Browsing: Injury prevention

Australia's Attorneys-General have agreed to work towards the harmonisation of human rights and anti-discrimination legislation, and progress other recommendations aimed at tackling workplace s-xual harassment and improving safety.

One in five men who seek professional help for mental health problems drop out after the first session, suggesting workplace resources should target the causes of poor mental health, the chief mental health officer of a major bank says.

As a union steps up its fight against proposed WHS amendments targeting NSW workers, European researchers have called for "legal co-responsibility" provisions to discourage employment arrangements that pressure workers to take safety risks on public roads.

Workplace safety laws and safety-bonus schemes are likely to be overhauled, with an inquiry into a methane explosion, which seriously injured five workers, finding a major company's gas control measures couldn't cope with its high production levels, and should have been subjected to greater scrutiny from the regulator.

• Workplace vehicle safety hinges on "heightened awareness"; and
  
• WHS entry guidance released in SA.

Merging an organisation's occupational health management and corporate social responsibility frameworks can help it comply with its health and safety duties and maintain standards along supply chains, researchers say.

Employers have been reminded of the carcinogenicity of welding fumes and their duty to keep on top of the latest health and safety developments, with a WHS regulator releasing details of a project examining fume exposure levels and control measures.

A PCBU accused of fall-related breaches has committed to developing and certifying a safety management system against AS/NZS ISO 45001, under a $274,000 WHS undertaking in which much of the spend will go towards initiatives that mature safety organisations already have.

A trauma-informed response mechanism and a "serious incident team" should be established to cover critical gaps in the ability of Commonwealth parliamentary workplaces to respond to serious incidents, a review prompted by the alleged rape of a staffer has found.

Tighter workplace exposure thresholds and product bans are needed to curb Australia's growing silicosis rate, according to the ACTU. Meanwhile, workplaces are being urged to address parking locations in their safety plans, after a worker was killed by a light vehicle.