Legislation

What to do about OHS Harmonisation

Harmonisation

A member of Graham Dent’s Work Health Safety (OHS) Harmonisation (Australia) Group on LinkedIn recently posted the question: “So.. what are YOU doing about harmonisation?”   Below are excerpts from some of the excellent responses: I am, at the moment, ensuring that I understand the content of the legislation. Following that, taking a hard and [...]

READ MORE →

About basic fatigue management – reducing your fatigue

Fatigue

About basic fatigue management: reducing your fatigue If you work in the transport industry, you may be required to complete your fatigue management training. You can do this by completing an online fatigue management course. Basic fatigue management shows you how to prevent fatigue from being a danger to yourself and others. A study of [...]

READ MORE →

Asbestos awareness – what must an employee do?

Asbestos Awareness Training

Asbestos awareness – what must an employee do? If you work in any industry that requires contact with asbestos, you may need to complete asbestos awareness training. After completing asbestos training, employees should be armed with the knowledge required to ensure they avoid the associated hazards. An employee has a duty of care to take [...]

READ MORE →

Free Risk Assessment Training

Risk Assessment

The University of Newcastle website offers  some excellent free safety training resources. On the Risk assessment page they offer succinct but very useful powerpoint and pdf version training presentations covering the following topics: What is Risk Analysis? What Is A Hazard? Roles and Responsibilities OHS Regulations & Legislation 5 Steps to Risk Analysis Risk Assessment [...]

READ MORE →

Fire Safety Risk Assessment Software

Fire Safety

Fire Safety Risk Assessment Software – Tools For Risk Assessments By K Garrow All businesses in the UK have to carry out a fire risk assessment by law. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order of 2005 introduced this requirement. While the requirements of the legislation are all based on the very obvious need to protect [...]

READ MORE →

Amendments to the Queensland Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Act 1999

Mine Safety

[picappgallerysingle id="5229799"] Noel Arnold report on the background and details of the new amendments: Since the Queensland Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Act (MQSHA) came into effect in 2001, large mines and quarries have been required by law to develop and maintain a fully documented Safety & Health Management System (SHMS). The 2006 – [...]

READ MORE →

National Work Health and Safety Act

Safety Legislation

Large shifts under the new national model Work Health and Safety Act demand immediate action from employers, prominent OHS lawyer Michael Tooma will tell The Safety Conference. The Norton Rose partner will warn delegates at the Safety Institute’s October 26 to 28 conference that company officers will be expected to “do much more and take [...]

READ MORE →

Free height safety workshop at The Safety Show Sydney

Safety Legislation

Safety know-how at workshops matched with acres of practical products and services will equip visitors to The Safety Show to make their workplaces safe during Safe Work Australia Week. The Safety Show and Sydney Materials Handling will bring more than 300 specialist safety suppliers to the Sydney Showground from October 26 to 28. Occupational health [...]

READ MORE →

High Court’s decision on Kirk.

Safety Legislation

The High Court recently released its decision on “Kirk”. You can read the full transcript and the case lawyers summary by clicking on the links below. Kirk, a Farm Owner, was prosecuted by Workcover under the OHS Act after the death of his Farm Manager (and close friend). Mr Palmer, The Manager was driving a [...]

READ MORE →

Dam Safety

Mine Safety

Did you know…….. All dams in NSW have to meet the requirements of the Dams Safety Committee (DSC) under the NSW Dams Safety Act, 1978. The Dams Safety Committee (DSC) is the State’s regulator for dam safety and therefore responsible to develop and implement policies and procedures for effective dam safety management to protect life, [...]

READ MORE →

ISO 31000 Risk Management Standard

ISO31000

After 5 years of development, the Risk Management Standard, AS/NZS 4360:2004 has been superseded by AS/NZS ISO 31000:2009, Risk management – Principles and guidelines. The standard gives users an understanding of how to develop, implement and maintain effective risk management within their organization. It provides recommendations for the framework, process and implementation of risk management [...]

READ MORE →

Do You Need a WHSO in QLD

Safety Rep

Workplace health and safety officers (WHSO) Please not that despite lobbying by Qld Govt, the role of the  WHSO is likely to change dramatically in 2011 under the new national harmonisation laws READ MORE Please see latest comments below Any workplace with 30 or more employees is required by law to have a workplace health [...]

READ MORE →

New Laws May Affect Safety Consultants

Building Safety

Changes to the QLD BSA Act  may mean that anyone who inspects, reports or recommends anything in relation to the BCA, Fire Life Safety or Fire Protection may now need to hold a BSA license. Our initial inquiries indicate that anyone doing risk assessments, reports or recommendations regardless of technicality must be licensed. This seems [...]

READ MORE →

Recent Prosecutions

Safety Legislation

WA Employee fined total of $7000 for illegal forklift joyride Freight firm fined for hazard Food manufacturer fined $20,000 over hand injury NZ Ashburton court case shows human cost of unsafe work practice UK Rubber company fined after coffee break saves worker???s life in factory explosion 

READ MORE →

OHS Implementation Plan Example

Office Safety

OHS Implementation Plan This plan should be used in conjunction with other relevant OHS Policies and Procedures documents. In the OHS Policies and Procedures document there should be guidance notes (Why this is important and What to do) for implementing elements of an Occupational Health and Safety management system. There are a number of activities [...]

READ MORE →

Latest Safety News

Safety News

FOR TODAY’S NEWS CLICK HERE Latest News from SafeToWork Fines for repeated mistakes in training and machinery guarding WORKSAFE Victoria says it has prosecuted two abattoirs and their contract cleaning companies after two cleaners suffered debilitating arm injuries. AIHW releases report on health risk factors and work patterns THE AUSTRALIAN Institute of Health and Welfare [...]

READ MORE →

Public Liability Standards and Legislation

BCA

The most common responses I get when I make a public liability risk recommendation to control or mitigate a potentially serious risk is: “it complies with the Building Code of Australia” or “show me the law that says you have to do that” or “this building was built before the BCA and its not retrospective”. [...]

READ MORE →

Safety Improvements In An Office Environment

Office Safety

MORE RISK MANAGEMENT CHECKLISTS Checklist and typical recommendations for an Office based business employing over 30 people (based on QLD WHS Legislation): Implement an OHS Management System to achieve compliance with QLD WHS Act, 1995, s.29 (d). Develop a plan with accountability and timelines as a means of managing safety within the workplace (AS4801 – [...]

READ MORE →