SafetyNet Journal

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...

Research

Posted on 11 December 2019

Migrants exposed to higher risk in the workplace Migrants to Australia are more vulnerable to hazards in the workplace than Australian-born workers, a Curtin study...

Union News

Posted on 11 December 2019

Ask Renata Hello Renata, I work in a bushfire affected area. What duties does my employer have to me and my fellow workers in these...

Events

Posted on 4 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 4 December 2019

Canada: new Health and Safety Report The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety has just sent out its latest Health and Safety Report. The...

Prosecutions

Posted on 4 December 2019

Company fined, not convicted, after near miss Mandalay Resources Costerfield Operations Pty Ltd (“Mandalay”) owns and operates the Augusta gold-antimony mine in Costerfield. On 22...

Regulator news

Posted on 4 December 2019

Victorian news Charges laid after assault on youth justice worker WorkSafe has charged the Department of Justice and Community Safety for alleged health and safety...

Research

Posted on 4 December 2019

Workplace fitness management may pay off Costly workplace exercise programs might improve workers' physical capacity, but researchers say that employers can gain similar benefits from...

Union News

Posted on 4 December 2019

Parliament passes the Industrial Manslaughter legislation Last week Victoria became the third Australian jurisdiction to enshrine the offence of industrial manslaughter in law, with an...

Events

Posted on 26 November 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 26 November 2019

Hazelwood Power guilty after devastating mine fire Employers that do not do enough to protect the health and safety of either workers or the community, or...

Regulator news

Posted on 26 November 2019

WorkSafe Victoria news Safety Soapbox November edition The latest edition of Safety Soapbox was sent out last week. In this edition, the editorial urges both...

Research

Posted on 26 November 2019

Bullying victims likely to become perpetrators According to a recent study of nearly 1,000 workers who admit to engaging bullying behaviours, those who were bullied...

Union News

Posted on 26 November 2019

Update: Industrial Manslaughter This morning we gathered on the steps of Victoria's Parliament House in a final push to achieve Industrial Manslaughter legislation. In...

Events

Posted on 13 November 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 13 November 2019

UK: Revised guidance: exposure to welding fumeIn February 2019 HSE issued a safety alert (Change in Enforcement Expectations for Mild Steel Welding Fume) to inform...

Prosecutions

Posted on 13 November 2019

Formwork company fined $650,000 after worker falls to death Last week an employer was fined $650,000 after a worker was killed in a 12-metre fall...

Regulator news

Posted on 13 November 2019

Victorian news Government announces new WorkSafe Victoria appointments The Andrews Labor Government has announced Colin Radford as WorkSafe Victoria’s new Chief Executive. John Merritt has...

Research

Posted on 13 November 2019

New research on children and quad bikes According to new research, children living in the Northern Territory are almost 12 times more likely to be...

Union News

Posted on 13 November 2019

Two Victorian workers killed 1 - Driver killed at Werribee SouthEmergency services were called to the Princes Freeway following reports a semi-trailer had struck a...

Events

Posted on 6 November 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 6 November 2019

ILO launches new statistics portal The International Labor Organization (ILO) Department of Statistics has launched a new statistics’ portal that makes it easy to access...

Regulator news

Posted on 6 November 2019

QLD: regulator issues Christmas party warning In advice that is useful for workplaces around Australia, the Queensland WHS regulator has issued advice on work Christmas...

Prosecutions

Posted on 6 November 2019

There have been no new prosecutions loaded onto the WorkSafe Victoria website - but to keep up to date with prosecutions, go to the WorkSafe Prosecution...

Research

Posted on 6 November 2019

Ex-footballers (soccer players) at greater risk of degenerative brain diseasesA landmark study funded by the charitable arm of the UK footballers’ union PFA and the...

Union News

Posted on 6 November 2019

Union HSRs recognised at WorkSafe Awards Last week WorkSafe announced the winners of the annual WorkSafe awards. The Award ceremony, held at the Melbourne Town...

Events

Posted on 30 October 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 30 October 2019

Plumbing company fined after trench collapse All In One Plumbing Pty Ltd operates in the inner south eastern suburbs of Melbourne and specialises in residential...

Regulator news

Posted on 30 October 2019

Victoria: Huge toxic waste sites clean up bill It appears that it might have to be taxpayer money - at least $230 million - which...

Research

Posted on 30 October 2019

UK: Workers fear the sack for reporting sexual harassment One in four young women are scared they will be sacked if they report sexual harassment...

Union News

Posted on 30 October 2019

Two more Victorian fatalities On the day new industrial manslaughter laws were introduced into parliament, and just up the road from the dreadful trench collapse...

Events

Posted on 23 October 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...

Regulator news

Posted on 23 October 2019

WorkSafe Victoria news Safety alert issued after three year old killed last weekAfter last week's tragedy when a three year old was fatally injured on...

Research

Posted on 23 October 2019

DNA Breaks: Cell Phone Radiation Led to "Significant Increases" The National Toxicology Program tested two common radiofrequency radiation (RFR) modulations emitted by cellular telephones in...

Union News

Posted on 23 October 2019

Victorian HSRs and deputies: October 29 HSR Conference There are now over 1600 HSRs (and deputies) who have registered to come to our 2019 conference! ...

Events

Posted on 16 October 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 16 October 2019

Solar panel installation company convicted and fined $120k Sandarra Electrics Pty Ltd (now in liquidation) was a company that installed solar panels. On 23 November...

Regulator news

Posted on 16 October 2019

Victorian news HSR Newsletter promotes new online support channel WorkSafe today sent out the latest edition of its HSR Newsletter. In it there's news of...

Research

Posted on 16 October 2019

X-rays not reliable in detecting lung disease Chest X-rays on workers exposed to dust from manufactured stone are ‘‘failing to reliably detect’’ serious lung disease,...

Union News

Posted on 16 October 2019

Victorian HSRs and deputies: October 29 HSR Conference There are now over 1500 HSRs (and deputies) who have registered to come to our 2019 conference! ...

Events

Posted on 9 October 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 9 October 2019

Europe: EU action after chemical firms flout the lawEU government delegates on the European Commission’s REACH committee have agreed to increase the minimum compliance check...

Prosecutions

Posted on 9 October 2019

Vic company fined for not providing safe workplace Technicolor Pty Ltd manufactures optical media at a workplace with a number of separate areas, including a...

Regulator news

Posted on 9 October 2019

Victorian news Government extends quad bike rebate In the same week a three year old was killed on a quad bike, the Victorian Government announced...

SafetyNet Journal

SafetyNet

Ask Renata

OHS Training