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.
Harvest season: opportunity for farmers to 'brush up' on safety
Horticulture businesses in the Koo Wee Rup, Lang Lang and Cardinia regions are being urged to ensure they put health and safety first as harvest season moves into full swing.
WorkSafe, the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions and the Labour Hire Authority are hosting an online information session 6pm to 7pm on Tuesday 19 October. to provide businesses with advice, including how to meet occupational health and safety obligations. The session will also include information on how to stay COVID-safe, support workers and ensure labour hire workers are provided through a licensed labour hire provider.
Agriculture Victoria, Australian Asparagus Council, Victorian Farmers Federation and AUSVEG VIC will also participate in the informal webinar to offer support and answer any questions growers may have. Register here
Subject to COVID-19 restrictions, WorkSafe, Labour Hire Authority and Department of Justice and Community Safety inspectors and authorised officers will conduct compliance checks on farms in the Koo Wee Rup, Lang Lang and Cardinia regions in November to check businesses are operating safely.
Read more: WorkSafe media release
National news
Comcare Webinars
A reminder that Comcare is holding several webinars, including: Managing psychosocial hazards and risks.
The management of psychosocial risks are an issue faced by organisations. This webinar, to be held on October 22, will include practical, solutions-based content, from Comcare as the regulator and national authority. It 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 in the webinars can register on the Comcare website.
National Fatality Statistics
Safe Work Australia has not updated its statistics on fatalities since September 30, at which time it had been notified that 89 Australian workers had been killed at work this year. 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.
