A recent internet discussion on the recommendation in the British HSE document ‘HSG 53 'Respiratory Protective Equipment at Work - a practical guide’ for a maximum of 1 hour continuous wear time for any un-powered RPE raised some interesting points. Several people in the occupational hygiene or allied fields commented to the effect that no-one should offer an opinion unless they had “walked a mile in the shoes” of workers required to do this.

It’s not long until November which means Movember is about to kick off. Movember is more than just about men growing moustaches. It’s about raising the awareness of men’s health issues and giving men the opportunities and confidence to learn about taking action to improve their health. So, why the fuss about men’s health?

In recent years there have been numerous fatalities involving the collapse of masonry structures. Masonry structure failures have occurred at a range of workplaces including residential and commercial construction and demolition sites. In each instance a change had occurred such as recent construction, recent demolition or the addition of extra load.

Did you know that the average worker can spend anywhere between 30-60 hours per week at work? This significant amount of time spent at work is one of the many factors contributing to the importance of addressing mental health in the workplace and the promotion of a positive working environment.

It is hard to associate a name like Mr Fluffy with something as sinister as asbestos. Mr Fluffy was the trading name of the company responsible for insulating over 1000 ACT homes with a highly friable form of crocidolite (blue) asbestos – the most toxic form of asbestos.

OHS equipment suppliers indicate that hearing protection remains an important control measure in the fight against noise induced hearing loss. The increase in availability and affordability of equipment like powered hand tools with very noisy two stroke petrol powered engines to replace almost every physical activity has increased the need for effective hearing protection for traditionally quiet work such as sweeping and plant trimming.

While we may be ready to let go of the colder months, the flu season is still very much here and it usually continues through to October, continuing to affect tens of thousands of Australians.

We've had an early start to the flu season this year with higher case numbers compared to the same time in previous years. According to the Department of Health’s Surveillance Report from August, there are still rapidly increasing numbers particularly in NSW, SA and Tasmania.

Occasionally at JTA Noise we carry out assessments where we find that the noise is well within occupational and environmental standards and even best practice and yet the problem remains in that the complainant continues to be aggravated by the offending noise.

It’s interesting that some people still question the purpose or validity of corporate wellness programs when there is so much research that supports the business case for investing in employee health. Smart companies understand that focusing on ‘well care’ makes good business sense.

Reports of live music dying in Melbourne and moving to Sydney with the consequent loss of a Melbourne signature music scene came to a head in Brunswick last year where a local councillor intervened in a VCAT hearing to save an iconic local live music venue (The Melbourne Age, November 2013).