02:12 pm, Thursday 9 May, 2013

The Institute of Public Administration’s photography competition, “A day in the life of a public servant” is now open. Sponsored by Comcare, the competition aims to show the diversity of public sector roles, highlighting the importance of workplace health and safety and worker wellbeing.

To enter, participants must share their interpretation of ‘A day in the life of a public servant’, which could be portrayed as site visits, meeting at Parliament or consultations with indigenous communities.

Competition entries should be submitted as a PDF poster to admin@act.ipaa.org.au together with a competition registration form.

Cash prizes await the winners who will be announced during a special presentation at the IPAA 2013 National Conference from 20-21 November 2013 in Canberra.

Further information and downloadable forms can be accessed via the IPAA website.

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11:37 am, Sunday 5 May, 2013

In a recent Queensland audit of workplace fatalities has revealed that the construction industry and the agriculture sector are the most dangerous in the state.

A report by Workplace Health and Safety discovered that between January and June last year 19 people died after being involved in incidents in a workplace.

Out of all the workers that lost their lives 90% of them were male.

The breakdown of the deaths that were studied by industry is:

- Agriculture 6

- Construction 6

- Manufacturing 1

- Mining 1

- Government 1

- Automotive repairs 1

In the report, the highest number of deaths was 8 in south west Queensland with one of the incidents involving a man dying after he hit his head after being knocked to the ground by a steer.

The most common injury that led to the death of a worker was internal trauma to the chest, abdomen and pelvis. Four of the deaths were caused by electrocution and brain injury.

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05:48 pm, Tuesday 9 April, 2013

WorkCover Queensland will conduct a free mining forum on Thursday, 18 April 2013, from 9.00am to 11.30am. Issues specific to the mining industry as well as issues pertaining to workplace safety and injury management will be discussed.

Topics will include:

• Overview of IPaM program and tools to assist with injury prevention by Suzanne Johnson, WHSQ
• Common law: Liability considerations – do we have to pay? By Michael Bannister, WorkCover Queensland
• Injury management roundtable discussion (opportunity to share ideas on current best practice)

Details:

Thursday 18 April 2013

9am to 11.30am, morning tea provided

WorkCover East Customer Service Centre, 99 Southgate Avenue, Southgate Corporate Park, Cannon Hill

A live webinar will be provided to those who cannot attend in person.

To RSVP, contact jane.stevens@workcoverqld.com.au by 12 April 2013.

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04:05 pm, Tuesday 9 April, 2013

A worker was injured this morning when he came into contact with a bobcat in Gladstone, Queensland.

Workplace Health and Safety were called to investigate the incident where the worker has received serious leg injuries at approximately 9am.

The worker was taken to the Gladstone Base Hospital with severe leg injuries and Workplace Health and Safety are investigating the incident.

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12:12 pm, Tuesday 19 February, 2013

In addition to SafetyCulture’s report on the breakfast forum in March, SafeWork SA is conducting several regional information sessions to assist workers and businesses with South Australia’s adoption of nationally harmonised workplace safety laws on 1 January 2013.

Berri – Berri Resort Hotel, Riverview Drive

• Tuesday 5 March 2013, from 5:30 to 7:30pm

Mt Gambier – Main Corner Complex, 1 Bay Road

• Wednesday 13 March 2013, from 12:00 to 1:30pm
• Wednesday 13 March 2013, from 5:30 to 7:30pm

Whyalla – Regional Development Australia – Whyalla, 127 Nicolson Ave

• Tuesday 26 March 2013, from 5:30 to 7:30pm

Pt Augusta – Standpipe Golf Motor Inn, 1 Daw Street

• Wednesday 27 March 2013, from 9:30 to 11:00am

More information about the information sessions is available at the SafeWork SA website.

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10:40 pm, Sunday 20 January, 2013

SafeWork SA will conduct several Open House sessions to cater to people who want to learn more about the nationally harmonised workplace safety laws and ask other work health and safety questions.

SafeWork SA officers will be present to answer questions. There will also be short presentations followed by a question and answer portion.

To register, visit the SafeWork SA website.

State Administration Centre Theatre, 200 Victoria Square Adelaide, from noon to 1pm, comprising short presentation followed by a question and answer session:

• Monday 21 January 2013

SafeWork SA, Level 4, Coffey Building, 33 Richmond Road, Keswick, anytime between 5.30pm and 7pm to talk one-on-one with SafeWork SA officers and have your questions answered:

• Tuesday 22 January 2013
• Tuesday 29 January 2013

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12:30 pm, Wednesday 9 January, 2013

Unions are calling for an independent work safety authority reporting directly to the Minister for Business and independent from other public sector agencies.

Unions NT Secretary, Alan Paton said more acceptable contemporary management arrangements should ensure that WorkSafe is not diverted from important workplace health and safety issues and workers’ compensation related reform by “the constraints of business development or industrial and economic growth activities in a self-regulatory environment.”

The union said a range of issues needs to be addressed by the safety regulator including more intensive staff training, better risk assessment and management practices for NT industry, closer attention to engagement of employers and workers in remote localities, improving electrical safety administration, better quality engagement with the resources sector and developing a more rigorous system of occupational licensing to ensure that workers can more easily transfer and have their work competencies recognised for projects throughout Australia.

Unions NT is hoping to discuss with the government what a reformed NT WorkSafe might look like and how WorkSafe can assist businesses improve its safety performance in a sustainable manner.

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10:59 am, Thursday 13 December, 2012

An accident that took the life of a 20-year-old worker yesterday morning is under investigation by Workplace Health and Safety Officers.

The apprentice electrician was working inside the ceiling of the student services building at a school campus when he apparently came into contact with live wires. The accident happened at about 8.10am.

Neil Noble, the Queensland Ambulance Service operations manager said that the staff at the school tried to resuscitate him as they waited for paramedics to arrive at the scene.

They performed CPR whilst he was inside the ceiling and then brought him down for the paramedics. On arrival the ambulance officers worked to revive him for 30 minutes but were unable to.

A spokesperson from the Department of Justice said that inspectors from Electrical Safety Office and Workplace Health and Safety are investigating the incident to ascertain whether there were any safety breaches committed by the employer.

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05:16 pm, Monday 10 December, 2012

Photo: SafetyCulture Library

Some miners are purchasing fake urine to pass workplace drug and alcohol tests.

According to a Courier Mail report, synthetic urine products are readily available over the internet as well as from Australian distributors.

Product promotion says the product contains “all the ingredients normally found in urine and is balanced for pH, specific gravity, creatinine and other urine characteristics,” which will allow buyers to pass drug and alcohol tests.

Pilbara police says the number of products found during drug raid is increasing, usually involving mine workers.

“We’ve noticed a rise in this sort of behaviour aimed at defeating the testing regime. They all know about it in the industry. It’s very simple to get hold of,” said Central Queensland regional crime co-ordinator, acting Detective Inspector Ben Carroll.

Det Insp Carroll said it is not illegal to sell or possess synthetic urine but “it’s more an issue for the companies under workplace health and safety.”

“I certainly would not want to be working (in a mine) with someone with drugs onboard,” said a Queensland Resources Council spokesperson.

QRC had not heard fake urine being used and said it is less common in Western Australia and Queensland since most coalmines use saliva for testing instead of urine.

Workers caught cheating at drug tests could face disciplinary actions.

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11:04 am, Thursday 22 November, 2012

The Hon Bill Shorten MP
Photo: Ministers’ Media Centre

Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Bill Shorten urged Victoria and Western Australia to introduce the harmonised Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws following South Australia and Tasmania’s move to adopt the new laws.

Mr Shorten said that harmonised laws will reduce red tape and deliver safer workplaces. Implementing the harmonised laws is estimated to generate national net benefits of $250 million each year over the next 10 years. The laws are also expected to generate productivity improvements of up to $2 billion a year over the same period.

“Our most important resource is our people – giving them certainty and greater safety at work is vitally important,” said Mr Shorten.

“With this is mind, I now call on Victoria and Western Australia to introduce their Bills, so workers in these states may also benefit from harmonised laws.”

With workplace in Tasmania and Australia introducing the new laws effective from 1 January 2013, Minister Shorten says 64 in every 100 working Australians will be covered by modern, best practice and consistent laws.

“This year marks the first time in history the majority of Australians will be covered by harmonised work health and safety arrangements,” he said.

“Workers and employers in South Australia and Tasmania will join millions of other Australians already benefitting from harmonised WHS laws in other states and territories.

“This will result in more productive workplaces, but more importantly it will provide safer workplaces so that all working Australians can return home to their loved ones at the end of their working day.”

Peak industry organisations, unions, governments and businesses across the country have been clamouring for harmonised health and safety laws for many years.

“The Gillard Government is now delivering these new arrangements, which include an agreed model Act, and Regulations and Codes of Practice.”

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