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 …
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 …
PCBU – Person conducting a business or undertaking The WHS Act places the primary duty of care and various other duties and obligations on a ‘person conducting a business or undertaking’ (PCBU). The meaning of a PCBU is set out in section 5 of the WHS Act. This is a broad concept used to capture all types …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
By: Jared Butt HSEQ News The peak body representing Australian small businesses has slammed a South Australian Labor Opposition Amendment Bill that would provide automatic workers’ compensation to prescribed workers who contract COVID-19. The SA Bill would amend the State Return to Work Act 2014 so that when a person employed at a prescribed workplace or in …