Five New Compliance Codes Now Available
Five new compliance codes (codes) that align to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 and Equipment (Public Safety) Regulations 2017 are now available.The five new codes include:
- Hazardous manual handling (previously the Manual Handling Code of Practice, 2000)
- Facilities in construction (previously the Building and Construction W
- orkplaces Code of Practice, 1990)Confined spaces (p
- reviously the Confined Spaces Compliance Code, 2008)Plant (previously the Plant Code of Practice, 1995)
- Noise (a new code based off Your health and safety guide to noise, 2007, and the Guide for assessing and fixing noise problems and work, 2005)
Copies of the codes are available for download at the Worksafe Victoria website.
Review of the Model WHS Laws
Ministers responsible for WHS have agreed to review the content and operation of the model WHS laws. This is part of the original plan to review the model WHS laws regularly and ensure they continue operating effectively. Safe Work Australia has appointed Marie Boland to conduct the review.
The review is examining how the model WHS laws are operating in practice, whether they are achieving the objectives stated in the model WHS Act or if they have resulted in unintended consequences. In particular:
- what is working and why
- will it continue to work in the future
- what doesn’t work and why, and
- what we could do to make it work.
To find out more visit the Safe Work Australia website.
A review of asbestos stabilisation and containment practices
The Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency (ASEA) has published it's final report following it's review of asbestos stabilisation and containment practices.
The aim of this study was to identify the current products and practices in use for containing and stabilising asbestos either to assist in the removal of ACM, or to maintain the ACM in-situ.
While considerable efforts have been made to remove asbestos-containing materials (ACMs), it is not currently feasible to completely remove all asbestos from the built environment.
The effects of age and weathering on exposed asbestos materials can cause degradation and leave it in a potentially friable state. Stabilisation processes such as encapsulation present a potential means to effectively manage ACMs in-situ pending longer-term removal.
The final report is available for download here.
In the News
Company fined $380,000 after Mt Waverley pit collapse - 23 March 2018
A structural engineering firm which drew up the plans for excavation works at a Mt Waverley construction site has been convicted and fined $380,000 after the pit collapsed, leaving homes teetering on the edge of a 10 metre drop.
Company fined $42,000 for failing to guard machinery - 23 March 2018
A Hoppers Crossing cardboard carton manufacturer has been fined $42,000 for failing to properly guard four separate pieces of machinery.
Second worker dies following Delacombe trench collapse - 22 March 2018
A second worker who was trapped in a trench collapse at a subdivision site at Delacombe, near Ballarat, has died in hospital.
One dead, one injured in trench collapse near Ballarat - 22 March 2018
A man in his 30s has died and a second worker in his 20s has been seriously injured after a trench collapsed at a subdivision site at Delacombe, near Ballarat, yesterday.
Asbestos, trees, powerlines pose risks after fires - 20 March 2018
Victorians affected by the recent devastating fires need to be aware of potential hazards as they commence clean-up and recovery efforts on farms and other properties.
Young workers the focus of Cross Border safety program - 19 March 2018
The safety of young workers and apprentices will be the focus of a joint visit by WorkSafe Victoria and SafeWork NSW to Albury/Wodonga in coming weeks.
Company fined $350,000 after death of client’s son - 19 March 2018
A Carrum Downs concreting contractor has been convicted and fined $350,000 after the son of a client died while using the company’s earthmoving equipment.
Metro Trains charged over high voltage incident - 16 March 2018
WorkSafe has today charged Metro Trains for a breach of the Occupational Health and Safety Act following an incident in which an employee was injured while working on high voltage powerlines.
Campaign to prevent quad bike rollover deaths enters new terrain - 16 March 2018
WorkSafe has begun enforcement activities to help reduce the risks associated with quad bike rollovers.
Powerline incidents prompt call for care - 14 March 2018
Employers and contractors who operate heavy vehicles and machinery are being urged to always check for powerlines following a spate of serious incidents.
Ambulance Victoria fined following paramedic’s death - 9 March 2018
Ambulance Victoria was convicted and fined $400,000 yesterday for failing to adequately record and store stocks of morphine and fentanyl, following an investigation into the death of a paramedic at Heywood near Portland, in 2015.
Charges laid over swim school injury - 7 March 2018
The Department of Education and Training and a private swim centre operator have each been charged by WorkSafe following an incident involving a Ballarat student in 2016.
Australian WHS Statistics
There have been 27 workplace fatalities reported in Australia, compared to 40 at the same time last year. This is a nearly 50% reduction which is a great result!
The industries with the highest number of fatalities are:
Transport, postal & warehousing – 13 Construction – 6 Agriculture, forestry & fishing – 3
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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