November Updates
Axento Safety: Providing you with expert health and safety management solutions to enhance your business success.
Axento Safety’s focus
Axento Safety’s focus is to help create safe, healthy, innovative AND PRODUCTIVE workplaces.
By working with Axento Safety, you can refocus on your productive activities, achieve them more safely and with greater peace of mind.
Claytons Harmonisation – on the way in WA
WA has released its ‘green bill’ for work health and safety reform in general industry.
Norton Rose Fulbright (see link below) dissects the Work Health and Safety Bill, outlining key differences from the existing Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 and the Model Work Health and Safety Bill that it is based on.
It also provides comment on how the Department of Mines and Petroleum proposes to structure reforms to resources safety laws. Read the Norton Rose Fulbright legal update .
Jons comment: It will be interesting to see whether the Victorian government will continue to refuse harmonisation. Victoria will need to change its approach if the outcome of the recent stripping out of the Victorian WorkCover Authority’s ability to do its job results in a jump in incident rates, severities and additional costs to individuals, employers and the community.
SWA Virtual Seminar Series RESOURCES
The first Australian Strategy Virtual Seminar Series (VSS) is now over. We hope you enjoyed it! These discussion panels, video presentations, infographics and reports are still available from the Safe Work Australia website.
Jons comment: I recommend at least browsing the titles and checking some of them out.
Keys to Building a Culture of Safety Citizenship
Most organisations typically struggle to achieve what is regarded as the pinnacle of a safety citizenship culture: total employee engagement in safety, the adoption of the organisation’s safety goals as their own, and a genuine commitment to continuous safety improvement. Read more…
Jons comment: If you have the OHS/WHS systems in place then this should be your next step. If your systems are not yet fully operational then combining the softer skills and expectations within your systems is important for safe and productive outcomes.
Recall Cree CXB High Bay LED light fittings
Advanced Lighting Technologies Australia Pty Ltd (ADLTA) – Cree CXB High Bay LED light fittings have been recalled. Read more
Recalled ladders still in use
If you use Ox fibreglass platform ladders or have them on your site check they are safe to use. . The ladders do not comply with the mandatory safety standard because of an issue with the platform hinge. The defect may result in or contribute to falls from the ladder. For more information see Safety Recall: Ox fibreglass platform ladder: Read more
Workplace Safety Improves Business Productivity
There are links between workplace health and safety measures and better business performance, including increased productivity, lower costs, greater innovation and higher profitability, according to a recent research report. Read more..
How to Reduce the High Cost of Skin Cancer
SunSmart recently urged workplaces in Victoria to protect their employees from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation (UV), or risk paying increased premiums. Read more…
Key Legal WHS Changes on the Horizon
In most organisations, real gains in WHS performance are more likely to come from improving delivery in existing systems than adding new layers of complexity, according to an international law firm. Read more…
First Annual Report on the WHS Strategy 2012-2022
A snapshot of case studies and the progress made towards the goals of the Australian Strategy can be found in the First annual progress report on the Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy 2012-2022. This report covers the period 1 October 2012 to 30 September 2013.
Building health and safety capability
The WHS professional associations are collaborating to strengthen the skills of their members. Many are board members on a voluntary tertiary education recognition program overseen by the OHS Education Accreditation Board.
The Board recently compiled the Developing OHS Capability Package to assist employers and recruiters evaluate, and where appropriate, support development of capability in their WHS personnel. This is clearly needed when Work-related injuries and illnesses cost $60.6 billion dollars or 4.8 per cent of GDP (ABS)
Design Safety report – Machinery, Plant and PowerTools
Safe Work Australia have released the Work-related fatalities associated with unsafe design of machinery, plant and powered tools, (2006-2011) report.
Of the 523 fatalities examined in this study, 36 per cent or 188 fatalities were found to be either definitely or possibly design-related, meaning that these fatalities would probably not have occurred if the risks of the equipment involved had been eliminated through safe design.
According to the report the most common causes of design-related deaths were:
- inadequate guarding (21 per cent)
- lack of roll-over protection structures/seat belts (15 per cent)
- lack of residual current device (12 per cent)
- lack of interlock (eight per cent), and
- driver obstructed vision (eight per cent).
Less well-known is the number of fatal incidents involving the users of elevating work platforms being crushed against roofing and beams— with seven fatalities recorded during the period 2006-2011. To view report visit SWA work-related-fatalities-unsafe-design report.
Jons Comment: I recommend that if you use machinery, plant or power tools, you conduct a review of design safety, operator competence and general compliance in the context of your workplace(s). Your review should begin with the 5 dot points above. Call Axento Safety for assistance if required.
Alliance partner: Specialist smoking cessation course
There is a new course available from Health and Wellbeing Training Consultants for health and community professionals, supervisors and managers who seek to effectively motivate, encourage and support smokers to quit or better manage their smoking. See http://www.thinkhealthwellbeing.com.au/events/ for details.
Cost of Work-related Injury and Illness
The total economic cost of work-related injuries and illnesses for the 2008–09 financial year is estimated to be $60.6 billion dollars, representing 4.8 per cent of GDP for the 2008–09 financial year. The Cost of Work-related Injury and Illness for Australian Employers, Workers and the Community 2008–09
Jons Comments, Preventing injury and illness assists profitability, productivity, compliance, morale and retention as well as being quicker, cheaper and makes your life easier: Would you like Axento Safety assistance to help you achieve greater productivity, profitability and compliance in your business? Axento Safety can also assist you to quantify the real cost of an incident. This better informs business case decision making.