New obligations were introduced in Victoria in November 2021 aimed at protecting workers from exposure to deadly Crystalline Silica dust. There was a phased approach to the introduction of the regulations to give you enough time to prepare for the changes to your duties and obligations.  However, the 15 November 2022 deadline for the introduction of the remaining Victorian Crystalline Silica Regulations is fast approaching. What does this mean for you?

Australia is in the middle of one of its largest ever labour shortages. There is no doubt that many of you are struggling to fill vacancies for experienced staff. As reported by the Australian Financial Review¹, almost one-third of businesses in Australia are having difficulty finding staff. This presents a safety challenge with inexperienced or young workers who will not be familiar with the risks and hazards related to their role.

Following the significant rise in COVID cases as a result of the movement away from elimination strategies and the strain on PCR testing, we have seen a rise in interest in Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs).

But what role to RATs play in workplace COVID-19 risk management and what are the considerations for their use?