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Mobile equipment in construction
Worksafe Victoria Construction and Utilities Director Geoff Thomas says “powered mobile plant is one of the construction industry's major causes of death.” Victorian inspectors are expected to visit about 150 sites this year, concentrating on risks in and around worksites, including the separation of people and mobile plant, work methods, public safety, access and egress, dust control and sun protection. More details at www.workcover.vic.gov.au
From NSW: Grants available to improve safety for disability workers
The Disability Services Safety Improvement Program aims to
- Implement improvements to reduce industry-specific risks, eg manual handling,
- Provide up to $5000 for new equipment
- Provide up to $600 (for an individual), $5000 (for an organisation) for training
Grant applications close on 30th April 2007
See www.workcover.nsw.gov.au for more details.
From VIC: Introduction of return-to-work inspectors
Return-to-work (RTW) inspectors will examine how Victorian employers are assisting in the rehabilitation of injured workers.
Since February they have been visiting workplaces to check on:
- Appointment of a return to work coordinator and the appropriateness of their role;
- RTW plans being developed with consultation with injured workers with the correct information;
- Availability to employees of up-to-date information about RTW rights;
- Risk management plans in place.
See www.worksafe.vic.gov.au for more details
From TAS: Important safety review
An interim report has been released on a 2006 review of workplace health and safety and its 43 recommendations focussed on ways to clarify and strengthen Tasmania’s Workplace Health and Safety Act, and to raise awareness of its provisions.
The report encourages government and industry to work together to create a workplace health and safety council, a disputes resolution function to deal with issues beyond the workplace level, and to expand the employer's responsibility to anyone they instruct to work for them.
See www.justice.tas.gov.au for more details.
Labour-Hire Workers: Safety in Food Manufacturing
Labour hire workers are at a high risk of injury because of lack of induction, a lack of familiarity with the workplace, and insufficient OH&S consultation, a Tasmanian report claims.
A campaign to target the safety of labour-hire workers has been introduced by Workplace Standards Tasmania, and other state authorities.Guidelines on the responsibilities of the primary and host employers are given.
See www.workcover.tas.gov.au for more details.
From QLD: Preventing Slips, Trips and Falls- A New Guide
The Queensland government has produced a useful guide for preventing slip, trips, and falls, in response to a drastically high workers compensation dollar figure in relation to slips, trips, and falls at work.
Download it here
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