Archived News for OHS Sector Professionals - July, 2012

Results of a survey released by the Victorian Health Intelligence Unit show that around one in 20 adult Victorians has diabetes.

The Influenza Specialist Group (ISG) has warned that this year’s flu season is shaping up to be the worst in a number of years, with a particularly virulent strain of the disease seeing the number of people contracting influenza double compared to the same time last year.

Workplace Standards Tasmania has published the first report of the review into the state’s child labour laws.

The Education and Employment Committee, the body charged with carrying out the Prime Minister’s demand for an inquiry into workplace bullying, has announced it will travel to Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart over the coming days to hear from the community.

The New South Wales Labor Opposition has launched a petition against the State Government’s cuts to workers compensation.

The South Australian Government has announced applications are now open vor the SafeWork SA WHS Commissioned Research Grant Programme, aimed at improving work health and safety (WHS) outcomes throughout the state.

From 1 January 2013, Australia's national transport safety investigator, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), will take responsibility for investigating safety events on the metropolitan passenger and freight rail networks across Australia.

Two of Australia’s biggest construction companies have entered in to a $225,000 enforceable undertaking after two concrete panels, each weighting 11.3 tonnes, fell from a contractor’s truck in October 2006.

Unions, including the AMWU, have urged the Federal Government and other politicians to back reforms for managing asbestos, including the removal of asbestos from all public buildings in Australia by 2030.

Acting AMWU National Secretary Paul Bastian, a member of the National Asbestos Management Review’s expert advisory group, hoped the tabling of the Review would mark a new era for asbestos management in Australia.
 
“The Asbestos Management Review should put a clear plan to the Federal Government. It represents a generational opportunity to deal with the problem of asbestos, in particular, the third wave of asbestos victims.

“Government must deliver on asbestos management and do so in an expedited fashion. Australia has one of the highest rates of asbestos related disease in the world and the incidents of mesothelioma will continue to remain at peak levels unless action is taken now.”

The unions are seeking that Government support:

· The need for there to be a national audit of asbestos and a prioritized plan of its removal in public buildings by 2030;
· The introduction of compulsory asbestos contamination reports for all domestic and commercial dwellings built prior to 1987;
· The establishment of a national statutory authority to co-ordinate a response to asbestos issues such as disposal, removal and public awareness.

A delegation made up of Mr Bastian, Lindsay Fraser of the CMFEU, Michael Borowick of the ACTU, Tanya Segelov of law firm Turner Freeman and Serafina Salucci, a mesothelioma sufferer, met with federal parliamentarians last week to urge action on the report.

“It was pleasing to see a willingness from those in Canberra to listen and engage on the issue. We’ll now await their response.”

Mr Bastian said he was inspired by 42-year-old mother Serafina Salucci, a member of the delegation, who spoke directly with Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

“Five years ago Serafina was diagnosed with mesothelioma as a result of secondary exposure to asbestos from renovations in her family home when she was a child.

“She has had one lung and three ribs removed, yet she had the energy to walk the halls of parliament in what was a very long day. Like others who have been exposed to asbestos, she demonstrates courage and a determination to ensure others don’t suffer in the same way. We cannot let her down.”

OHS recruitment specialist National Safety Recruitment (NSR) has conducted a major annual salary survey of the occupational health and safety workforce, finding that the sector attracts salaries of up to 90 per cent above the average national salary.

The Queensland Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Jarrod Bleijie has announced new appointees to the boards of WorkCover Queensland and Q-COMP.

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WorkCover Queensland is a statutory body that provides and manages workers compensation insurance in Queensland. It is funded by industry and operates as an independent commercial enterprise that is owned by the State Government.

Q-COMP is also an independent statutory authority primarily funded through contributions from insurers. Its role is to oversee and regulate the functions of WorkCover Queensland.

Mr Bleijie confirmed the WorkCover Queensland board would be chaired by former Law Council of Australia President Glenn Ferguson, while the Q-COMP board would be led by Telstra legal counsel Flavia Gobbo.

The new board members are:

WorkCover Queensland

·Mr Glenn Ferguson – Chairperson
·Mr Justin O’Connor – Deputy Chairperson
·Mr Ian Winterburn – Director
·Mr John Crittall – Director
·Mr Ian Leavers – Director
·Mr Barry Leahy – Director
·Ms Melinda Bailey – Director

Q-COMP

·Ms Flavia Gobbo – Chairperson
·Mr Peter Dowling – Deputy Chairperson
·Dr Beres Wenck – Director
·Mr Stephen Tait – Director
·Mr David Harrison – Director
·Dr Simon Blackwood - Director

NSW employers have been saved from a 28 per cent increase in their insurance premiums following a deciion by the WorkCover Board to leave the target premium collection rate at 1.68 per cent.

Online depression therapy programs can have a positive impact on more than just depressive symptoms, a new study from The Australian National University reveals.

Safe Work Australia has released for public comment six draft model work health and safety codes of practice and two guides.

The recently released draft codes include Managing Risks in Forestry Operations, Industrial Lift Trucks, Cranes, Amusement Devices, Managing Risks of Plant used in Rural Workplaces and Managing Security Risks in the Cash-in-Transit Industry.

The draft guides include Guide for Managing Risks in Cable Logging and Guide for Tunnelling. Public comment on these codes and guides closes on 24 August.

Meanwhile the draft codes Preventing and Managing Fatigue in the Workplace and Preventing and Responding to Workplace Bullying are being revised based on public comment and are expected to be finalised later this year.

Several codes are awaiting approval by the Select Council on Workplace Relations.

Eleven codes have already been approved, such as How to Manage Workplace Health and Safety Risks.

For more details, visit Safe Work Australia.