As you’re no doubt aware, on the 17th of June the new OHS Regulations 2017 came into effect in Victoria. Some significant changes have been made, so it’s vital to know how they will affect you. This is especially true if you have asbestos in your workplace, are involved with hazardous chemicals or are in the construction or mining industry.

Regulators have reworded some of the existing laws to clarify their scope. The new legislation also uses a simpler consecutive numbering system.

You will need to pay special attention to these new laws, if your workplace:

Cyclone Debbie may have passed, but conditions are still potentially hazardous for residents who are now attempting to clean up the mess left behind. It is understandable that a natural disaster will elicit a hugely emotional response for affected residents as they survey the damage to their homes.

On the 1st of January 2017, the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) became mandatory in all Australian states except Victoria and Western Australia.

Those affected by these changes include manufacturers, importers, suppliers and users of hazardous chemicals in workplaces.  

  Summer is often a time for eating out while you enjoy warm nights and long days of sunlight.

There are some tasks in a business property renovation that should be left to the experts. Asbestos identification is one of them.

The recent news regarding the asbestos incident at Cremorne in Sydney, is yet another reminder of the importance of responsible and safe asbestos management.

It is imperative that prior to initiating a demolition project, a thorough asbestos audit is carried out on the site by a professional independent consultant. Failing to take this action puts construction workers at risk of asbestos exposure, which over a prolonged period, may increase the chance of lung cancer and mesothelioma, among other asbestos-related health conditions.

Did you know that as a company director, you could be held personally liable for occupational health and safety incidents at your workplace?

There are a number of different state regulations that could attribute fault to a director when a workplace accident occurs.

For the purposes of this article, we will highlight some vital discussion points based on offences categorised and punishable under the various legislation in each state.

With a yearly trend towards higher rainfall and warmer temperatures, indoor air quality is becoming a hot issue. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, the Australian climate hit many record highs in 2016.

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.

Damage to hearing can occur from exposure to very loud noise for a short time or prolonged exposure to moderate noise levels and can begin immediately or gradually.

Depending on the intensity of the noise and the duration of exposure, hearing loss can range from a small shift in the threshold at which sounds at different frequencies can be detected, to total deafness.