Workplace Health and Safety

World Safety Day 2019: The Future of Work

A Global Commission on the Future of Work report, released in January 2019, forms the basis for the 2019 World Safety Day theme, “Safety and Health and the future of work”. The “Work for a brighter future” report, published by the International Labour Organisation, outlines the forces transforming the workplace and opportunities that exist to […]

5 years ago

Hearing Awareness Week: What you need to know about workplace hearing loss

Unaddressed hearing loss costs $750 billion worldwide each year and causes lost productivity, cognitive decline, depression, and barriers to education and social integration. Hearing loss has also been shown to significantly increase the risk of dementia by adding to the cognitive load of the brain or accelerating atrophy. With 22 per cent of Australians aged […]

5 years ago

2019 OHS/WHS Safety and Events Calendar

A comprehensive list of Australian workplace health and safety (WHS) events, awards and related campaigns in 2019. If there is an event or campaign not covered below that is relevant to OHS in Australia, please comment with the details at the end of this article and we’ll take a look. Safety Australia Group Mock Trials […]

5 years ago

Six trends that will impact the future of workplace health and safety (WHS)

As new technology changes the nature of work, the future of WHS must balance the benefits of automation with the risks of a dispersed, ageing workforce, according to a 2018 report by the CSIRO. The report identified six megatrends that persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) should be planning for as their workplaces change. […]

5 years ago

New SWA chemical storage guide for workplaces

A new guide from Safe Work Australia (SWA) aimed at helping small and medium-sized businesses safely identify and store their chemicals has been released. “If you store chemicals in your workplace and need information on how to store them safely, this guide is for you,” said SWA Director of Chemicals Policy, Dr Paul Taylor. Chemical […]

5 years ago

Work health and safety laws and strategy in New Zealand

In recent years, New Zealand’s government has made major changes to work health and safety in response to concerning rates of workplace injuries and fatalities. Pro Safety Gear takes a closer look at what’s been happening.   Reducing workplace injuries and fatalities: The New Zealand (NZ) government plans to reduce workplace serious injuries and fatalities […]

5 years ago

Are toolbox safety talks required? How to run a successful one

Businesses are legally required to ensure the health and safety of their workers, and toolbox safety talks are a popular and proven step in helping fulfil that requirement. They provide an excellent forum for employers to fulfil their legal obligation of consulting with workers around situations which may affect their health and safety, according to […]

5 years ago

Safety guide for automotive mechanic workshops

This safety guide is for automotive mechanic workshops and encourage Occupational Health and Safety (OHS). Ultimately, it gives an overview of the different hazards to be aware of when working in a mechanic’s workshop, as well as appropriate safety procedures to implement. In 2014–15, automotive electricians and mechanics made 1,760 serious workers’ compensation claims, involving […]

5 years ago

How does obesity impact workplaces?

Nearly two-thirds of Australian adults are overweight or obese, with the consequences of this being felt in workplace productivity, lost time injury (LTI) and cost. According to the 2014–15 National Health Survey by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), those with a Body Mass Index (BMI) between 25–29.99, classified as overweight but not obese, accounted […]

5 years ago

Compulsory asbestos education training required in trades and DIY television?

Many industrial businesses are not taking asbestos seriously, with more than 20 per cent of tradespeople saying they desire better asbestos training. November 2018-released research* and a survey of 1013 people (401 tradespeople) by the Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency (ASEA) found that only 37 per cent of tradespeople received formal training on how asbestos […]

5 years ago