November Updates
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Employers warned to put OHS first with reopening
Employers in Victoria are being warned to put health and safety first, including COVID-19 safety, ahead of businesses reopening.
This includes completing housekeeping before reopening to ensure a workplace is safe, training and instructing staff on how to complete tasks and use equipment safely, and ensuring equipment and machinery is restarted in line with manufacturer specifications.
Employers must also provide adequate supervision and instruction to all staff where work practices have changed and for any new staff that might be unfamiliar with the workplace. Every WorkSafe inspection now includes an assessment of COVID-19 preparedness to ensure businesses have social distancing, good hygiene practices and a COVID-safe work plan.
WorkSafe Health and Safety Executive Director Julie Nielsen said employers had to remember all their health and safety obligations as businesses reopen.
“Employers should take the time to review their health and safety processes and consult with their workers or health and safety representatives about controls in place to keep everyone safe,” Ms Nielsen said.
“In the excitement to reopen and get back on the job it is important that employers seriously take stock of health and safety risks in their business.” Further details here: Put-safety-first-during-reopening
50 year anniversary of the Westgate Bridge collapse
It was shortly before lunchtime when I heard by radio that the Westgate Bridge had collapsed. I distinctly recall the black and white images on the television news and in the newspapers at the time. This tragedy killed 35 people. We were all shocked by the event and it was important in raising the publics awareness of the need for improved health and safety legislation and more importantly, better health and safety practices. See https://www.youtube.com/watch for a brief recap of the event.
In the context of structural and building safety, health and safety expectations should not just focus on the safety of intended users but start with the inherent safety of the building or structures design, on safe constructability, on safer construction practices and on the safety of those who will need to service and maintain the building or structure throughout its working life. A focus on visitor and user safety is critical but if that is our sole focus then the risks for others usually increase. The multiple failings associated with the Westgate Bridge collapse are a salient reminder of that limited safety focus.
National OHS/WHS Statistics
Understanding the causes of injury and the industries most affected can help reduce work-related fatalities, injuries and disease. Each year, Safe Work Australia produces national work health and safety statistics, providing important evidence on the state of work health and safety in Australia.
Their latest publication provides an overview of national work-related fatality and workers’ compensation claims data. Read the key work health and safety statistics report.
Key findings include:
- 183 people were fatally injured at work in 2019
- machinery operators and drivers had the highest number of fatalities by occupation (72 fatalities) in 2019
- there were a total of 114,435 serious workers’ compensation claims in Australia in 2018-19
- the agriculture, forestry and fishing industry had the highest worker fatality rate in 2019
- body stressing was the leading cause of serious workers’ compensation claims in 2018-19, accounting for 36% of all serious claims
- vehicle collisions accounted for 43% of worker fatalities in 2019.
Jons comments: This summary report is easy to read, mostly based on charts and graphs and most people will be interested in the findings. Its worth at least a quick browse. Plus download Safe Work Australia’s other work health and safety resources here. Share the stats report and this information to promote improved health and safety awareness and performance in your workplaces.
Industrial Manslaughter laws passed in WA
After nearly four weeks of debate, the McGowan Government’s Work Health and Safety (WHS) Bill has passed the Legislative Council. It is similar to the laws passed in Victoria, Queensland and the ACT. The new law is expected to come into force early next year.
A result of significant public concern and the recommendations of two national reviews, the new legislation includes criminalising industrial manslaughter – this includes a maximum penalty of between five and 20 years of imprisonment for an individual and a maximum $10 million fine for a body corporate.
Other new aspects include increased penalties, prohibiting insurance coverage for WHS penalties and the introduction of enforceable undertakings as an alternative penalty. Further brief details here.
Workers comp data re COVID
Safe Work Australia have provided new COVID-19 Workers Comp data by claim type, industry, occupation, age, gender and jurisdiction. Key findings show that as at 31 July 2020:
- 533 workers’ compensation claims related to COVID-19 were lodged in Australia
- 34% of these claims related to mental health impacts of COVID-19
- 34% of workers’ compensation claims lodged were from the health care and social assistance industry
- 17% of workers’ compensation claims lodged were from the public administration and safety industry
- the ‘community and personal service workers’ occupation had the highest number of workers’ compensation claims.
The data has been collected from the relevant Commonwealth, state and territory workers’ compensation authorities. See the brief snapshot here.
For more information relating to COVID-19, see SWA’s COVID-19 work health and safety (WHS) guidance for workplaces. Information is available for 37 industries covering topics including WHS duties, risk assessments, physical distancing, cleaning, hygiene and mental health.
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing, traditionally high-risk industries in Australia’s injury and fatality stats have largely escaped the worst of the pandemic. There is nothing like open spaces and clean air for good (pandemic related) health.
Welding – updated carcinogen information
In 2017, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the World Health Organisation that coordinates and conducts research into the causes of human cancer, determined there was enough evidence to upgrade the carcinogenic status of welding fumes and, for the first time, to classify UV radiation.
The IARC:
- reclassified the carcinogenic status of welding fumes from Group 2B Carcinogen (possibly carcinogenic to humans) to Group 1 Carcinogen (carcinogenic to humans).
- classified UV radiation emitted during welding as a Group 1 Carcinogen.
Safe Work Australia published a Code of Practice on Welding Processes (CoP). The CoP details how a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU), and workers, can effectively manage welding hazards such as fumes and radiation. The CoP also includes information on control measures such as ventilation, personal protective equipment (PPE) and maintenance of equipment.
The following brief article details the actions required and the control measure to be taken https://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/safety-alerts/safety-alerts/new-classification-welding-fumes-and-uv-radiation.
Jons comments: All welders, all workers in the vicinity of welding operations and the people in control of those who are, need to read this information and verify the adequacy of your current welding fumes and welding UV emissions controls. By looking after the health and safety of your employees well, you maintain enthusiasm and productivity. Not doing so can easily result in low productivity, Workers Comp and/or Regulator issues emerging.
Victorian Health and Safety Month videos now available
WorkSafe’s Health and Safety Month series of webinars ‘Navigating through COVID-19’, are now available to download. You can catch up on any webinars you may have missed, or share the ones you liked with your team.
There are 12 Health and Safety Month videos to download and watch that cover topics such as:
- Managing mental health through the pandemic,
- Working remotely,
- Leadership,
- Fatigue,
- Supporting injured workers,
- And the impact on premiums.
Hear from WorkSafe and industry experts on how to manage the risks and what support is available.
Updated Model WHS Hazardous Chemicals Regs
Safe Work Australia has updated the model Work Health and Safety Regulations (Hazardous Chemicals) Amendment 2020 and explanatory statement for the transition to GHS 7.
The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals Revision 7 (GHS 7) is a global method of classifying chemicals and preparing labels and safety data sheets (SDS). Australia will begin a two-year transition to GHS 7 from 1 January 2021.
The updates correct an error that could have required businesses to relabel old stock of hazardous chemicals in some circumstances.
If you have downloaded the previous versions, you should re-download the updated versions. The versions published on 5 November 2020 should be used in place of the original published on 28 August 2020 in all cases.
These updated amendments will be inserted into the model WHS Regulations from 1 January 2021.
Please note that amendments to the model WHS Regulations do not automatically apply in a jurisdiction. For the model WHS Regulations, including any amendments, to have effect in a jurisdiction, they must be made in that jurisdiction. Review the WHS laws in your jurisdiction and contact your WHS regulator for more information.
To help businesses understand the changes required under GHS 7, Safe Work Australia has published a dedicated GHS 7 web page and suite of information sheets. For more information, go to the GHS 7 web page.