Facemasks: to wear or not to wear, what type, what are their capabilities – here are some facts for you. Firstly, there is great sense in the official policy (as per the ABC Website) that “face masks are not recommended for healthy individuals, but essential for health workers and sick people”.

Do you work with engineered stone? WorkSafe Victoria has just released a new compliance code that is relevant for employers or self-employed people who manufacture, import or supply engineered stone. It’s also relevant to employees and health and safety representatives who work with engineered stone. The new compliance code provides practical advice on how you can comply with your duties and obligations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (OHS Act) and Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 (OHS Regulations).

WorkSafe inspectors in Victoria are checking construction sites to make sure fall risks are being controlled including if scaffolds are safe and fit for purpose. Construction is a known high fall risk sector accounting for 37% of falls-related fatalities however all workplaces where falls are a risk need to consider their controls. Sadly, according to Safe Work Australia, more than one in 10 work-related fatalities are caused by a fall from height and, as recently as the 3rd February this year, a serious accident involving scaffolding was in the news. 

We’ve compiled a list of links that is useful for businesses in fire affected areas to help manage the risks to people and property. Please let us know if there are any other links you think we should add.

Organisations have a duty to ensure they provide a safe workplace, so far as reasonably practicable and this duty extends to managing exposure to bushfire smoke. Workers with greater sensitivity, such as those with asthma, cardiac or pulmonary conditions or those conducting strenuous or prolonged work outside are at greatest risk, especially in hazardous levels. WorkSafe Victoria has released guidance on bushfire smoke which outlines the general approach organisations should take to managing their workers exposure to bushfire smoke.

Lead is a naturally occurring metal used in industry. In the past lead was added to petrol and paints. As it can be hazardous when inhaled or swallowed its use falls under the OHS/WHS regulations. Last year Safe Work Australia lowered the blood lead levels in Australian workplaces and this has now filtered through to changes in regulations in individual states as well.

The Herald Sun reported on 1 August that tradies will be better protected from Silicosis by state and federal regulators halving the standard from 0.1 to 0.05 mg per cubic metre. Based on 30 years in the business of preventing occupational disease, the idea that reducing exposure standards will do the job is misguided at best.

Glyphosate has become the focus of much discussion. As the active ingredient in the popular weed killer Roundup and hundreds of other herbicide products used by farmers and gardeners, its effect on the health and safety of the many people who use it is being watched closely.

Recently much attention has been focused on silica and coal dust exposure. This is due to the multiple positive Silicosis diagnoses from employees working in the engineered stone industry and the spate of mine dust related diseases in Queensland (as reported by ABC news in February). The reason for the recent spate of these illnesses is likely to be due to an absence of control measures or inadequacy of implemented control measures.

The final report on the Model Work Health and Safety Laws review, by Marie Boland, former Executive Director of SafeWork SA, was released in December 2018.  Reassuringly the review found that “the model WHS laws are, for the most part, working as intended”.  However, it also went further into the detail of the regulations, uncovering dissatisfaction with specific provisions and making 34 recommendations which, if implemented, could significantly affect the substance of the current laws and their enforcement.