OHS Month: WorkSafe Victoria events
The state's OHS regulator has scheduled a number of free events in late October as part of Health and Safety Month. Remember the VTHC is also running our annual OHS Reps' Conference - the biggest event for HSRs, so if you can only attend one event, make it this one!
To check out WorkSafe's events - mainly online webinars, go to the Health and Safety Month webpage.
National news
Comcare webinars
Comcare is holding several webinar, including: Managing psychosocial hazards and risks.
The management of psychosocial risks are an issue faced by organisations. This webinar will include practical, solutions-based content, from Comcare as the regulator and national authority.
This webinar will feature Comcare guest presenters:
- Tom Dawson, Director Regional Operations SA/NT
- Michael Dubravac, Senior Inspector Regional Operations VIC/TAS
- Justin Napier, General Manager Regulatory Operations Group, will MC this webinar.
The webinar will detail:
- Psychosocial hazards and risks - what are they and what are the impacts on workers
- The data, insights and challenges faced with managing these hazards and risks
- How to effectively manage psychosocial hazards and risks using guidance materials and tools available.
Comcare is also hosting two more webinars for National Safe Work Month. Those interested can register for them on the Comcare website.
National Fatality Statistics
Safe Work Australia updated its statistics on fatalities on September 30, at which time it had been notified that 89 Australian workers had been killed at work this year - five more since the last update on September 16. The total numbers of fatalities have been in the following sectors:
- 33 in Transport, postal & warehousing
- 12 in Construction
- 10 in Agriculture, forestry & fishing
- 9 in Manufacturing
- 6 in Mining
- 5 in Arts & recreation services
- 4 in Public administration & safety
- 3 in Electricity, gas, water & waste services
- 2 in Other Services
- 1 in Wholesale trade
- 1 in Accommodation & food services
- 1 in Education & training
- 1 in Retail trade
- 1 in Administrative & support services
These figures are based mainly on initial media reports and provide a preliminary estimate of the number of people killed while working. Once the appropriate authority has investigated the death, more accurate information becomes available from which Safe Work Australia updates details of the incident, consequently sometimes the numbers of deaths in each sector change. Updated information is used to publish Safe Work Australia’s annual Work-related Traumatic Injury Fatalities report which includes finalised work-related fatalities from 2003 onwards. Note that the figures are based on preliminary reports, and so at times will change. To check for updates, and for more details on fatalities since 2003, go to the Safe Work Australia Work-related fatalities webpage.