UPDATED WHS CODES OF PRACTICE
On 1 April 2016, the 23 codes of practice made under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) were revoked and revised as separate instruments. As the codes are admissible in court proceedings as evidence of whether or not a duty or obligation under the WHS Act has been complied with, businesses in the relevant jurisdictions should ensure that their safety management systems are up to date with these codes.
The codes of practice, developed by Safe Work Australia, are practical guides to achieving the standards required under the WHS Act. The 23 codes are:
For more information please visit:
http://www.cbp.com.au/publications/2016/april/work-health-and-safety-codes-of-practice-revoked-a
NEW GUIDE BOOK DEVELOPED BY WORKSAFE VICTORIA
Worksafe Victoria has recently released a new guide book - Preventing and managing work-related stress - providing guidance to employers about controlling stress related to their workplace and also valuable information to employees on managing work-related stress.
The guide gives an overview of work-related stress and the factors that contribute to it and then focuses on the organisational factors to which employees may be exposed to.
As stress is considered the precursor to a number of psychological injuries/illnesses, such as depression, anxiety, burnout etc. as well as physical illnesses like cardiovascular disease, immune deficiency and gastrointestinal disorders, it is important that workplaces it is important that the management of any workplace demonstrates commitment to dealing with this issue.
To download the guide please go to:
http://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/193038/WorkSafe-Employer-Stress-Guidebook-web.pdf
NATIONAL SAFETY AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE
Entries to the 2016 National Safety Awards of Excellence are now open. Considered Australia’s premier safety awards, the National Safety Awards of Excellence celebrate organisations and people who contribute to the health, safety, and wellbeing of their employees and show continuous improvement in their business performance.
The awards are open to any Australian operating business, organisation, and alliance or individual. The eight categories for nominations are:
- Best Continuous Improvement of a WHS Management System
- Best Solution of a WHS Risk
- Best WHS Training Program
- Best Communication of a Safety Message
- Ian Chisholm Award for Best Individual WHS Achievement
- Best Safety Leadership Program/Initiative
- Best Health and Wellbeing Program
- NSCA Foundation Member of Year
Entries close on 30 June 2016 and winners will be announced on the 13th of October 2016 at the Awards Gala Lunch in Sydney.
For more information and guidelines please go to:
http://www.nationalsafetyawards.com.au/how-to-enter/
RESOURCES ON THE VICTORIAN WORKPLACE MENTAL WELLBEING COLLABORATION SITE
WorkSafe Victoria joined forces with VicHealth and SuperFriend to promote positive mental wellbeing in Victorian workplaces.
On the group’s web site you can find a range of information free resources including best practice guidelines, case studies and practical tools to support businesses in promoting positive mental wellbeing in their workplace.
These resources will help businesses to build a workplace environment that is supportive, cohesive and respectful, which enables workers to be more engaged, positive and effective at work.
Take for example the ACT Government’s guideline on ‘The Art of Feedback: Giving, Seeking and Receiving Feedback’. The information in this publication can be used in any industry by any business.
For more information and resources please visit:
http://leadingwellvic.com.au/
SECOND LARGEST SAFETY FINE IN NSW HISTORY AWARDED TO CONSTRUCTION COMPANY
A Sydney construction company and its director have received the second largest work health and safety fine in NSW history following the death of a bricklayer on a Hurstville construction site in 2014.
Romanous Contractors and its Director, Mr Allen Romanous, were found guilty in the District Court and fined $425,000 and $85,500 respectively after the 55 year old bricklayer died when he fell five metres through a penetration at the site.
SafeWork NSW’s investigation found that the penetration had been covered with plywood but not secured to the concrete slab. Romanous Contractors were the principal contractor and site controllers, and Mr Romanous was the site manager and responsible for work health and safety.
More information available at:
http://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/news/media-release/construction-company-receives-second-largest-safety-fine-in-nsw-history
VICTORIAN COMPANY FINED $450,000 AFTER TEENAGER DIES IN FORKLIFT ROLLOVER
A farming company was last month prosecuted and fined $450,000 following an incident in which a 15-year-old boy was killed after the forklift he was driving rolled and crushed him.
Lilford Farms Pty Ltd pleaded guilty at the Wangaratta County Court to one charge of breaching the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 for failing to ensure a safe workplace.
The company grew snow pea crops on a farm at Mooroopna, near Shepparton.
The company engaged a labour hire contractor to supply workers to pick peas at the property.
On 15 November 2014, the owner of the labour hire company brought his 15-year-old son and his son’s two friends, aged 16 and 17, to help with picking.
The man explained the process for picking the snow peas to the teenagers and explained that his son would be supervisor, before leaving the property. The teenagers were not provided with any safety instructions in relation to the site or the work they were about to undertake.
Soon after the labour hire owner left the farm, his son began driving the forklift.
Several hours later, the teenager was killed when the forklift tipped over.
For more details please visit:
http://www.worksafenews.com.au/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=492:company-fined-$450,000-after-teenager-dies-in-forklift-rollover&Itemid=117#sthash.10iZpxdN.dpuf
AUSTRALIAN WHS STATISTICS
As at 12 May, 50 Australians workers have been killed at work in 2016. This is an improvement compared to same time last year when 67 fatalities have been recorded.
The industries with the highest numbers have not changed from the previous months:
Transport, postal & warehousing – 17
Agriculture, forestry & fishing – 13
Construction – 6
More at: Safe Work Australia
http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/swa/statistics/work-related-fatalities/pages/worker-fatalities
VICTORIAN FATALITY - MAN STRUCK BY EARTHMOVER
A Victorian worker has died after being struck by a small earthmover in Geelong.
The man, believed to be in his late 20s, was struck by the bobcat at a skip hire company around 10.30am on Friday, May 6.
Victoria's workplace death toll for 2016 is now eight.
Read more at http://www.9news.com.au/national/2016/05/06/14/46/vic-man-struck-by-earthmover-dies#7iTwTwyQXfQg2gDH.99
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR GROUP TRAINING STAFF
Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety - BSB41415
FULL QUALIFICATION and UPGRADE from old qualification
AEN is offering the Cert IV in WHS - BSB41415 qualification to Group Training staff who are interested in gaining knowledge and skills in
- Assisting with compliance with WHS laws
- Identifying hazards, assessing and controlling risks
- Monitoring workplace safety
- Managing consultation and participation processes
- Assisting with claims, rehabilitation and return-to-work programs
The course will be delivered by Holmesglen Institute through a combination of targeted workshops, on the job delivery, project based learning followed by one-on-one support through coaching and mentoring.
The program will be offered to staff who need to complete the entire qualification as well as to those who are interested in upgrading their old Cert IV in OHS and therefore understanding the legislative and practical changes that occurred in relation to health and safety.
For more information about the course please email Rozalia Cook at rozalia@aen.org.au
Registrations close on 24 June 2016.
SafetyFirst - Ahead of the Action
 Your own branded learning management system not only benefits your apprentices and trainees, it also benefits you as a business. You need not worry about putting your resources out of play for a day or two just to conduct the program. With SafetyFirst's online safety induction training, you'll enjoy benefits such as:
- Assist in meeting compliance - designed as tools to assist managers and supervisors to meet their Work Health and Safety obligations
- Do it anytime - The training course is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week
- Interactive and engaging - easy to use by various learners, entertaining content for a more enjoyable learning experience
- Cost-effectiveness
- Consistency - ability to maintain a particular standard with staff WHS training
- Results – immediate results and feedback that identify further training needs
SafetyFirst can assist you in creating a safe work environment for all your new employees, apprentices and trainees.
A free trial of the material can be found here - demo.safetyfirst.org.au
Learn more about SafetyFirst
 SafetyFirst is an initiative of the Group Training Association of Victoria. Visit our site to keep up to date with the latest Health and Safety news Australia wide. SafetyFirst.org.au
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