December Updates
Legislation update:
Safe Work Australia releases a revised Code of Practice on construction, and guides to workplace bullying and fatigue
Safe Work Australia has released a revised model Code of Practice on construction work and guidance on workplace bullying and fatigue.
Construction Code of Practice
The model Code of Practice: Construction Work is a revised version of the Code of Practice previously published by Safe Work Australia in July 2012.
This model Code has been amended to provide additional guidance for the housing construction sector.
It covers information on the requirements relating to construction work under the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulations (such as work health and safety management plans and induction training) as well as guidance on the main hazards and risks in the construction industry.
For ease of reference amendments made to the original model Code of Practice: Construction Work are set out in a table at the end of the Code.
Workplace Bullying Guides and FAQs
Safe Work Australia have converted the draft Code of Practice: Preventing and Responding to Workplace Bullying into a Guide for Preventing and Responding to Workplace Bullying. It has been released together with Dealing with Workplace Bullying – A Worker’s Guide and a set of frequently asked questions (FAQs) on workplace bullying. The guides on workplace bullying focus on the duty to manage risks under work health and safety laws and provide advice to businesses and workers on how to prevent workplace bullying and how to respond if it does occur.
The guides and FAQs will be reviewed to account for developments in relation to workplace bullying, including any significant decisions of the Fair Work Commission.
Managing the Risk of Fatigue at Work
Managing the Risk of Fatigue at Work and Fatigue Management – A Worker’s Guide provides guidance for persons conducting a business or undertaking and other duty holders on how to manage fatigue in the workplace.
Meat Processing Firm Fined $110,000
A meat processing firm in NSW was recently fined $110,000 following an incident in which a worker sustained superficial burns after starting a fire when he cut through a butane gas line in cutting a concrete floor.
Contract workers v Fulltime employees
A report on mine safety in Queensland has shown that contract workers are still at greater risk of on-site death than full-time employees, despite injury levels dropping overall.
The Queensland Mines and Quarry Safety Report for 2012-2013 was released late last week, and says that around 90 per cent of mining industry fatalities in the last decade have involved a contract worker.
Safe Work Australia: Update to Industry fact Sheets –Check out your sector below
A number of industries have been identified as priority industries for work health and safety through research and data analysis.
Further information on these industries is available by clicking on the following links:
Agriculture, forestry and fishing
For more information on the justification of priority industries, read The National OHS Strategy 2002-2012. This strategy provides a basis for developing sustainable, safe and healthy work environments and for reducing the incidence of death, injury and disease in the workplace.
Positive performance indicators show safety performance before an injury occurs
A recent study published in the US has found serious shortcomings in using traditional lag indicators for measuring safety. The researchers from the School of Building Construction, University of Florida note that lag indicators, such as lost time injuries, incident reports and workers’ compensation costs are not useful as future predictors for safety in the workplace.
[Full article] Jon Temby can help you to identify positive performance indicators that will assist your business to perform better.
Unsafe trolleys and unswept floor cost employer $1m
An ACT employer that failed to ensure its loaded trolleys had handles so workers didn’t have to bend to push them, has been ordered to pay an injured worker more than $1 million in damages. The Supreme Court found Integrated Forrest Products Pty Ltd – now in external administration – had unsafe systems of work and an unsafe area of work.
…Read More These costs are totally avoidable, do you need help to identify and manage hazards in your workplace?
Companies Drop the Ball on Injury Intervention
Australian organisations are dragging the chain when it comes to early intervention for workers who have suffered a physical or psychological injury, according to a recent research report.
“One of the key findings of this report is that the earlier a referral is made post injury, the greater the likelihood of a successful return to work,”
Read more.. Organisations can increase profits by controlling Workers Compensation losses, call Jon if you would like some strategies to improve safety performance.
Seasons Greetings to all my valued clients and contacts. Thank you for your support over the past year.
None of us really know how many incidents and injuries we have prevented but NOT ONE OF MY REGULAR CLIENTS HAS HAD A SERIOUS INCIDENT THIS YEAR! Keep up the good work.
Stay safe during your festive season activities and come back refreshed for work in the New Year.
Jon
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