July Updates
Axento Safety: Providing you with expert health and safety management solutions to enhance your business success.
I look forward to hearing from you. Jon Temby
Legislation update:
National work health and safety guidance material released
Safe Work Australia has just released nine packages of national guidance material to support the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act and WHS Regulations. The topics are:
- Workplace traffic management
- Managing cash-in-transit security risks
- Managing risks in forestry operations
- Industrial lift trucks
- Amusement devices
- Safe design, manufacture, import and supply of plant
- Working in the vicinity of overhead and underground electric lines
- Formwork and falsework, and
- Scaffolds and scaffolding work.
Whilst this guidance material is not legally binding in all Australian jurisdictions, Axento Safety recommends that the content of any guidance material relevant to your business be downloaded and reviewed against current state based guidance and best practice.
Fortescue Metals Commits to Improved Safety
Two fatalities and a number of serious safety incidents at Fortescue Metals have prompted the group to re-examine its use of contractors and commit to a number of OHS improvements. Read more..
WorkCover Insurance premium bill
This year there are several changes to the Workers Compensation premium process and potential savings can be made:
- Premium notices were issued on 12 July 2014;
- A 5% discount is available if you pay in full before 1st August;
- VWA will estimate your remuneration for next year, check its assumptions and challenge if needed – dont pay more than you have to; and most importantly
- If you are paying anything over the ‘Industry Rate’, contact Jon Temby (0439 441 264) to discuss how you can save additional money.
Action Needed On Chemical Hazards In The Workplace
Significant progress has been made concerning the regulation and management of chemicals in the field of OHS, but more needs to be done, according to the UN’s International Labour Organization (ILO). Read more.. The ILO said the reality is that there are so many chemicals to which workers may be exposed that this substance-by-substance approach will never be able to adequately protect them.
“Most workers are exposed to mixtures, rather than individual chemical substances, therefore the control of mixed exposures is critical for an effective protective programme,” it said.
Jons Question: Are your hazardous Substances and Dangerous Goods the safest ones available for the job?, Do your workers know how to use them safely? Are they following all the necessary safety requirements – including when unsupervised?
Avoiding Contractor OHS Management Pitfalls
Organisations often fall into the trap of thinking “not my employee, not my problem” when it comes to contractor management, but this is not the case in the eyes of the law, according to a national law firm. Read more… “There is a unique balance that needs to be struck to ensure that the contractors are being utilised to provide their expertise and the associated risks are being effectively managed.”
Jons Question: Are your Contractor Management procedures assisting you to effectively manage your contractors? Help is available if required.
Do you have Fatality Risks in your workplace?
Queensland Police Minister Jack Dempsey recently said “We see more and more Queenslanders every year losing their lives over things that are avoidable”. “If we could put a price on a fatality, each death costs $3.5 million to the community, let alone the pain and the suffering.”
We need to actively support the extended family and co-workers experiencing the pain and suffering resulting from a workplace fatality. There will also be significant pain, suffering and potentially ongoing feelings of guilt for directors and management. This is in addition to the legal, reputational and financial implications should a fatality occur.
Jons Comment: If you need assistance to identify and/or manage your potential fatality risks, please call Jon Temby
IF YOU CHANGE THE WAY YOU LOOK AT THINGS, THE THINGS YOU LOOK AT CHANGE. Dr. Wayne Dyer)
New approaches to health and safety management can result in increased flexibility, innovation, productivity and profitability – are you ready for the change? Axento Safety can assist.
3 Key Compliance Steps for Directors in Workplace Bullying
There are three key steps directors can take to ensure compliance with the new workplace bullying regime, according to a national law firm. Read more..
Jons Comments: Does your organisation have a respectful behaviour policy and well as reporting and investigation arrangements and a proactive approach to ensure that the culture is one of tolerance and diversity?
The Manufacturing Productivity Networks Grants may be of interest
A focus of Axento Safety is to assist organisations to improve productivity and profitability. Round 5 of the Manufacturing Productivity Networks (MPN) Program opened for applications on 7 July 2014.
The MPN is part of the Victorian Government’s Manufacturing Strategy “A More Competitive Manufacturing Industry”. According to ICN, matched funding to $600,000 is available for approved projects. Apply now if interested. Read more...
Influenza: make flu shots work for you
Jons Question: Are you providing your workers with flu shots? The benefits can include improved attendance, morale, productivity, reliability and retention. That leads to improved profitability: it’s a no-brainer.
Are you new to Axento Safety?
If you are looking for a highly skilled health and safety advisor that is: well qualified, experienced, pro-active and commercially pragmatic – I invite you to connect with me.
I look forward to making your acquaintance and receiving your instructions over the phone, in person or by email. Jon Temby, 0439 441 264