SafetyNet Journal

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SafetyNet 698

Posted on 8 December 2023

In this week's SafetyNet: Sydney Trains’ dopey drug policy, pay gaps under the microscope, WA jumps on the engineered stone ban-wagon, 12 miners killed in...
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FRUIT AND VEG WHOLESALER COPS $50K FORKLIFT FINE

Posted on 6 December 2023

A fruit and vegetable wholesaler has been fined $50,000 after a worker got hit by falling bins from a forklift at their Breakwater warehouse.
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$140K PENALTY FOR FATAL TELEHANDLER SHOCK

Posted on 6 December 2023

Harmony Operations Australia has been fined $140,000 following the electrocution of a 29-year-old worker while operating a telehandler at a feedlot in 2020. The fatality...
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$200K FINE FOR LIFE-CHANGING INJURIES

Posted on 6 December 2023

A food recycling company in Dandenong South has been issued with a $200,000 fine after a worker suffered life-altering injuries. Branin Recycles Pty Ltd has...
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$35K FINE FOR SOLAR FALLS RISK

Posted on 6 December 2023

AI Solar and Electrical Service Pty Ltd faced a $35,000 fine for safety violations during a rooftop installation in Leopold. Workers were spotted on a...
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BEAT END OF YEAR BURNOUT WITH DIGITAL DETOX

Posted on 6 December 2023

RMIT academics are urging employers to assist workers combat burnout during the busy end-of-year period by promoting self-care and digital detoxing.
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INDUSTRIALL TACKLES GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE

Posted on 6 December 2023

The IndustriALL’S Executive Committee recently adopted a global policy to address gender-based violence and harassment, misogyny, and sexism within its work and activities. This policy...
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REVEALED: UK GOVERNMENTS PANDEMIC CONTEMPT FOR WORKERS

Posted on 6 December 2023

The TUC have called for leadership that respects and values workers, most especially during times of national crisis following revelations then Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, refused...
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SOUTH AFRICA: 12 MINE WORKERS KILLED

Posted on 6 December 2023

A horrific incident at an Implats mine in Rustenburg claimed the lives of 12 miners and severely injured 74 others on November 27. The workers...
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FWC SLAMS SYDNEY TRAINS: REINSTATES WORKER

Posted on 6 December 2023

The Fair Work Commission (FWC) has reinstated a Sydney Trains worker who got fired for using cocaine while on leave. The employer didn't clearly communicate...
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WA SUPPORTS BAN - ENGINEERED STONE OUT

Posted on 6 December 2023

The Western Australian Government is backing a national ban on using engineered stone due to the high number of cases of silicosis among workers in...
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WORK STRESS & HEART RISK

Posted on 5 December 2023

Stress at work, like feeling strained in your job or not feeling rewarded for your efforts, can up the chances of getting heart disease. Researchers...
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COVID NUMBERS RELATIVELY STABLE

Posted on 5 December 2023

Victorian data taken from Department of Health Weekly Report 01 December 2023. The number of people in hospital with COVID-19 remained relatively stable this week with a...
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ASK RENATA

Posted on 5 December 2023

Our DWG want to run HSR elections our way, but the company insist we use their text links. They claim to need a record of...
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SafetyNet 697

Posted on 5 December 2023

In this week's SafetyNet: Miter Square’s silica fine quadrupled, Christmas risks in transport, guidance around racial violence at work, the presenteeism problem with remote work and...
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ASK RENATA

Posted on 29 November 2023

I’ve heard that 9-inch grinders have been banned on construction sites. Can you confirm this is true?
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WORLD OHS CONGRESS: THREE PILLARS OF ACTION

Posted on 29 November 2023

The 23rd World Congress on Safety and Health at Work, has commenced in Sydney, with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) emphasising the urgency required to...
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COVID NUMBERS CONTINUE TO CLIMB

Posted on 29 November 2023

Victorian data taken from Department of Health Weekly Report 24 November 2023. The number of people in hospital with COVID-19 increased this week to a daily average of...
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COMMISSION BLASTS LEADERSHIP OVER BULLYING

Posted on 29 November 2023

The Fair Work Commission (FWC) has criticised the local leadership at former Toll subsidiary Team Global Express for not adequately addressing bullying and harassment faced...
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CHRISTMAS RISKS IN TRANSPORT: SAFEWORK TIPS

Posted on 29 November 2023

SafeWork NSW are focussing on the challenges faced by transport workers during the busy Christmas season, which can lead to increased workplace stress and harmful...
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RECORD FINE FOR CRASH THAT KILLED FOUR POLICE

Posted on 29 November 2023

Connect Logistics has been issued with a record-breaking recklessness fine of $2.31 million following the tragic deaths of four police officers in April 2020.
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ILLNESS & REMOTE WORK

Posted on 29 November 2023

German researchers have found that 87% of remote workers worked while sick over a three-month period. Most said it's easier to work when sick at...
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NSW SEEKS TO RE-ESTABLISH SAFETY-FOCUSED COURT

Posted on 28 November 2023

The NSW government wants to re-establish the NSW Industrial Court with judges specialised in workplace health and safety (WHS) matters claiming doing so will make...
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SILICA FINE QUADRUPLED AFTER COMPANY APPEALS

Posted on 28 November 2023

Miter Square has been convicted and fined $28,000 for exposing workers to respirable crystalline silica in the manufacture of engineered stone in Knoxfield.
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FINGER LOST IN DUMPLING MACHINE

Posted on 28 November 2023

My Crazy Auntie's Food has been fined $45,000 after a worker lost part of their finger in a dumpling machine at a Dandenong South factory...
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SafetyNet 696

Posted on 23 November 2023

In this week's SafetyNet: take our super-tricky HSR Conference quiz, asbestos 20 years on from the ban, 16 actions to end NDAs, Qantas guilty of...
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NATIONAL CONVOY FOR TRANSPORT SAFETY

Posted on 22 November 2023

TWU members together with industry groups are organising national convoys to push for transport reform in the face of soaring truck crash deaths.
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ACTU LAUNCHES PSYCH COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE

Posted on 22 November 2023

The ACTU will host a webinar launching a Psychosocial WHS Community of Practice; an online hub resource hub where Unions can access and share resources...
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16 ACTIONS OVER 16 DAYS TO END NDAs - JOIN US!

Posted on 22 November 2023

We Are Union Women have been actively campaigning this year against the misuse of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in cases of workplace sexual harassment.
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ASK RENATA

Posted on 22 November 2023

A contractor was at my work the other day when he unfortunately had a heart attack. I was quite shaken by the experience. How should...
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WEEKLY COVID NUMBERS

Posted on 22 November 2023

Victorian data taken from Department of Health Weekly Report 17 November 2023. The number of people in hospital with COVID-19 decreased this week to a daily average of...
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FORKLIFT AMPUTATION: SCRAP METAL COMPANY FINED 100K

Posted on 22 November 2023

Portland Rusty Scrap Metal has been sentenced over an amputation that occurred in a January 2022 incident in Heywood.
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JUMPING CASTLE TRAGEDY: OPERATOR CHARGED

Posted on 22 November 2023

The operator of the inflatable jumping castle in which six children were fatally injured at Hillcrest Primary School in Tasmania has been charged with breaching...
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CLIMATE, PPE, & HEAT STRAIN IN HEALTHCARE

Posted on 22 November 2023

Rising temperatures caused by climate change, combined with wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) for certain jobs, can significantly increase heat-related risks for workers, especially in...
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CUT SITTING TIME: OFFICE TOOLKIT WORKS!

Posted on 22 November 2023

A recent study found that office workers can reduce their sitting time effectively using a new toolkit, which was deemed sustainable, cost-effective, and satisfying for...
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SUPPLY RELIABLE TECH TO AVOID BURNOUT

Posted on 22 November 2023

A study of 7,000 workers from 2,000 companies has found unreliable technology causes burnout in both manufacturing and service workers.
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COURT BACKS HSR: QANTAS FOUND GUILTY

Posted on 16 November 2023

A Qantas-subsidiary has been found guilty of unlawful discriminatory conduct against a HSR during the early stages of COVID-19, ruling that though the HSRs consultation...
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Safetynet 695

Posted on 15 November 2023

In this week's SafetyNet: warnings on heat risks, serious apprentice injury attracts record fine, the psychological impact of surveillance, Bunnings ends the sale of engineered stone,...
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BUNNINGS ENDS SALE OF ENGINEERED STONE

Posted on 15 November 2023

Hardware chain, Bunnings, a, will stop selling engineered stone by the end of the year in response to health concerns related to silicosis.
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MAN CRUSHED TO DEATH AT WORK BY ROBOT

Posted on 15 November 2023

A man in South Korea has been crushed to death by a robot in after it failed to differentiate him from the boxes of food...
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STRUCTURAL RACISM: BME WOMEN & ZERO HOURS

Posted on 15 November 2023

Recent TUC analysis indicates Black and minority ethnic (BME) women are significantly overrepresented on zero-hours contracts compared to other groups, facing low pay and limited...
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WEEKLY COVID NUMBERS

Posted on 15 November 2023

Victorian data taken from Department of Health Weekly Report 10 November 2023. The number of people in hospital with COVID-19 increased this week to a daily average of...
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ASK RENATA

Posted on 15 November 2023

I requested my employer share video footage of a workplace incident, but they cited privacy concerns for employees. My understanding is that HSRs have the...
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FREE DOWNLOAD: 150 YEARS OF OHS IN VICTORIA

Posted on 14 November 2023

For a limited time, SafetyNet subscribers can download Barry Naismith's illustrated history paper The Story of the 150th Anniversary of OHS in Victoria.
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SURVEILLANCE IMPACT ON REMOTE WORKERS: TRUST IS KEY

Posted on 14 November 2023

A study based on a survey of over 800 white-collar teleworkers found that fostering a sense of trust among remote workers is crucial in reducing...
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HEATWAVE HOSPITALISATIONS SPARK WARNING

Posted on 14 November 2023

Two workers have been hospitalised with heat-related illnesses during the Northern Territory’s first heatwave of 2023, with NT WorkSafe urging employers to identify and manage...
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NURSING & SLEEP PROBLEMS: CAUSES & CONTROLS

Posted on 14 November 2023

A team of researchers from Peking University Third Hospital in China have identified three factors that increase the risk of sleep problems and related health...
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SafetyNet 692

Posted on 13 November 2023

In this week's SafetyNet: engineered stone makers fight back with misinformation, intrusive surveillance and monitoring, tragedy in Derrimut, the harassment crisis in our Universities, mitigating OVA...
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RECORD $2.24M FINE FOR APPRENTICE'S LIFE ALTERING INJURY

Posted on 13 November 2023

Gippsland company, Dennis Jones Engineering Pty Ltd, and its director Dennis Jones, have been convicted and fined a total of $2.24 million after an apprentice...
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SafetyNet 694

Posted on 2 November 2023

In this week's SafetyNet: Café boss fined $300k for sexual harassment, charges filed over airport fall, anger over changes to psych injuriy supports, research linking...
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ASK RENATA

Posted on 1 November 2023

Can an employer remove a HSR?
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WEEKLY COVID NUMBERS

Posted on 1 November 2023

Victorian data taken from Department of Health Weekly Report 27 October 2023. The number of people in hospital with COVID-19 increased this week to a daily average...
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FATAL WHAKAARI ERUPTION LEADS TO GUILTY VERDICT

Posted on 1 November 2023

The owner of White Island/Whakaari, the New Zealand volcano that erupted in 2019, resulting in 22 fatalities, has been found guilty of violating workplace safety...
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‘USE PINs AND OTHER POWERS TO COMBAT BOSSWARE'

Posted on 1 November 2023

Matt Scherer, a senior policy counsel for workers' rights and technology at the Centre for Democracy and Technology in the US, issued a warning about...
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LIMITS TO PSYCH CLAIMS UNDER PROPOSED REFORMS

Posted on 1 November 2023

The Victoria government has announced significant changes to supports available for injured workers claiming the current system is broken. Over the past decade, WorkCover's claims...
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PSYCHOSOCIAL CONTROLS BEST WAY TO REDUCE MSDs

Posted on 31 October 2023

Speaking at a Comcare webinar, prominent ergonomics researcher Professor Jodi Oakman has challenged the traditional approach to musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) prevention, emphasizing the need to...
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PHYSICAL JOBS LINKED TO PRETERM BIRTH

Posted on 31 October 2023

A study from Monash University suggests that employers should consider adjusting working conditions for pregnant women to reduce the risk of preterm birth. The research...
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SAFEWORK AUSTRALIA RECOMMENDS A BAN ON ENGINEERED STONE

Posted on 31 October 2023

On Friday, the WHS (Work Health and Safety) Ministers approved the release of SafeWork Australia's paper, which was commissioned by Commonwealth, State, and Territory WHS...
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POLYMASTER FINED $65K AFTER WORKER LOSES THUMB

Posted on 31 October 2023

A tank manufacturer, Polymaster Pty Ltd, has been fined $65,000 after a worker lost her thumb in an incident at their Swan Hill factory. In...
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HOSPITAL CAFE BOSS FINED $290K FOR HARASSMENT

Posted on 31 October 2023

The boss of two hospital coffee shops and their associated companies has been fined a total of $290,000 due to multiple cases of sexual harassment...
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AIRPORT WORKER'S SERIOUS FALL: CHARGES FILED

Posted on 31 October 2023

Karagata Aust Pty Ltd faces three charges under section 21(1) of the OHS Act for failing to provide a safe and health-risk-free workplace.
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SafetyNet 693

Posted on 26 October 2023

In this week's SafetyNet: Unions ban engineered stone; Australia Post and Court Services Australia criticized for toxic cultures; Safety Week’s final quarter; international action for...
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IF GOVERNMENT DON'T BAN ENGINEERED STONE, WE WILL

Posted on 25 October 2023

As the engineered stone industry places full-page ads in metro newspapers and bombards social media with misinformation, the ACTU Executive have resolved to ban engineered stone by...
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BULLYING TRAUMA AT AUSTRALIA POST: INVESTIGATION SLAMMED

Posted on 25 October 2023

A vulnerable worker was psychologically harmed by bullying from colleagues who were bored and targeted her. The worker, a 19-year-old Afghan refugee, faced discrimination and...
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COURT BODY FINED $379K OVER DEADLY CULTURE

Posted on 25 October 2023

Court Services Victoria (CSV) has been fined around $379,000 because of a harmful workplace culture at the Coroners Court of Victoria. This culture contributed to...
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CHANGING WHITE-COLLAR SLEEP PERCEPTIONS

Posted on 25 October 2023

Researchers interviewed company executives and occupational medicine specialists about sleep health programs in corporate environments and found that demanding work cultures inhibited participation in these...
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WEEKLY COVID NUMBERS

Posted on 24 October 2023

Victorian data taken from Department of Health Weekly Report 20 October 2023. The number of people in hospital with COVID-19 declined again this week to a daily...
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ASK RENATA

Posted on 24 October 2023

Can a HSR from another State represent a DWG that is not in the same State as the HSR and vice versa? What would happen...
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ASK RENATA

Posted on 18 October 2023

I work at a youth justice centre. There's a proposal to transfer clients involved in a seriously violent incident from another facility. We've shared our...
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WEEKLY COVID NUMBERS

Posted on 18 October 2023

Victorian data taken from Department of Health Weekly Report 13 October 2023. The number of people in hospital with COVID-19 declined this week to a daily average of...
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HOW DOES IT FEEL TO WORK HERE?

Posted on 18 October 2023

When Beyond Blue’s CEO, Georgie Harman, recently spoke at Comcare's Psychosocial Health and Safety Forum, she pointed out that while employers and company officers are...
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ENGINEERED STONE MAKERS FIGHT BAN WITH MISINFORMATION

Posted on 18 October 2023

Last week we covered claims made on reality TV show 'The Block' that engineered stone benchtops featured on the program were safe, 'just like beach...
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FATAL CRANE INCIDENT RESULTS IN $200K PENALTY

Posted on 18 October 2023

Timber truss manufacturer, Melbourne Truss Pty Ltd, has been fined $200,000 for unsafe practices that resulted in a worker's death at a construction site in...
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COMMUNITY SERVICE FOR VIOLENT THREATS

Posted on 18 October 2023

In May 2021, an incident occurred at a residential demolition site in Watsonia North, where a company known as Nu Tech Demolition & Asbestos Removal...
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SYDNEY HOSTS GLOBAL SAFETY CONFERENCE: ACTU SECURES TICKETS

Posted on 17 October 2023

This year the World Congress for Safety and Health at Work, considered the ‘pre-eminent’ health and safety conference globally, will be held in Sydney from...
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'ZERO HARM' PROGRAM MITIGATES CUSTOMER AGGRESSION

Posted on 17 October 2023

Carlisle Homes, an employer in the construction industry, has introduced a 'Zero Harm' education program to prevent psychological harm resulting from escalating customer aggression.
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HOME OFFICE INJURY: WORKER'S $12K MATTRESS VICTORY

Posted on 17 October 2023

A worker whose back injury worsened due to a sedentary home office setup during the pandemic has won the right for his employer to provide...
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MINDA COPS $42K FINE OVER WORKPLACE ASSAULT

Posted on 17 October 2023

Not-for-profit organisation, Minda Inc, has been fined for a workplace safety incident occurring in SA in May 2021, in which a worker was assaulted by...
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COMCARE NAMES JOB DEMANDS TOP PSYCH HAZARD

Posted on 17 October 2023

In Australian workplaces, unsafe job demands are the most common psychosocial hazards, according to Comcare's National Regulatory Programs Director, Luka Campbell.
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FANTUAN FINED FOR SAFETY BREACHES

Posted on 17 October 2023

SafeWork NSW has issued penalty notices to online food delivery platform Fantuan for not complying with work health and safety (WHS) regulations in the gig...
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MAJOR WORKPLACE SAFETY REFORMS IN NSW AND WA

Posted on 17 October 2023

Two significant pieces of legislation have passed in New South Wales (NSW) and Western Australia. In NSW, the Work Health and Safety Amendment Bill 2023...
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AFTER-HOURS WORK MESSAGES: RISKS FOR STAFF

Posted on 16 October 2023

Using work-related electronic communication (WREC) outside of work hours is making office workers more tired and depressed, and it's affecting their sleep. Researchers suggest the...
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UNIVERSITY HARASSMENT CRISIS

Posted on 16 October 2023

The NTEU is calling for urgent change after publishing the preliminary results of its latest survey on sexual harassment, sexism, and gender-based bias in tertiary...
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SafetyNet 691

Posted on 12 October 2023

In this week's SafetyNet: upcoming live show: intrusive workplace surveillance and algorithmic management, phase III of our National Asbestos Strategy, engineered stone on The Block, new research...
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SILICA RISKS ON 'THE BLOCK’ – ‘LIKE BEACH SAND, SO IT’S VERY SAFE’

Posted on 11 October 2023

You may have seen that Channel 9’s reality television program ‘The Block’ featured contestants installing Cosentino manufactured stone benchtops in all their kitchens and laundries....
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APPRENTICE FALLS AT DIRECTOR'S HOME: $400K FINE

Posted on 11 October 2023

A NSW court has imposed a pre-discount fine of $400,000 on the sole director of Denbrok Constructions for failing to provide adequate supervision, a fall...
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EL NIÑO TRIGGERS WARNING: PUT MINING WORKERS' SAFETY FIRST

Posted on 10 October 2023

Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ) has issued guidelines to minimize heat stress at mine sites as Australia enters an El Niño weather event, putting...
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QLD MINERS ENCOURAGED TO REFUSE IF IT’S UNSAFE

Posted on 10 October 2023

In the Queensland resources sector, a safety initiative called the Safety Reset is reminding duty holders and workers of their right to stop work if...
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EMPOWER WORKERS AND PREVENT BURNOUT

Posted on 10 October 2023

A Swiss study suggests that to prevent burnout, a combination of individual and organisational interventions is the most effective strategy.
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FACEBOOK PHOTO SINKS COMPO CLAIM

Posted on 10 October 2023

An injured worker's claim for permanent impairment compensation has been challenged due to a Facebook photo of the worker playing hockey. The worker didn't mention...
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AWU CRISIS REPORT: ONE IN TWO EXPERIENCE WORKPLACE BULLYING

Posted on 10 October 2023

New data released on Tuesday by the Australian Workers Union (AWU) indicates that nearly half of Australian workers have encountered bullying, harassment, or workplace discrimination,...
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WEEKLY COVID NUMBERS

Posted on 10 October 2023

Victorian data taken from Department of Health Weekly Report 06 October 2023. The number of people in hospital with COVID-19 continued to increase this week to...
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ASK RENATA

Posted on 9 October 2023

My workplace has black mould in parts of the roof, with water leaking through to inside the office when it rains. This is due to...
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SafetyNet 690

Posted on 5 October 2023

Less than 4 weeks to the VTHC HSR Conference - enrol now! In this week's SafetyNet: counterfeit components endanger mine workers, research on depression risks in...
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WEEKLY COVID NUMBERS

Posted on 4 October 2023

Victorian data taken from Department of Health Weekly Report 29 September 2023
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ASK RENATA

Posted on 4 October 2023

What are my powers as a HSR to request policy documents on drugs and alcohol in my work place? My HR manager is giving me...
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STOCKHOLM: GLOBAL PULP AND PAPER UNIONS PRIORITISE SAFETY

Posted on 4 October 2023

Unions from around the world gathered in Stockholm for the first in-person meeting of the IndustriALL Global Union work group for the pulp and paper...
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$350K FINE FOR ENTIRELY PREVENTABLE FATALITY

Posted on 4 October 2023

Timber processing company D&R Henderson Pty Ltd has been fined $350,000 following an incident at their Benalla timber mill in May 2018 in which worker...
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POOR MAINTENANCE & TRAINING LEADS TO SEVERE HAND INJURY

Posted on 4 October 2023

Victorian company, Cabinetry Pty Ltd, operates a machine known as the Biesse Akron 425 edge banding machine, used to apply edge banding to wooden boards....
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COUNTERFEIT COMPONENTS ENDANGER MINE WORKERS

Posted on 3 October 2023

Employers in the Queensland mining sector have been warned about the dangers of counterfeit equipment components after it was recently discovered counterfeit heavy-duty bearings, marked...
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