September Updates
Legislation Update: Changes to clarify chemical transport code
(Extract from “OHSCareer”) Plans are underway to amend and update the laws governing the transport of chemicals on Australian highways and rail lines.
The National Transport Commission has released a draft of amendments to its code of practice for public consultation. The laws will be updated in line with the latest international guidelines in a suite of proposed amendments. Amendments are to be made to the Australian Dangerous Goods Code 7th Edition (ADG7).
Some of the possible changes being considered include an update to markings and labels for consistent regulations across land, air and sea transport; an improvement to business certainty through legal exemptions; a requirement for prime contractors and drivers to carry transport documents and emergency information; and a requirement to prepare and report emergency plans.
The changes seek to bring Australian legislation in line with the United Nations’ Model Regulations, which are the principal technical standards for the transport of dangerous goods. The UN Model Regulations are updated periodically. This amendment package proposes changes to bring ADG7 in line with the latest editions (16th and 17th) of the UN Model Regulations. More information is available from the National Transport Commission.
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Are your Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) working?
SWMS were originally designed to assist the briefing of workers on what to do and on how to do it safely.
SWMS have become in some instances, confusing and at times encyclopaedic repositories of health and safety information better housed elsewhere and definitely NO LONGER USEFUL when briefing workers to help them do their job safely.
I am dismayed at political comments about reducing health and safety red tape. The issue is NOT reducing the red tape (i.e. the legislative obligations) is it about reducing the problems created with good intent by people who have misunderstood the practical application of the SWMS and filled it with everything that might be needed to meet vague compliance related purposes. This has been exacerbated by the Federal Safety Commission and is creating confusion and probable detriment to the safety of those who we think we are helping.
Prestart briefings on 10, 20 or 100 page SWMS waste lots of time and are not remembered. Our aim is to ensure that our workers are given and remember the information needed to do their job safely at that time and in that situation.
Are your SWMS helping you, your workers and your business? Improving them is important to controlling risk.
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Safety reminder
Every week about 50 Victorian construction workers are seriously injured and have to stop work, often because site safety is not up to scratch. While there have been some improvements over recent years, injury rates are still too high and some workers don’t make it home, as we saw recently when a 20-year-old apprentice carpenter and 25-year-old electrician died on the same day. If you have people aged 15-24 working for you, whether they are permanent, casual, part-time, contractors or apprentices, remember they have a higher chance of getting injured than any other age group.
Do you know whether your current health and safety hazards are under control?
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Stay safe in the sun
The season is warming up, Summer will be with us soon and we are at greater UV risk because of it.
With at least two in every three people developing skin cancer before the age of 70, Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world. Outdoor workers have an even higher risk of skin cancer due to the long periods they spend outside in the sun all year round. SunSmart are currently visiting workplaces with their Workplace Education Program, which offers one-hour face-to-face group sessions with an experienced facilitator. To find out more, call 03 9635 5148, email sunsmart@cancervic.org.au or go to sunsmart.com.au.
WorkSafe also have advice for how to work safely in the sun.
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Open for public comment
Draft model Work Health and Safety Code of Practice for Managing Risks in Stevedoring
Draft model Work Health and Safety Code of Practice: Construction Work
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Bullying
Organisations must ensure their systems and procedures seek to eliminate potential bullying and enable the organisation to defend any bullying claims. They should include:
- Appropriate risk assessment systems and corresponding control measures to mitigate against the risk of bullying and its effects; and
- Control measures such as strong:
a) policies that state that bullying will not be tolerated by anyone including senior staff;
b) training programmes for all staff about the organisation’s policies and the delivery of skills to deal with instances of bullying when they occur;
c) role modelling of the expected behaviours by all senior staff;
d) informal and formal complaints handling procedures that are well publicised in the organisation and easily accessible;
e) credible investigation procedures that increase the likelihood that:
– staff will trust those processes and their outcomes (reducing the likelihood of third party intervention); and
– the organisation’s decisions will be defensible if they are reviewed by a third party.
Changes to Bullying legislation/Claims
From January 2014, claims of bullying will be able to be made under the Fair Work Act as well as the local Health and Safety acts. Unless very well developed anti bullying provisions are in place, organisations may now find themselves supporting a lawyers breakfast should a claim be simultaneously lodged with both regulators.
Do you have good anti bullying/respectful behaviour policies, procedures and behaviours in place?
Do your procedures need review?