Victorian news
Reminder of WorkSafe Victoria's OHS Month events
WorkSafe 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.
WorkSafe Victoria Awards postponed
Due to the ongoing restrictions for gatherings, WorkSafe Victoria has postponed both the Awards ceremony and the announcement of the winners. The event was originally scheduled to be held on October 7, but will now be held in early 2022.
HSR newsletter out now
WorkSafe's online October HSR Newsletter was posted to subscribers yesterday. An interesting item is a reminder of the regulator's Injury Hotspot Tool. The tool provides an industry-wide snapshot of not only how people get injured at work but also where the injuries occur.
Over 50 types of industries featured with data and information available on possible hazards and solutions. The tool is available to all parties to help discussions between HSRs, workers and employers about how to have safety solutions in place, to protect workers from the most common sources of injury.
The newsletter also reminds workers who work with silica to 'be silica smart and get tested at the new clinic' and remembers the anniversary of the West Gate Bridge disaster.
National news
Comcare Webinars
Comcare's webinars are this week - Managing psychosocial hazards and risks is this Friday, October 22, and includes practical, solutions-based content. 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.
Clean Air. Clean Lungs
The Occupational lung diseases are conditions of the respiratory system caused by workplace exposure to dusts, gases, fumes and vapours.
This week for National Safe Work Month, Safe Work Australia is asking everyone in industries with a high risk of occupational lung disease to think, work and be safe. The national body has released a series of information sheets about different occupational lung diseases which include:
Safe Work Australia has also been running the Clean Air. Clear Lungs. campaign which provides PCBUs (employers) with information about how to identify and manage the risks of occupational lung diseases at their workplaces. For more information visit: National Safe Work Month CACL webpage
National Fatality Statistics
Safe Work Australia updated its statistics on fatalities on October 14, at which time it had been notified that 102 Australian workers had been killed at work this year, 13 more than its last update on September 30. Fatalities have been in the following sectors:
- 35 in Transport, postal & warehousing
- 18 in Agriculture, forestry & fishing
- 12 in Construction
- 10 in Manufacturing
- 6 in Mining
- 5 in Arts & recreation services
- 5 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
- 1 in Healthcare & social assistance
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.