Independent Review of Victorian Worksafe Premiums
In a recent review of the Victorian Worksafe premiums the report found that WorkSafe's current premium system is fair, performing well and is financially sustainable.
WorkSafe agrees in principle with the majority of the review recommendations, particularly around simplification, transparency and enhancing the means in which the broader Scheme objectives for Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) and Return to Work (RTW) are supported within the premium model.
WorkSafe will consider the recommendations as part of Strategy 2030 which is focussed on delivering greater social and economic value to the Victorian community through the regulation of workplace health and safety and delivery of the workers' compensation scheme.
To find out further information or to access the full report please click here.
More inspectors hit the beat to keep Victorians safe at work
Following an intensive 14-week training course, WorkSafe's latest group of inspector and investigator graduates have hit the beat to begin the task of keeping Victorian workers safe.
The 22 graduates, made up of 18 inspectors and four investigators, come from a variety of backgrounds including health care, construction, motor sport, government and major hazards facilities. Seven of the 22 are women.
The new recruits will be based in Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat, Shepparton and Wangaratta.
They will join an inspectorate that makes more than 40,000 visits to Victorian workplaces each year, targeting unsafe activities, providing practical guidance on hazard identification and risk control, promoting consultation between employers and workers on health and safety matters, and enforcing occupational health and safety laws.
If a business is found to have breached the 2004 OHS Act it may face prosecution and heavy fines. In 2016/17, a total of 70 businesses were found guilty of breaching workplace laws and ordered to pay fines and costs totalling almost $4 million.
Read the full article here.
Health and Safety Representatives Conference
This year's conference will be bigger and better than ever!
Meet other HSRs, develop your skills and workshop how to better promote and encourage health and safety in your workplace.
Date: Tuesday 31 October 2017
Venue: Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
Accreditation: Opens at 8am
Conference time: 9am - 3:30pm
For further information or to register visit Worksafe Victoria.
Melbourne Health and Safety Month Conference
Take a glimpse into the future of health and safety and workers' compensation in Victoria. Chief Executive Clare Amies will share Strategy 2030, which highlights the challenges we face and how WorkSafe will transform into a prevention-led, customer-focused, digitally-enabled service organisation.
When: Wednesday, 1 November 2017 from 9:00AM to 4:00PM (AEDT)
Where: Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre - 1 Convention Centre Place, South Wharf, VIC 3006
Cost: Free
For further details or to register visit WorkSafe Victoria.
In the News
Mildura worker dies whilst loading heavy machinery onto tray truck - 24 October 2017
A man has died after being crushed by a road roller in Mildura.
$35,000 fine after member of the public trapped in hole - 24 October 2017
A civil construction company which failed to provide adequate site security at a housing subdivision site in Pakenham has been fined $35,000 after a member of the public on a late-night walk was injured after falling into a hole on the site and becoming trapped.
Farm contractor dies after falling from motorbike - 20 October 2017
A man in his 50s has died after falling from a motorbike on a cattle property at Yarck, about 135km north of Melbourne.
$90,000 fine after falling slabs of porcelain leave worker a quadriplegic - 20 October 2017
A Cheltenham marble and granite distributor has been convicted and fined $90,000 after a young storeman was crushed under 22 sheets of porcelain, leaving him a quadriplegic.
Health and Safety winners named in prestigious 2017 awards - 20 October 2017
A charity set up to address high rates of suicide and depression among tradies, a trailer which can be lowered to ground level so goods can be loaded more safely, and a health and safety rep of 19 years who helped introduce a night shift to address worker fatigue are among the winners of the 2017 WorkSafe Awards.
Construction company fined $24,000 for working too close to powerlines - 19 October 2017
A Preston construction company which allowed a crane to operate near high voltage powerlines without carrying out the proper pre-work safety assessment has been convicted and fined $24,000.
Recycling company fined $175,000 after worker crushed under skid steer loader - 6 October 2017
A Geelong recycling company has been convicted and fined $175,000 following the death of a worker who was struck and run over by a skid steer loader at its Grovedale transfer station.
Australian WHS Statistics
There have been 129 workplace fatalities reported in Australia, compared to 136 at the same time last year.
The industries with the highest number of fatalities are:
Agriculture, forestry & fishing – 28
Transport, postal & warehousing – 49
Construction – 27
More at Safe Work Australia
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. 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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