OHS (or WHS outside Victoria) is principally a state and territory responsibility. The Federal Government supports national organisations such as SafeWork Australia which is important for establishing national standards including the workplace exposure standards. The change of Federal government may influence the way in which some or all of these organisations operate and their funding.  

On the 6th June this year Safe Work Australia announced major amendments to the model Work Health and Safety Act and model Work Health and Safety Regulations. Whilst the amendments cover a range of issues, there are two key changes you should be aware of. They are in relation to managing psychosocial risk and a proposed prohibition on insurance for penalties. How will these, and the other changes, affect you?

At 143 dB the HyperWhistle, claimed to be the Worlds loudest whistle, exceeds the legislated peak maximum workplace standard and cannot be used without hearing protection (which it comes with).

After an extreme weather event, it is difficult to know where to start the clean-up. The feeling of being overwhelmed can make it hard to digest conflicting information, much of which is incomplete and can leave you exposed to unforeseen risks.

On the 1 July 2021, new laws gave the Victorian Environment Protection Authority (EPA) increased powers to prevent harm to public health and the environment from pollution and waste. Importantly, The General Environmental Duty (GED), a centrepiece of the new laws, is criminally enforceable.

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.

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?

The fire on the carrier ship Felicity Ace, carrying many luxury cars including electric cars, has prompted us all to have another look at how we store and use lithium batteries.

People are vaxxed out after having several COVID vaccinations. The concern is that, combined with almost no flu last year, they will drag their feet about having a Flu Vaccination.

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?