State of OHS in Victoria 2018
Barry Naismith, of OHSIntros, has produced his tenth paper in the series produced to contribute to the debate about the state of OHS in Victoria. The current paper, which covers the 2018 OHS financial and calendar year, is the sixth on the annual operation of the Victorian WorkCover Authority (WorkSafe). To prepare the paper, the author has interrogated the available data, noting that there are still two major areas of concern:
- The lack of data/or access to data; and
- Under-reporting of data/absence of data
The paper provides a considered discussion on issues such as how to adequately recognise the harm, injury claims and costs, claims management, workplace fatalities (and deaths), compliance and enforcement, the emerging 'Wellbeing at work' and more. Access to the paper is free until July 31 - click here to download.
UK: Most LGBT people report being sexually harassed at work
Nearly 7 in 10 (68 per cent) lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people report being sexually harassed at work, according to new research published by the UK's Trade Union Congress (TUC). The report - which the union body says is the first major study into LGBT sexual harassment at work in Great Britain - found:
- more than 2 in 5 (42 per cent) LGBT people who responded to the survey said colleagues made unwelcome comments or asked unwelcome questions about their sex life.
- more than a quarter (27 per cent) reported receiving unwelcome verbal sexual advances.
- but two-thirds (66 per cent) said they did not tell their employer about the harassment, and quarter of those said they didn't report it because they were afraid of being 'outed' at work.
- Around 1 in 6 (16 per cent) said the sexual harassment at work affected their mental health.
- A similar proportion (16 per cent) told the TUC that they had left their job as a result of being sexually harassed
- and for 1 in 25, the experience was so unbearable they said it caused them to leave their job without another job to go to.
TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: "This research reveals a hidden epidemic. In 2019 LGBT people should be safe and supported at work. But instead they're experiencing shockingly high levels of sexual harassment and assault." She added: "Workplace culture needs to change. No one should think that a colleague being LGBT is an invitation for sexualised comments or inappropriate questions – let alone serious acts of assault. Government must change the law to put the responsibility for preventing harassment on employers, not victims. And anyone worried about sexual harassment at work should join a union." Read more: TUC news release and report. Morning Star. Source: Risks 898
