RME News

SafeWork NSW Alter for fake respiratory protective equipment

By: SafeWork NSW The COVID-19 pandemic has increased demand for P2 disposable respirators.  As a result, construction businesses (and PCBUs) and some other industries have had difficulty getting P2 disposable respirators used for protection against dusts and chemicals including silica, asbestos and lead.  This extra demand is leading to fake (RPE) entering the Australian market.  Read more:  https://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/safety-alerts/safety-alerts/supply-of-fake-face-masks 

SafeWork SA – Safety Alert 

By SafeWork SA SafeWork SA is issuing a reminder to building owners and contractors about the importance of managing risk of falls.  SafeWork SA inspectors recently attended two separate incidents that resulted in serious injuries. Both incidents could have been fatal.  The first incident occurred when a contractor fell backwards through an unprotected skylight, falling …

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Worksafe Alert: Importance of having a plan to manage the risks of dangerous goods

By: WorkSafe Victoria WorkSafe Victoria is issuing an alert about the importance of having a plan to manage the risks of dangerous goods when temporarily shutting down or reducing the extent of your operations due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.  Background: Occupiers of premises that store or handle dangerous goods may need to temporarily shut down …

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Returning To Work In A Covid Safe Environment

By: Dianne Rawlings As many of you are returning to work within Covid restrictions there are many new issues and tasks that are required.  While we’re now used to not shaking hands, physical distancing, and the hygiene practices needed to manage restrictions with our clients, customers, and contractors.  It is important to keep in mind and …

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Is Isolation Affecting Your Mental Health

By: WorkSafe Victoria Reduce risks for your employees associated with working alone or in isolation Understanding the risks People who work alone or in isolation face different levels of risk compared to other situations. They may be unable to access immediate assistance from team members, other people, or emergency services due to the location, time …

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Business fined after fatal wall collapse 

By: Safety Solutions/NSCA A building company and its subcontractors have been fined a total of $620,000 for breaching the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 after a brick wall fell on two men, killing one and injuring another at a building site in Carlingford, NSW. NSW Bricklaying (NSWBL) was fined $500,000, Effective Building and Construction (EBC) was fined …

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Industrial Manslaughter/ss-6/20

By: VACC Recently there have been several bulletins distributed about the introduction of Industrial Manslaughter offences under the Victorian OHS Act 2004 which will come into effect on 1 July 2020.  Even before the legislation has commenced, a significant change has been passed by the government which increases the penalty from 20 years to 25 …

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Mt Waverley developer’s fine increased on appeal

By: Safety Solutions/NSCA Chloch Homes & Developments, a Victorian developer, has pleaded guilty to one charge of failing to ensure that the workplace was safe and without risk to health and safety. The developer was fined $15,000 without conviction. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed the fine in the Melbourne County Court, where Chloch was convicted and …

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SA enforces exposure limit for respirable crystalline silica

By: SafeWork SA SafeWork SA  will implement a reduced workplace exposure limit (WEL) for respirable crystalline silica on 1 July 2020. Work health and safety (WHS) ministers have agreed by the requisite majority decision of Safe Work Australia to reduce the WEL for respirable crystalline silica to an eight-hour time-weighted average of 0.05 mg/m3. WHS ministers agreed …

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Covid Safety Products

As we begin to open our doors, if you need assistance managing your safety measures including, physical distancing, personal hygiene, and contact tracing RME and our partners may be able to help. RME has sourced the most commonly used products including, signage, thermometers, and hand sanitiser, however, there are more available so if you don’t …

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Being prepared to return to work

By: Safework Australia  Safework Australia has updated their website to provide a wealth of information in preparedness for lifting of restrictions or to help those still being able to operate.  They include:  Physical distancing  Hygiene   Cleaning, and  Personal protective equipment (PPE)   In addition to these there is also a number of checklists which will assist you in identifying practicable steps ensure the …

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International Insights – Enhancing Individual Director Accountability 

Arguably more important than structural or process matters are relationship and behavioural dynamics in the boardroom. While hard data on board culture and behaviour is elusive it is not a stretch to suggest that without highly functional boardroom relationships – among board members and with management – boards cannot hope to govern well by relying …

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Statement of Regulatory Intent – Regulatory approach to Australian Work Health and Safety legislation – COVID-19

By Safe Work Australia Safe Work Australia will take a modified approach to enforcement to ensure compliance with the Australia WHS Laws during Covid-19 pandemic. While realising there is ‘unprecedented pressure’ on the industry they will apply a common sense and practical approach when engaging with workplaces. Statement of Regulatory Intent – Regulatory approach to …

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Inexperienced worker, who had not been inducted, killed on a construction site

Inexperienced and young workers remain a vulnerable group in all industries, in particular the construction industry, as demonstrated by the recent sentencing hearing of a concrete pump contractor in SafeWork NSW v NonAbel Concrete Pump Pty Ltd; Bilal Hamdan (2020). Case Background NonAbel Concrete Pump Pty Ltd (Company) is a company providing concrete pumping and …

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