*UPDATE* Quadrivalent Vaccine NOW AVAILABLE 

Each year the World Health Organization (WHO) puts forward its recommendations for the composition of the influenza virus for the Southern Hemisphere influenza season. This year this includes two influenza A strains and one influenza B strain.

Over the past 10 years, these three recommended strains have accounted for an average of 94% of all influenza cases reported in Australia.

For the 2016 flu season, some manufacturers have chosen to include a fourth strain – an additional influenza B strain.

Statistics show that 1 in 5 adult Australians suffer from a mental illness, often as a result of chronic stress, which ultimately impacts their work. Therefore, taking care of employee mental health not only shows good ethics, but it’s also good for business.

It’s been estimated that the annual cost to a company of an employee with untreated depression is $9,660. Amazingly, untreated depression results in over 6 million working days lost each year in Australia. That’s a lot of wasted production!

Did you know that Construction workers are among the most affected by industrial deafness? Safe Work Australia research shows that the construction industry is the third noisiest industry sector.

Many of the workers are surprised at this result, particularly when they may have considered it to be a ‘Quiet’ Day during which they only conducted the occasional noisy activity. However the meaning of a ‘Quiet’ Day to a Tradie is somewhat different to somebody who works in an Office.

According to this year’s Tradie National Health Month, “Nearly a quarter of all roofers, labourers and plumbers experience back pain, muscle stress and strain from lifting equipment or slips, trips, and falls when handling materials”.

The Australian Physiotherapist Association (APA) states that there is a substantial number of tradies who suffer severe and debilitating back pain due to musculoskeletal disorders (MSD's), in which some cases are highly preventable.

According to the University of Sydney’s Men’s Health Week booklet, Australian men are more likely to get sick from serious health problems than women, often due to a lack of early intervention and their mortality rate is also much higher.

The working environment plays a critical role in keeping men healthy and safe by providing regular preventative screening of health issues, particularly in the construction and mining industries, which are male dominated.

Now we’re in the midst of summer our exposure to ultra violet radiation from the sun generally increases due to the larger area of skin exposed to sunlight and the increase in sunlight UV levels.

These two factors result in an increased risk of developing skin cancer, with outdoor workers receiving five to 10 times more sun exposure than indoor workers, putting them at a higher risk.

What is an Otoscopy?

An Otoscopy is a visual ear examination through the use of an otoscope. The purpose of the examination is to check for any abnormal features in the external auditory canal of the ear. The part of the ear being examined is the tunnel that leads from the outer ear (pinna) to the eardrum. The most common abnormal features that may be found through the examination include;

In Australia, asbestos products were used in the construction industry from the 1940’s to the late 1980s, and in the production of plant and car parts up until 2003. In some overseas countries, asbestos is still being made and can be found in some imported products.

Inhalation of Asbestos fibres can lead to a range of diseases including asbestosis and mesothelioma. Asbestosis causes scaring of the lungs while mesothelioma is a cancer of the lung linings and can take a long period to develop after exposure.

Noise induced hearing loss is an irreversible condition that can have significant impacts on people’s lives.

Section 3.2.11 – Audiometric tests, of the Victorian Regulations states: “If an employer is required under regulation 3.2.4(1)(d) to provide hearing protectors to an employee, the employer must provide for audiometric testing for that employee..."

The EPA's Noise Effects Handbook states that excessive noise can create distraction and mental fatigue that can impair workers' judgment and reduce morale. At certain levels, constant noise pollution can interfere with necessary business communications or even drown out safety alarms. A noisy workplace environment places stress on employees, who must find ways to work around the impediment.