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.

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.  

In 2003 a skin cancer judgment found skin cancer was ‘serious’ and ‘dangerous’ enough for a retired truck driver to sue his employer of 35 years for damages, putting sun protection and potentially UVR protection more generally, on the agenda for employers.

Australia is one of the most bushfire prone countries in the world. This means that across a range of industries workers may be affected by bush fires while commuting to or from work or their home location. Have you considered this when reviewing risks and implementing policies?

As part of the OHS Regulations you have a duty of care to ensure that your employees aren’t exposed to noise which is harmful to their health and safety. In order to comply with the regulations you must identify, assess and control the noise risk to your employees and others

The recent, huge West Footscray fire in Victoria triggered a “WorkSafe and EPA blitz” in the area of the blaze. To date, WorkSafe report they have visited 78 sites and have issued 68 Improvement Notices in relation to the handling and storage of dangerous goods. However, the blitz continues and the number of Notices will rise. This raises a question for all of you – are you absolutely sure that potentially dangerous chemicals are being stored correctly at your premises?  The storage and handling of Dangerous Goods can be complex and have significant implications for your organization if controls are inadequate. JTA can provide expert advice.

On 1 October 2018, significant changes were made to the Chain of Responsibility (CoR) laws. They will have an impact on many industries and on many businesses. If you’re in the heavy vehicle transport ‘supply chain’ you will have a duty of care to proactively identify hazards and work to remove or minimise risks. Whether you’re involved in maintenance, construction, transportation or management you will be affected.

Both the Victorian and NSW Labour parties have committed to legislate for a new criminal offence of Workplace Manslaughter if elected. This follows the lead of the ACT, Queensland and the UK who all have Industrial Manslaughter Laws in place already. The legislation will be designed to severely punish companies and employers with higher fines and significant jail time.