WHS

Forklift users across the country stand to benefit from intended safety improvements outlined in several International Standards recently adopted in Australia with more to come over the next 12 months. A number of International Standards governing industrial trucks (forklifts) have recently been adopted as Australian Standards following extensive stakeholder consultation. The International Standards adopted have…

The Queensland Work Health and Safety Board have recently released their five year strategic plan for work health and safety in Queensland from 2019-2023. Please click here to view and download the plan.

In October 2018, two workers in an excavation were injured when a 1350mm diameter concrete stormwater pipe toppled over. They were installing a short 500mm length of the large diameter pipe by abutting the pipe up to the end of a recently laid pipe and using timber and sandbags as chocks to support the pipe…

Queensland Mental Health Week is an annual event which aims to increase awareness and interest in positive mental health and wellbeing across the state. World Mental Health Day has been held from the 6th to 14th October with the Week’s theme focusing on the need to value mental health – with six steps: Be active…

The following safety incident alerts have recently been released. Please click where relevant for further details. Fatality involving an articulated dump truck: an operator of an articulated dump truck was working at a quarry with his last load of the day. Moving fully loaded down the access ramp, it appears he lost control of the…

Minister for Industrial Relations Grace Grace MP has issued an urgent safety warning stating that dry cutting of engineered stone is prohibited. “Any employer engaging in dry cutting of this product must stop immediately,” Ms Grace said. “Enforcement action will be taken against any employer who fails to adequately to protect its workers.” “Due to…

This year’s Safe Work Month theme is “A moment is all it takes”. While a safety incident can happen in a moment and in any workplace, a moment’s forethought can prevent harm. Click here to access a range of resources you can utilise this year for Safe Work Month.

Work health and safety professionals and business leaders are invited to attend Safe Work Month Breakfast Forums held throughout Queensland in October. This year’s forums feature an extended program and a networking opportunity to maximise your professional development. The forums are a must for frontline professionals working in safety, and will feature: keynote speaker Kieran…

The CCF QLD WHS Forum on the 25th of September will discuss the Chain of Responsibility changes to legislation which will be effective as of the 1st of October. This forum has attracted a large amount of interest and there are limited seats remaining. To book in, please contact Manager – Client Services,  Leanne Weier…

What is a heart attack? A heart attack happens when there is a sudden complete blockage of an artery that supplies blood to an area of your heart. As a result, some of your heart muscle begins to die. Without early medical treatment, this damage can be permanent. Heart attack warning signs vary With a…

The following safety incident alerts have recently been released. Please click where relevant for further details. Rock grab falls from trailer: A recent high potential incident involving the uncontrolled movement of a rock grab attachment as it was being unloaded from a semi-trailer has highlighted several risk management shortfalls. View the SEE Civil Safety Alert for…

Key work health and safety statistics Australia 2018 presents an overview of the latest national work-related injury, disease and fatality statistics. The latest statistics cover the trends, gender and age comparisons, and industry and occupation breakdowns for work health and safety in Australia. Click here to view the statistics and more information.

Work Health and Safety Queensland invites you to the exciting launch of new resources to help the construction industry better manage hazardous manual tasks and reduce sprains and strains. This is a free event hosted by Hutchinson Builders. Sprains and strains are a major issue in the construction industry. The financial and human cost is…

The Queensland Government has recently released an event planning toolkit to help you get involved in Safe Work Month 2018 and show your organisation’s support for Queenslanders’ staying safe at work. Communicating your support to your workforce, their families, and the community helps build a better safety culture. Safe Work Month in October is part…

WHSQ have joined with the construction industry to launch some new resources to help you reduce sprains and strains in your construction workplace. The factsheet Preventing sprains and strains in construction highlights key issues and gives managers in the industry tips on reducing sprain and strain injuries. The Manual tasks risk register guide provides specific…

The following safety alerts have recently been released. Please click where relevant for further details. Construction worker dies after being crushed by heavy machinery: An Auckland construction worker has died after being crushed by machinery. The accident took place yesterday on a construction site on Mamaku Drive in Massey about 3pm. The man was driving a…

Excavator rollover: Recently information emerged about workers being lucky to escape injury as a 15-tonne excavator rolled over on Civic construction site. A massive 15-tonne excavator rolled over on a residential apartment construction site in Civic yesterday with only a seatbelt stopping its operator from receiving serious injuries. WorkSafe ACT issued a Prohibition and two Improvement…

The following safety incident alerts have recently been released. Please click where relevant for further information. Worker crushed by slewing crane: In May 2018, a dogger received serious crush injuries while working on a truck mounted crane. He was packing up the chains of the 60 tonne mobile crane when it slewed, trapping him between the…

From 1 July, standards set by individual codes of practice, or equivalent or higher standards, must be followed by all employers, or they risk enforcement action being taken by workplace safety inspectors. Inspectors will be able to issue improvement notices where requirements of the codes are being breached, rather than just for breaches of the…

USING THE BRAIN AS PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT Why do so many people still get hurt at work even though we do so much to try and keep them safe? For instance, it is estimated that workplace incidents cost the Australian economy $60.6 billion per year, representing 4.8 per cent of GDP in the 2008-09 period…

Amendments passed in 2017 require PCBUs to provide Workplace Health and Safety Queensland with a list of health and safety representatives (HSRs) and deputy HSRs for each work group, and copies of provisional improvement notices issued by their HSRs. Although the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 already established a framework for health and safety representatives to…

The following safety incident alerts have recently been released. Please click where relevant for further information on the incidents and how to prevent similar incidents. Worker killed by pressurised gas hose: In May 2018, a worker received severe head injuries while removing a hose from a 100 tonne pressure vessel. Initial inquiries indicate the worker was…

Work-related psychological health and safety – A systematic approach to meeting your duties will help employers and workers understand and meet their duties concerning psychological health and safety in the workplace. Dr Peta Miller, Special Adviser for Safe Work Australia, said we know what causes psychological harm in the workplace and that taking preventative action works.…

In April 2018, a concrete truck was parked on a wet, sloping driveway at a private property in Buderim in readiness for a concrete pour. The operator placed rubber chocks under the front wheels and timber chocks under the rear wheels of the truck. The operator stopped the mixer from turning to commence the pour.…

The NSCA Foundation National Safety Awards of Excellence are Australia’s longest running and only independent awards, recognising outstanding Work Health and Safety initiatives. Now in their 26th year, these awards continue to celebrate organisations and people that actively promote Work Health and Safety (WHS) as a cornerstone of elite business performance. The awards are open…

Silica is a natural substance found in most rocks, sand and clay, and in products such as bricks and concrete. Work processes such as cutting, sanding, carving, grinding, blasting or polishing materials containing silica can generate respirable crystalline silica (RCS). RCS dust particles are so small they cannot be seen under ordinary lighting. RCS is…