Prosecutions

Posted on 31 March 2021

WorkSafe has not updated the information on the Prosecution Result Summaries and Enforceable Undertakings webpage since our last edition. Go to the webpage to check for any...

Regulator News

Posted on 31 March 2021

Victorian news New Victorian COVID advice useful for health sector The Victorian Health Service Guidance and Response to COVID-19 Risks (VHSGR) has been developed to...

Research

Posted on 31 March 2021

The impact of intervening in workplace bullying There is comprehensive evidence that workplace bullying is detrimental to worker health and wellbeing. A recent research study...

Union News

Posted on 31 March 2021

Reminder: April 28 is International Workers Memorial Day April 28th is International Workers Memorial Day, and this year for the first time in Victoria, official...

International News

Posted on 24 March 2021

Europe: proposal on endocrine disrupting chemicals The European Commission is proposing that endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) be classified under CLP (Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 on...

Prosecutions

Posted on 24 March 2021

Trainer charged over track rider's death On 9 March, 2020, at about 6.30am, a 31-year-old male track rider was killed after a car struck the horse...

Regulator News

Posted on 24 March 2021

Victorian news WorkSafe Victoria issues Safety Alert after fatality The VWA has issued the alert to highlight the dangers of overhanging items in storage racking, following...

Research

Posted on 24 March 2021

Literature review: Work, Health and COVID-19 With work a key vector of COVID‑19 transmission, this European report examines why it is critical that occupational health...

Union News

Posted on 24 March 2021

Another two Victorian workers killed at work On Monday this week WorkSafe issued a media release with the news that it is investigating the death...

Events

Posted on 17 March 2021

Tuesday 13 April: Musculskeletal Issues - what's new in risks and prevention, Central Safety Group Speaker: David Trembearth, Safety Business Partner, Coles Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs), often...

Prosecutions

Posted on 17 March 2021

Victoria: Employee prosecuted, convicted and fined for breaching s25 In an interesting case, a worker employed by New Pearl Trading Pty Ltd as a storeman, has...

Regulator News

Posted on 17 March 2021

Victorian news WorkSafe Victoria calls on all Victorians to prioritise workplace health and safety The call to prioritise health and safety following the tragic deaths of...

Research

Posted on 17 March 2021

Working poor hardest hit by COVID The working poor are bearing the greatest burden from COVID -19, a UK public health study has found. The...

Union News

Posted on 17 March 2021

Coronavirus (COVID-19) - update Australia has had a total, to date, of 29,137 cases of coronavirus disease diagnosed. Internationally, the numbers of infections and deaths are still...

Prosecutions

Posted on 10 March 2021

Victoria: Charges laid over tank container fire WorkSafe has charged an industrial equipment supplier following a serious workplace incident at Derrimut. Fuelcraft Pty Ltd has been charged...

Regulator News

Posted on 10 March 2021

Victorian news Regulator launches campaign to raise awareness of sexual harassment at work Yesterday WorkSafe Victoria launched the Let's Be Very Clear campaign to raise...

Research

Posted on 10 March 2021

Prioritising workers for COVID vaccine most effective Academics and health researchers from the UK and Canada have found that vaccine programs that prioritise workers for...

Union News

Posted on 10 March 2021

Worker killed by falling steel A man was killed last Wednesday after he was struck by steel which fell from an elevated storage rack at...

Events

Posted on 3 March 2021

Tonight, March 3: Chemical Hazard Communication Network This regular meeting of the CHCN will be on Zoom and will be discussing a range of issues:...

International News

Posted on 3 March 2021

USA: Amazon sued for failure to protect workers New York is suing Amazon, with a court filing accusing the world’s largest retailer of a ‘flagrant...

Prosecutions

Posted on 3 March 2021

There have been no new Victorian prosecution results published since the last edition of SafetyNet. To check for any Victorian prosecutions before the next edition,...

Regulator News

Posted on 3 March 2021

Victorian news New resource: Preventing and managing workplace stress As part of its 'WorkWell' program, WorkSafe has published a new guide for employers: Preventing and managing...

Research

Posted on 3 March 2021

Changes in work and life patterns due to COVID-19 During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people refrained from going out, started working from home (WFH), and...

Union News

Posted on 3 March 2021

Coronavirus (COVID-19) - update The Victorian government has relaxed some of the restrictions, with now up to 75 per cent of workers being able to...

Events

Posted on 24 February 2021

Tuesday 9 March: Hospital Safety during the Pandemic, Central Safety Group Speaker: Christina Rennick, St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne When the COVID-19 crisis exploded just over a...

Prosecutions

Posted on 24 February 2021

Eight charges laid over apprentice jockey's death WorkSafe Victoria has charged a turf club and trainer following the death of an apprentice jockey who was thrown...

Regulator News

Posted on 24 February 2021

Victorian news New Safety Alert: Falls from ladders WorkSafe has issued an alert to highlight the dangers of the incorrect selection, set up and use...

Research

Posted on 24 February 2021

Work noise slows reaction times In an important simulation of a noisy workplace, researchers have shown that injury-causing fatigue and delayed reaction times in workers...

Union News

Posted on 24 February 2021

Worker killed after being crushed by machine A man was killed last Friday, February 19, after he was crushed while operating a machinery at an...

Events

Posted on 17 February 2021

TONIGHT February 17: Dangerous Goods Advisory Group The first DGAG bimonthly meeting for 2021 will be held tonight, via Zoom, from 5.30pm - 7.30pm. The...

Prosecutions

Posted on 17 February 2021

Charges laid over fatal wall collapse WorkSafe Victoria has charged a contractor following the death of a worker at a residential building site in Ballarat...

Regulator news

Posted on 17 February 2021

WorkSafe Victoria news Latest HSR newsletter WorkSafe has just posted out its latest newsletter for HSRs. The newsletter has items on: the updated PIN form...

Research

Posted on 17 February 2021

Non-seatbelt use linked to multiple work deaths every year OHSAlert reports that a WorkSafe New Zealand data analysis has found that not wearing seatbelts in work vehicles...

Union News

Posted on 17 February 2021

Another two fatalities in Victoria in the past week A 47-yr old truck driver from Parafield Gardens (SA), was killed near the SA-Victorian border at about...

International News

Posted on 10 February 2021

USA: Swift progress on COVID safety at work After just eight full days into his administration, US president Joe Biden has added new COVID-19 guidance...

Prosecutions

Posted on 10 February 2021

Trio convicted after worker’s death At the end of December last year, two companies and a director were convicted and penalised $250,000 over the death...

Regulator News

Posted on 10 February 2021

Victorian News Proposed OHS Amendment (Crystalline Silica) Regulations 2021 Public comment on the proposed Occupational Health and Safety Amendment (Crystalline Silica) Regulations 2021 (proposed Regulations) and...

Research

Posted on 10 February 2021

Risks from heat kick in earlier than previously thought In a study relevant to Australian employers, US researchers have shown that workers' bodies can quickly...

Union News

Posted on 10 February 2021

Two work-related fatalities in one week There have been two fatalities in Victorian workplaces in less than a week. In the first a worker was killed...

International News

Posted on 16 December 2020

China: Coal miners killed by carbon monoxide poisoning Eighteen miners have been killed and several others are missing after a leak of carbon monoxide gas...

Prosecutions

Posted on 16 December 2020

Company fined after unsafe demolition In a rare asbestos-related prosecution, a demolition company has been convicted and fined $20,000 (plus $4449 in costs) after a...

Regulator news

Posted on 16 December 2020

Victorian news Reminder: New simplified PIN form now available for HSRs WorkSafe has redesigned the Provisional Improvement Notice it has available on its website. The document...

Research

Posted on 16 December 2020

Is Casual employment in Australia bad for workers? Researchers from both Australia and the UK (Hahn, McVicar, Wooden) and assessed the impact of working in...

Union News

Posted on 16 December 2020

Coronavirus (COVID-19) - update Australia has had a total, to date, of 27,987 cases of coronavirus disease diagnosed. None of those recently diagnosed in the past weeks...

International News

Posted on 9 December 2020

UK: Explosion in Bristol kills four Four workers were killed and another injured in a large explosion at a waste water treatment works at Wessex...

Prosecutions

Posted on 9 December 2020

Juice company fined after worker's hand dragged into machine A Mildura drinks manufacturer has been convicted and fined $30,000 (plus costs) after a worker's hand...

Regulator news

Posted on 9 December 2020

WorkSafe news New simplified PIN form now available for HSRs WorkSafe has redesigned the Provisional Improvement Notice it has available on its website. The document...

Research

Posted on 9 December 2020

Irregular work schedules increase risks of occupational injury Work schedules are made up of various variables and can cause health and safety effects, including work-related...

Union News

Posted on 9 December 2020

Coronavirus (COVID-19) - update Australia has had a total, to date, of 27,987 cases of coronavirus disease diagnosed. None of those recently diagnosed in the past weeks...

Events

Posted on 2 December 2020

Reminder - Central Safety Group Tuesday 8 DecemberTopic: What COVID-19 means for workplace safety Central Safety Group is wrapping the year up with the subject that...

International News

Posted on 2 December 2020

NZ: Thirteen charges laid over volcano deaths Ten organisations and three company officers face maximum work health and safety fines totalling NZ$15.9 million (A$15.129 million),...

Prosecutions

Posted on 2 December 2020

Multiple breaches, serious injury lead to conviction and fine of $80,000 Taylor Ferguson & Co. Pty. Ltd, a company that operates a bottling and packing...

Regulator news

Posted on 2 December 2020

Better mental health support for Victorian workers Victorian workers who suffer a work-related mental health injury will soon be able to access early treatment and...

Research

Posted on 2 December 2020

Pandemic sees rise in support for Working from home; Compressed weeks, and Job sharing Research commissioned by the FWC as it considers inserting a WFH...

Union News

Posted on 2 December 2020

Coronavirus (COVID-19) - update Australia has had a total, to date, of 27,912 cases of coronavirus disease diagnosed. None of those recently diagnosed in the past...

Events

Posted on 25 November 2020

TONIGHT November 25: Dangerous Goods Advisory Group The DGAG bimonthly meeting is a general networking / discussion update meeting, open to all, to discuss issues...

Prosecutions

Posted on 25 November 2020

Kentucky Fried Chicken operator fined $10k after teenagers scalded Mylora Holdings Pty Ltd, owner and operator of a small number of Kentucky Fried Chicken retail...

Regulator news

Posted on 25 November 2020

WorkSafe Victoria news Wanted: HSRs for workshops WorkSafe Victoria is currently looking at how it can better support HSRs. The regulator would like to talk...

Research

Posted on 25 November 2020

Cumulative work exposures increase mental risk Australian researchers have found that being exposed to poor quality work at each phase of their 12-year study increased...

Union News

Posted on 25 November 2020

Coronavirus (COVID-19) - update According to the latest official figures, there have been 27,847 cases of coronavirus disease diagnosed in Australia and none of the new ones...

Events

Posted on 18 November 2020

Wednesday November 25: Dangerous Goods Advisory Group The DGAG bimonthly meeting is a general networking / discussion update meeting, open to all, to discuss issues...

Prosecutions

Posted on 18 November 2020

There have not been any recent prosecution summaries added to WorkSafe Victoria's Prosecution Result Summaries and Enforceable Undertakings webpage. The last update was mid-October. QLD: McDonald's franchisee fined...

Regulator news

Posted on 18 November 2020

Victorian news Wanted: HSRs for workshops WorkSafe Victoria is currently looking at how it can better support HSRs. The regulator would like to talk to...

Research

Posted on 18 November 2020

Australia: Billions of working hours lost due to COVID-19 pandemic New research shows that working Australians on average lost 167 hours of work worth more...

Union News

Posted on 18 November 2020

Two Victorian workers killed in the past week On Thursday last week, a farm hand was killed while operating a telehandler on a property at...

Events

Posted on 11 November 2020

Tuesday 17 November: Central Safety GroupTopic: Web safety – are you taking risks? Cyber crime is at an all-time high with so many people working...

International News

Posted on 11 November 2020

Denmark: Lockdowns as mutant mink COVID crosses back Danish authorities have introduced a lockdown affecting large areas after the discovery a coronavirus mutation found in...

Prosecutions

Posted on 11 November 2020

There have not been any recent prosecution summaries added to WorkSafe Victoria's Prosecution Result Summaries and Enforceable Undertakings webpage. QLD: Company fined $150,000 after worker crushed to death...

Regulator news

Posted on 11 November 2020

Victorian news New WorkSafe video on consultation Our readers will be aware that employers have a duty to consult with HSRs, and also directly with...

Research

Posted on 11 November 2020

Retail workers at increased risk of contracting COVID-19 A new Harvard University study has found customer-facing workers, such as retail workers, were five times more...

Union News

Posted on 11 November 2020

Two Victorian workers killed in the past week The first fatality was last Wednesday October 28 when a worker died after being run over at...

Prosecutions

Posted on 28 October 2020

Two 17 year olds scalded at KFC - employer fined $10k Mylora Holdings Pty Ltd owns and operates a small number of Kentucky Fried Chicken...

Regulator news

Posted on 28 October 2020

Victorian news Put safety first during reopening Yesterday WorkSafe issued an alert warning employers to put health and safety first, including COVID-19 safety, ahead of businesses...

Union News

Posted on 28 October 2020

Two Victorian workers killed in the past week The first fatality was last Wednesday October 21 after a traffic controller died after being struck by a...

Events

Posted on 21 October 2020

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

Prosecutions

Posted on 21 October 2020

There have been some prosecution summaries listed on WorkSafe Victoria's Prosecution Result Summaries and Enforceable Undertakings webpage. Due to shortness of time, this is a very brief summary:...

Regulator news

Posted on 21 October 2020

Victorian news Safety Soapbox October edition The latest edition of Safety Soapbox was sent out today. In this edition, the editorial reminds the construction industry about the risks...

Research

Posted on 21 October 2020

Action call on airborne virus transmission Following a statement this month from top US scientists that ‘airborne’ transmission is a major cause of COVID-19 spread,...

Union News

Posted on 21 October 2020

Coronavirus (COVID-19) - update Due to the number of cases in Victoria continuing to be very low, with only three new cases reported yesterday, there...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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’...

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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