AEN recognises apprentice safety achievements at annual awards
On the 22nd of November 2018 the Apprenticeship Employment Network held its annual awards. The night celebrated the achievements of apprentices, staff and long-serving members of the group training network.
The award categories comprised of:
Apprentice of the Year, Trainee of the Year, Industry Service, GTO Service Excellence, Lifetime Achivement, and STAR Apprentice/Trainee OHS Award
This year we had 3 finalists in the STAR Apprentice/Trainee OHS Award category.
Brody Murphy – Gforce Employment Solutions – Winner Joel Hancock-Bice – BGT Jobs & Training – Finalist Jayden Mollica – Programmed – Finalist
Brody Murphy – Gforce Employment Solutions Certificate III in Horticulture In a very short time, Brody has changed the attitudes of many of his peers by setting and leading an excellent safety culture. He has taken the initiative to create his own personal safety bag and ensures each morning that his PPE safety bag is ready to go. Brody has accepted the responsibility of Werribee Park’s OHS Representative and is constantly checking that all staff and contractors on site are adhering to safety policies and procedures. Brody is not afraid to call out unsafe behaviour if required and ensures Werribee Parks work-centre health and well-being notice board is regularly checked and kept up to date.
Congratulations to Brody, Gforce Employmet Solutions and all the winners, finalists and GTOs involved on the night.
To find out more about this years awards visit the AEN Website.
New asbestos and prevention of falls compliance codes now available
The new codes include:
- Managing asbestos in workplaces (previously Managing asbestos in workplaces compliance code, 2008)
- Removing asbestos in workplaces (previously Removing asbestos in workplaces compliance code, 2008)
- Prevention of falls in housing construction (previously Prevention of falls in general construction compliance code, 2008)
- Prevention of falls in general construction (previously Prevention of falls in housing construction code of practice, 2004)
Copies of the codes are available for download Worsafe Victoria. They are also available for viewing from all WorkSafe offices.
Contact the WorkSafe Advisory Service on 1800 136 089, Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 5:00pm, with any questions about the new codes.
What has changed?
The new compliance codes have been updated to reflect the OHS Regulations 2017 and to reflect modern work practices.
For further information or to download the codes please visit Worsafe Victoria.
New chemical storage guide for workplaces
This chemical storage guide will help small to medium businesses to safely store chemicals in their workplace. It outlines some of the common health and safety risks of storing chemicals and shows you ways to manage those risks.
The guide includes a handy storage checklist that sets out the standard precautions everyone should take and a detailed chart that shows which types of chemicals to separate and by how far.
This guide is for small to medium business owners who use and store chemicals in their workplace.
Download the guide here.
New National Return to Work survey report released
This report provides a comprehensive summary of the National Return to Work survey responses from 2018.
Key findings in 2018 include:
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- The vast majority (92.7%) of all workers surveyed reported having returned to work at any time since their work-related injury or illness.
- There was a significant increase in the proportion of unsuccessful return to work attempts (those who had to take additional time off since returning to work, due to their work-related injury or illness) from 2016, at 19.6%. This was significantly higher among workers in the Comcare scheme (27.9%) and Victoria (28.8%).
- Approximately 38% of workers who had returned to work reported that they worked reduced hours upon their return.
- Those who experienced mental illness were the most likely to work reduced hours upon returning to work (53.7%).
- Approximately 38% of workers who had returned to work reported that they were performing slightly different/modified duties upon their return to work, while 19.0% reported performing completely different duties.
The National Return to Work survey is undertaken on a biannual basis and compares the return to work experiences and outcomes of injured workers against a number of variables, including returning to work, workplace rehabilitation and employer support.
Read more in the National Return to Work survey 2018 – Summary report and the National Return to Work survey 2018 – Headline measures report.
Victoria’s new Dangerous Goods (Transport by Road or Rail) Regulations
Victoria’s Dangerous Goods (Transport by Road or Rail) Regulations 2018 (DG TRR Regulations) commence on 25 October 2018.
What has changed?
The new DG TRR Regulations are mainly the same but they do reflect changes that have been made nationally for the transport of dangerous goods.
The changes maintain Victoria’s already high safety standards and continue to align with national and international standards for the transport of dangerous goods.
They also deliver significant savings to Victorian businesses by reducing regulatory burden for the transport of lower risk dangerous goods by removing duplicate compliance requirements for explosive component transport.
The changes affect those that:
- hold or require a dangerous goods vehicle or driver's licence
- transport empty dangerous goods packaging
- transport dangerous goods in limited quantities
- transport constituents of a bulk ammonium nitrate-based explosives to manufacturing sites
- transport cylinders
- are involved in packaging design (both bulk tanker and non-bulk tanker)
- want to seek an exemption or administrative determination or approval
In the News
WorkSafe targets housing sites to reduce the risk of fallsWorkSafe targets housing sites to reduce the risk of falls - 23 Nov 2018
Worker dies following power station incident - 13 Nov 2018
Caution urged for dangerous time of year - 09 Nov 2018
Construction companies warned on heavy machinery - 24 Oct 2018
Installation reflects on workplace safety - 22 Oct 2018
Company fined $300,000 after apprentice electrocuted - 22 Oct 2018
Australian WHS Statistics
There have been 109 workplace fatalities reported in Australia, compared to 162 at the same time last year. While we are still a long way to 0, this is a fantastic 33% reduction from 2017.
The industries with the highest number of fatalities are:
Transport, postal & warehousing – 35 Agriculture, forestry & fishing – 30 Construction – 19
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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