WHS regulator must remove offender's details where no conviction recorded

FK9Z7UGBAM2E

A recent decision in the Queensland Supreme Court found that it was unlawful for the health and safety regulator to publish a party's details if the court decides not to record a conviction.

Until this case, Workplace Health and Safety Queensland published details on its website of individuals and corporations who were convicted, irrespective of whether a conviction was recorded in court.

Parties whose details appear on the Queensland health and safety regulator's website can now require them to remove their details where no conviction was recorded. This avoids the party being identified in relation to the conviction via search engines like Google.

Source: Supreme Court of Queensland Library

For information on Vocam health and safety training products, contact us or visit our website.

Two companies fined $160,000 after worker's arm trapped in machine

Two companies pleaded guilty to failing to provide a safe workplace after a worker's arm became trapped in a conveyor at a factory.

The incident

An employee, who was sent to monitor the conveyor, was injured while using a shovel to clean a build up of fertiliser. The worker's arm and shoulder were pulled into the conveyor after his shovel was caught in the machine. He was trapped for several minutes, and suffered permanent injuries.

A WorkSafe investigation uncovered that workers frequently used shovels, hammers and crowbars to chip fertiliser off the conveyors, but this should have occurred during production breaks when the conveyors were switched off.

The consequences for the companies

One company was fined $70,000 as it did not have a clear idea of the work its employees were doing at the factory and did not ensure that the company that ran the factory provided adequate training. The other company was fined $90,000 as it failed to adequately train and oversee its workers, and operated a 'buddy system' where the 'buddies' were not providing safe and correct information.

Safety-TV e-learning courses

Leadership Being Proactive in Safety - E-Learning
Safety Awareness - E-Learning

Vocam Health and Safety training videos

Risk Assessment for Industry
Safety Awareness
Leadership: Being Proactive in Safety

Available as part of TrainNOW.
For more information, contact us or visit our website.

Source: Safe To Work

Classification and Labelling of Workplace Chemicals

Safe Work Australia is hosting a series of training & information sessions to increase understanding of the hazard classification, safety data sheet & labelling requirements for workplace chemicals in the model Work Health and Safety regulations, which incorporates the Globally Harmonized System of Classification & Labelling of Chemicals.

For more information, including locations, dates and times, visit Safe Work Australia's GHS Training page.

Hazardous Chemicals - GHS Classification and Communication

“Hazardous Chemicals – GHS Classification & Communication” is a training resource that provides an in-depth review of the hazard communication standards that play a vital role in minimising the risk of harm from chemicals at work. It is consistent with the GHS and the Australian Work Health and Safety Regulations and Codes of Practice.

Topics covered:
• Hazard Classification
• Hazard Communication
• GHS Pictograms
• Labels
• Safety data sheets

For more information, or to preview this training resource, click: Hazardous Chemicals - GHS Classification and Communication

Available as part of TrainNOW
Source: Safe Work Australia

Social media can make people more productive and flexible workers

A recent study by Warwick Business School found that social media is helping people become more productive and flexible workers.

The study found that employees with unfettered access to social media were able to collaborate with colleagues to accomplish tasks more efficiently. Social media tools like Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Skype and Google+ also allowed workers to answer more customer queries, and more quickly.

Aside from these productivity gains, social media also helps ensure companies are digitally savvy enough to attract younger employees. This research suggests that rather than seeing social media as something negative that distracts workers, employers can benefit from embracing it as part of the changing workplace environment.

Safety-TV e-learning courses

Social Media, Email and Online Etiquette - E-Learning

Vocam Health and Safety training videos

Social Media, Email and Online Etiquette

Available as part of TrainNOW.
For more information, contact us or visit our website.

Source: Bloomberg Business Week

International Workers' Memorial Day

April 28 was Workers’ Memorial Day, an international day of remembrance for workers who have lost their lives in workplace accidents.

On average, 300 Australians die at work each year. So far in 2013, 46 people have died on the job, according to Safe Work Australia.

A national memorial has been unveiled in Canberra, with eight stone poles representing the states and territories, and concrete ripples to symbolise the ripple effect a workplace death has on family, friends and colleagues.

"The National Workers Memorial is a place of reflection and acts as a reminder of the importance of staying safe at work," Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten said.

Safety-TV e-learning courses

Leadership: Being Proactive in Safety - E-Learning
Safety Awareness - E-Learning

Vocam Health and Safety training videos

Leadership: Being Proactive in Safety
Safety Awareness

Available as part of TrainNOW.
For more information, contact us or visit our website.

Source: The Canberra Times

Crane overturns in workplace accident

In a recent workplace accident, a poorly maintained crane overturned during a lifting operation, causing serious damage to a car.

The incident

The incident occurred when the crane was being used to lift a yacht and the controls locked up during the de-rigging phase. Though the driver successfully freed the controls, the 35-tonne crane overbalanced and fell because the jib was still extended.

An investigation discovered that the crane was overdue for its annual examination and testing, and the controls were prone to locking up. The company also failed to provide a suitable lifting plan, which is an essential safety requirement.

The company pled guilty and was ordered to pay a total of £8,000 in fines and costs.

Vocam Health and Safety Training Videos

Leadership: Being Proactive in Safety
Safety Awareness

Workplace Safety E-learning Courses

Leadership: Being Proactive in Safety - E-Learning
Safety Awareness - E-Learning

Available as part of TrainNOW.
For more information, contact us or visit our website.

Source: Isle of Wight Radio

New findings on workplace health and productivity

70% of workers do not engage in enough physical activity, according to findings from Victoria’s WorkHealth checks. This is concerning for businesses, because poor employee health and wellbeing can lead to a significant drop in worker productivity.

New research by VicHealth also shows that prolonged sitting at work is just as bad for worker’s health as not doing enough exercise. While office workers are typically thought of as having the most sedentary jobs, many blue collar workers also sit for up to 12 hours a day, such as transport and machinery workers.

Warren Faneco, Exercise Physiologist at Ballarat Community Health, gives the following tips to workers in sedentary jobs:
• Regular movement is key, no matter what job you have.
• Whenever you have the chance, stand up, even if just for a moment.
• Try to walk, move around or stretch during your break.
• Even while sitting at work, try to keep moving, for example by moving your ankles in circles.
• Try to do at least 30 minutes of exercise on as many days as possible.
• Use every opportunity for incidental activity, for example, take the stairs instead of the lift.

Worker health can also have a huge influence on business performance and the overall economy. Medibank estimates that in 2009-2010, presenteeism cost the Australian economy $34.1 billion. Presenteeism is lost productivity from workers who are performing at sub optimal levels because of poor health and illness.

Safety-TV e-learning courses

Ergonomic Essentials for the Office - E-Learning
Health and Hygiene Essentials for Industry - E-Learning
Health and Hygiene Essentials for the Office – E-Learning

Vocam Health and Safety training videos

Health and Hygiene Essentials for Industry
Health and Hygiene Essentials for the Office
Ergonomic Essentials for the Office

Available as part of TrainNOW.
For more information, contact us or visit our website.

Sources: Vecci, WorkSafe Victoria and Medibank

Young workers have a much higher workplace injury rate than over 25s

A recent report has revealed that around 20% of workplace accidents are incurred by workers aged 25 and under. The report was compiled by Safe Work Australia and is titled Work-related injuries experienced by young workers 2009-2010.

Key findings on work health and safety

• The injury rate of young workers was 18% higher than for workers aged 26 and over. The rate of work-related injuries per 1000 workers is around 66.1 for young people, compared to 56.2 for workers aged 26 and over.
• The difference in work-related injury rates is highest in the manufacturing, accommodation and food services, health care and social assistance and construction industries
• Nearly 2/3 injured young workers did not apply for workers’ compensation after their work-related injury
• 2/3 traumatic injury fatalities to young workers involved a vehicle

Work health and safety regulators are finding practical ways to raise young people’s awareness of workplace hazards, and are working to improve work health and safety for young people and support employers to reduce these statistics.

Safety-TV e-learning courses

Leadership: Being Proactive in Safety - E-Learning
Safety Awareness - E-Learning

Vocam Health and Safety training videos

Leadership : Being Proactive in Safety
Safety Awareness

Available as part of TrainNOW.
For more information, contact us or visit our website.
Source: Safe Work Australia media releases
The report can be accesed at www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au

Worker electrocuted in fatal accident received little training

An ongoing inquest has heard that a 16-year-old insulation worker, who was electrocuted in late 2009, had received little training and was not wearing safety gear at the time of the accident.

The workplace accident

The teenager was working to install insulation as part of the Government’s ‘pink batts’ plan, when the metal pole he was using came into contact with a screw that had pierced an electric cable. The court heard that:
• He had only been working for the company for three weeks before the accident.
• He had received minimal training and was not aware of the dangers involved in the insulation work.
• He was not wearing any safety gear when he died. He was wearing a t-shirt, shorts and sandals.

The consequences for the company

The company faced court in 2010, and was fined $110,000 for an electrical safety breach, $25,000 for workplace health and safety breaches and paid legal fees of $14,500. In addition, the ongoing inquest is investigating the deaths of this young worker and two others who were involved in the home insulation scheme.

Electrical Safety

Each year, around 1000 electrical accidents at work are reported and about 25 people die of their injuries. Research shows that most electrical accidents can be predicted and prevented if comprehensive safety procedures are followed. This includes training, safe work protocols and supervision.

Personal Protective Equipment

Research suggests that failure to wear PPE, use PPE properly and use compatible PPE results in workplace accidents and deaths that cost businesses and the community millions each year. PPE users require training on the correct use and maintenance of PPE including:
• How to fit, wear and remove PPE correctly
• How to inspect and, if necessary, test equipment before using it
• How to recognise the appropriate PPE

Safety-TV e-learning courses

Electrical Safety Essentials - E-Learning
Leadership: Being Proactive in Safety - E-Learning
Safety Awareness - E-Learning

Vocam Health and Safety training videos

Electrical Safety Essentials
Leadership : Being Proactive in Safety
Safety Awareness

Available as part of TrainNOW. For more information, contact us or visit our website.

Source: http://www.safetowork.com.au/news/inquest-told-electrocuted-insulation-work-received

Engineering company fined after an employee's foot was crushed by a machine

An engineering company was ordered to pay over £11,000 after an employee’s foot was crushed by a poorly-guarded machine.

The incident

The employee was operating a machine when his foot was crushed and trapped by the machine’s ram. He had to be freed by colleagues who were able to support him and release his foot. He had to have his right foot amputated, following the incident, and he also sustained fractures to his remaining toes and cut his head.

The Health and Safety Executive investigation

A Health and Safety Executive investigation revealed that if the machine had been better guarded, the incident would not have happened.

HSE inspector Alec Ryan said:
"This incident was wholly preventable and could have been avoided had the company carried out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment and taken the necessary measures to make the machine safe.

"The machine in question was very powerful and it is wrong that a worker was put at unnecessary risk because safety devices weren't working.

"Incidents of this kind are all too common and it is vital employers prevent access or exposure to dangerous moving parts at all times."

Vocam Health and Safety Training Videos
Lockout / Tagout – Making it Safe
Safety Awareness

Workplace Safety E-learning Courses
Lockout Tagout - E-Learning
Safety Awareness - E-Learning

Available as part of TrainNOW.
For more information, contact us or visit our website.
Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2013/rnn-se-05713.htm

Manufacturing company facing $369,000 in fines for 26 health and safety violations

A manufacturing company is facing up to $369,000 in fines after being cited by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration with 26 health and safety violations. Workers at the company’s facility were exposed to machine guarding, lead and electrical hazards.

The health and safety violations

The violations include failing to:
- Train workers to recognize electrical hazards
- Identify fire extinguishers
- Provide machine guarding
- Store respirators correctly
- Provide appropriate PPE and require its use.

Nick Walters, OSHA's regional director in Chicago, said: "When an employer is cited for repeat violations, it shows a lack of commitment to protecting the safety and health of workers. OSHA will not tolerate such negligence."

Vocam health and safety training videos

Lockout / Tagout – Making it Safe
Workplace Environmental Awareness
Handling and Storage of Hazardous Substances

Safety-TV e-learning courses

Lockout / Tagout – E-learning
Hazard Communication Safety Essentials – E-learning

Available as part of TrainNOW.
For more information, contact us or visit our website.

Source: http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=23724

Noise and Hearing Loss Prevention - New release training programme

The most up-to-date training resource on Hazardous Noise in the Workplace has just been released… “Noise and Hearing Loss Prevention”.

Noise in the workplace accounts for the vast majority of noise induced hearing loss in the community.

Hearing loss usually occurs gradually, over years, and it’s mostly painless, so by the time the damage is done, it is too late. While there is no cure for hearing loss, it can be prevented by proactively managing exposure to hazardous noise levels.


Topics covered:
- Understanding How Sound Works
- Hearing Loss and Health Effects
- Hazardous Noise
- Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment
- Reducing Noise
- Personal Hearing Protection
- Proper Use of PPE
- Audiometric Testing

The Australian Version

Based on the harmonised Work Health and Safety Regulations and Codes of Practice, this training resource is suitable for personnel at all levels and reinforces the fundamental concepts that underpin all successful noise management programmes.

The UK Version

Based on The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2006, this training resource is suitable for personnel at all levels and reinforces the fundamental concepts that underpin all successful noise management programmes.

Click here for more information or to preview 'Noise and Hearing Loss Prevention'.
Available as part of TrainNOW.
For more information, contact us or visit our website.

Worker suffers serious injuries after being dragged into an unguarded machine

A manufacturer was ordered to pay over £40,000 for safety failings, after a worker was dragged into an unguarded machine.

The workplace accident

The worker had been working a nightshift at the company’s factory, when a conveyor belt became jammed. Maintenance workers removed the machine’s guards, as they were unable to fix the fault and this allowed the machine to continue operating. While trying to stop the belt rubbing, the injured worker was pulled into the machine and had to be cut free, suffering a broken arm.

As Health and Safety Executive Inspector Emily Osborne pointed out, the employee’s injuries could have been far worse and the company should not have allowed workers to be put at risk like this.

Manufacturing safety

While only 10% of British employees work in the manufacturing sector, the industry accounts for 25% of all workplace deaths. On average, 31 manufacturing workers die in workplace accidents each year, 4500 workers report major injuries and around 19,500 report less serious injuries.

Vocam Health and Safety Training Videos
Lockout / Tagout – Making it Safe
Safety Awareness

Workplace Safety E-learning Courses
Lockout Tagout - E-Learning
Safety Awareness - E-Learning

Available as part of TrainNOW.
For more information, contact us or visit our website.
Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2013/rnn-nw-polyflor.htm

Employee pinned to the ground in workplace safety accident

A female worker was injured in a workplace accident when a lifting device fell from the back of a truck and onto her.

The incident 


The incident occurred when a driver was transporting goods to a customer’s premises. An employee of the customer was using a lifting device under the driver’s instructions, when an object began to roll backwards off the truck and pinned the employee to the ground. The employee suffered serious injuries including broken ribs, a fractured skull and spinal injuries.

The court heard that the driver had not received training in the use of the lifting device. The company was fined $60,000 and ordered to pay costs of $7673. Worksafe WA Commissioner Lex McCulloch said that this case should remind companies how important it is to train employees on safe machine operation.

Vocam Health and Safety Training 


Effective training will contribute towards making your employees competent in health and safety, can help your business avoid the distress that accidents and ill health cause and can help you avoid the financial costs of accidents and occupational ill health.
Leadership : Being Proactive in Safety
Safety Awareness

Safety-TV E-learning Courses

Leadership: Being Proactive in Safety - E-Learning
Safety Awareness - E-Learning

Available as part of TrainNOW. For more information, contact us or visit our website.

Source: Safe to Work

Unsafe excavation work at construction site leads to fine

A construction company has been ordered to pay over £16,000 for unsafe excavation work at a construction site.

The facts

The excavation, made to connect a home to a sewer, went down three metres deep into totally unsupported soft clay. The company had failed to adequately plan the excavation and workers were put in danger by unsupported sidewalls that could have collapsed. A witness notified HSE and explained that they had seen someone climbing from the excavation, as well as tools and equipment at the bottom. Although the excavation did not collapse and there were no injuries, workers could have been killed if the clay sidewalls gave way.

Excavation safety

Every year, workers are seriously injured or killed while working in excavations. The risks in excavation work include:
- Being buried in a collapsed excavation
- Material falling into the excavation
- People or plant falling into the excavation

An employer's legal responsibilities

An employer must prevent danger to workers in or near excavations. A competent person should inspect all excavation supports at the commencement of the work shift and at other times. Work should not start until the excavation is safe.

Vocam confined space safety videos

Confined Space Safety Essentials
Construction: Managing Hazards and Risks
Hazardous Chemicals - GHS Classification & Communication
Atmosphere Testing Confined Space

Safety-TV E-learning courses

Confined Space Safety Essentials - e-Learning
Construction: Fundamentals for Safety - e-Learning
Hazardous Chemicals: GHS Classification and Communication- e-Learning
Atmosphere Testing Confined Space - e-Learning

Source: The Health and Safety Executive

Workplace bullying policy could become part of the federal workplace system

Workplace bullying policy could become part of the federal workplace system for the first time, if Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten's plan is successful.

Under the plan, bullied workers are allowed to take cases directly to the Fair Work Commission and have them listed within 2 weeks. Fines for bullies could be up to $33,000. Bill Shorten said the move could provide workers and their employers with a more timely and affordable method of resolving workplace bullying matters.

Key changes under the proposal include:

- A national definition of bullying and a national training system would be established.
- An investigation by police or state health and safety regulators would no longer be required before a worker could tackle a conflict.
- Safeguards would be implemented to prevent vexatious claims.

The legal position of an employer

Employers are responsible for helping to prevent bullying and harassing behaviour in the workplace. It is in their interests to make it clear to everyone that such behaviour will not be tolerated. The costs to the business may include poor employee relations, low morale, inefficiency and potentially the loss of staff. Training all staff about the standards of behaviour expected can make it easier for all individuals to be fully aware of their responsibilities to others.

Vocam Safety and HR Training Videos

Workplace Bullying and Harassment
Maintaining a Harassment Free Office: Managers
Maintaining a Harassment Free Office: Employees
Social Media, Email and Online Etiquette

Safety-TV E-learning Courses

Workplace Bullying and Harassment – E-Learning
Maintaining a Harassment Free Office: Managers – E-Learning
Maintaining a Harassment Free Office: Employees – E-Learning
Social Media, Email and Online Etiquette – E-Learning

Available as part of TrainNOW. For more information, contact us or visit our website.

Source: The Herald Sun

Manufacturing company cited for workplace safety hazards

A manufacturer of roof insulation panels is facing $123,000 in fines, following an Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspection at the firm’s production plant.

The company was cited for various hazards, which included deficiencies in the plant's emergency response, confined space and hazardous energy control programs, lack of personal protective equipment, and fall and respirator hazards.

The plant’s process safety management program also had deficiencies, such as missing process safety information and failing to develop and implement safe work practices.

Robert Kulick, OSHA's regional administrator in New York said:
"One method of enhancing workers' safety is for an employer to develop and maintain an effective illness and injury prevention program in which management and employees work together to identify and prevent hazardous conditions."

Source: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Vocam Health and Safety Training Videos
PPE Essentials
Confined Space Communication and Awareness

Workplace Safety E-learning Courses
Hazard Communication Safety Essentials - E-Learning
PPE Essentials - E-Learning
Available as part of TrainNOW.

For more information, contact us or visit our website.

Worker receives compensation for mental health problems following workplace death of colleague

A cold storage company was ordered to pay over $325,000 in compensation to a worker who suffered post-traumatic stress disorder and depression after the death of a colleague.

The fatal accident occurred when the worker was driving a loaded forklift at a factory and a co-worker walked in front of it, and pallets loaded on the forklift fell on him.

WorkSafe argued in the County Court that the company’s negligence was to blame for the incident. An investigation found that the company did not have an adequate traffic management system at the time.

The company was ordered to pay $326,047 for medical expenses, past losses and another year of future loss, including superannuation.

Source: Hobsons Bay Weekly

Vocam Health and Safety Training Videos
Warehousing and Storage Safety Essentials
Forklift Safety Essentials

Workplace Safety E-learning Courses
Forklift Stability Essentials - E-Learning
Warehousing and Storage Safety Essentials - E-Learning
Available as part of TrainNOW.

For more information, contact us or visit our website.

Workplace safety breaches by manufacturing company led to workplace death

A textile manufacturer was ordered to pay over £115,000 for workplace safety breaches that led to the death of a worker.

The deceased, a 61-year-old forklift truck operator, was crushed and killed by a falling stack of rag bales. The workplace accident occurred at the firm’s warehouse, when the top two bales, which weighed more than 300kg, struck the worker on the head.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive found that the manufacturing company had stacked the rag bales unsafely and had failed to put effective measures in place to control the pedestrian activities around the warehouse.

Health and Safety Exectuive inspector Geoff Fletcher said:
"This tragic incident could have been avoided had [the company] taken its duty of care toward its employees sufficiently seriously. The sad consequence of the company's failures is an unnecessary loss of life and the devastating impact this has had on [the worker’s] partner, family and friends.”

Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2013/rnn-yh-3713.htm

Vocam Health and Safety Training Videos
Warehousing and Storage Safety Essentials
Forklift Safety Essentials

Workplace Safety E-learning Courses
Forklift Stability Essentials - E-Learning
Warehousing and Storage Safety Essentials - E-Learning
Available as part of TrainNOW. For more information, contact us or visit our website.

Workplace death at factory after machine falls from forklift

A metal manufacturer has been sentenced after an employee was killed when a machine weighing half-a-tonne fell from a forklift truck.

The 25-year-old was walking alongside the forklift when the machine fell and struck him on the head. The company had been moving machines into a bigger workshop at the factory. During one move, a machine became unstable and fell, resulting in the worker’s death.

The company had only recently taken over the factory and a health and safety audit had not been carried out. The company had not planned the work in advance so that the machine could be moved safely.

The firm, which went into administration in 2011, was found guilty because it failed to ensure the safety of its employees. The company received a nominal fine of £1.

Source: The Health and Safety Executive

Vocam Training Videos
Forklift Stability Essentials
Forklift Safety Essentials

E-learning Courses
Forklift Stability Essentials - E-Learning
Forklift Safety Essentials - E-Learning

Available as part of TrainNOW. For more information, contact us or visit our website.

Electrical safety hazards lead to $65,000 fine for construction contracting company

A construction and services contracting company was fined $65,000 and ordered to pay nearly $8000 in costs following an incident in which a street light came too close to high-voltage power lines.

The company was contracted to install two assembled streetlights. A crane was hoisting one of the streetlights into place, and the operator believed the power line was not in service. However the power line was live and the streetlight swung too close, causing a flashover.

The electricity travelled through the streetlight and the crane before entering the earth, causing one of the crane’s tyres to blow out. The incident caused damage to pipework. Fortunately there were no injuries, however there was a high potential for serious injury or death from electrocution or explosion.

The company had failed to perform an adequate pre-job onsite inspection, and they did not test the line before starting work or adhere to safe working distances. The company pleaded guilty to failing to provide a safe workplace.

WorkSafe WA Commissioner Lex McCulloch said: “Working in the vicinity of power lines is extremely hazardous, and it is vital that every possible measure is taken to ensure the safety of the job, especially in ensuring that everyone on the site is fully briefed on the issues.”

For more information on this workplace safety news, visit: Department of Commerce - WA

Vocam Training Videos
Electrical Safety Essentials
Leadership : Being Proactive in Safety
Safety Awareness

E-learning Courses
Electrical Safety Essentials - E-Learning
Leadership: Being Proactive in Safety - E-Learning
Safety Awareness - E-Learning

Available as part of TrainNOW. For more information, contact us or visit our website.

$460,000 in proposed penalties for company that exposed workers to lead

A company is facing nearly $460,000 in penalties from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, after being cited with 38 alleged violations. The violations, including 14 willful and 11 repeat, were found at bridge work sites, where workers were exposed to lead and other safety and health hazards while performing abrasive blasting and repainting projects.

MaryAnn Garrahan, OSHA regional administrator said:
"Employers have a legal responsibility to provide workers with safe and healthful workplaces. Anything less is unacceptable."

The willful violations include failing to properly protect workers from exposure to lead and failing to provide fall protection.

The repeat violations include:
• A lack of warning signs posted in lead work areas
• Failing to provide medical evaluations and fit tests for respirator users
• Failing to notify employees of the results of lead monitoring

Eleven serious violations were cited for:
• Allowing workers to have and/or consume food in the area where lead exposure was above the permissible level
• Not ensuring workers wore respirators while blasting with glass media or when exposed to lead in excess of permissible limits.
• Failing to provide personal protective equipment for workers when blasting

Source: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Vocam Training Videos
Workplace Environmental Awareness
Hazard Communication Safety Essentials

Health and Safety E-learning Courses
Hazard Communication Safety Essentials – E-learning
Available as part of TrainNOW. For more information, contact us or visit our website.

New study on social media in the workplace

A new international study suggests that colleagues posting embarrassing photos of one another on social media sites is contributing to a widespread breakdown of workplace privacy.

Co-workers using social media sites to make unwanted romantic advances is also said to be blurring the distinction between work and home life.

The findings are based on surveys with 4000 social media users in 10 countries, and were published by internet security firm AVG Technologies.

"This study highlights the need for a combination of greater education around social media, alongside increased attention and care by both employees and employers to their social media etiquette at work," the company said.

Key findings among Australian respondents include:
• 6/10 said social media sites have eroded their expectation of privacy at work
• 1/10 said they have had embarrassing photos or videos taken at a work event and uploaded on to social media sites
• 9/10 believed sending unpleasant or defamatory remarks to or about a colleague using digital communications constituted cyber-bullying
• Employees raised concerns about managers discovering embarrassing or incriminating information on social media sites

Vocam Training Videos
Social Media, Email and Online Etiquette
Workplace Bullying and Harassment

E-learning Courses
Social Media, Email and Online Etiquette – E-Learning
Maintaining a Harassment Free Office: Managers – E-Learning
Maintaining a Harassment Free Office: Employees – E-Learning

Available as part of TrainNOW. For more information, contact us or visit our website.

Source: The Australian and Smart Company

Mining giant convicted over worker's death

A mining giant has been found guilty of failing to protect the safety of a worker who was crushed to death by a scissor lift in a workshop.

The court found that the mining company had failed to provide instruction and supervision, and had failed to implement and enforce a suitable job hazard assessment, which led to the worker’s death in 2008. The company faces penalties of up to $400,000, with sentencing scheduled for March 19.

In early 2009, the company had its fifth fatality in nine months at its iron ore operations in a WA region and was forced to acknowledge change was needed.

“Of course, no fatality is ever acceptable, and senior management took that commitment extremely seriously and made a number of improvements across the business in this regard” The company commented in a statement.

Vocam Training Videos
Safety Awareness
Leadership: Being Proactive in Safety

E-learning Courses
Leadership: Being Proactive in Safety - E-Learning
Safety Awareness- E-Learning

Available as part of TrainNOW. For more information, contact us or visit our website.

Source: The West Australian

Workers injured in wall collapse at building site

Two men in their twenties were hospitalised last week, after a wall collapsed onto them at a building site.

The men were working to smooth off concrete on the wall when a rock supported by the wall collapsed. The Metropolitan Fire Brigade attended the accident and had to winch one of the men out of the rubble using a crane. One of the workers suffered an injured hip, while the other worker suffered an injured wrist.

WorkSafe Victoria issued a prohibition notice on the site, preventing any further work until an engineer assessed the site.

Vocam Training Videos
Construction: Fundamentals for Safety
Construction Safety Essentials
Construction: Managing Hazards and Risks

E-learning Courses
Construction: Fundamentals for Safety - E-Learning
Safety Awareness- E-Learning

Available as part of TrainNOW. For more information, contact us or visit our website.

Source: The Age

Studies show up to half of all heavy-truck drivers suffer from sleep apnoea

An inquest has heard that up to half of all heavy-truck drivers suffer from sleep apnoea, a condition blamed for causing a Victorian truckie to fall asleep at the wheel before a fatal head-on collision.

The 52-year-old truck driver was diagnosed with severe obstructive sleep apnoea after the collision. He pleaded guilty to negligent driving causing death and was given a suspended 10-month jail sentence.

Royal Prince Alfred Hospital sleep specialist Anup Desai said that the disorder was prevalent but under-reported, and even though GPs detected symptoms, they didn't necessarily refer truck drivers for further assessment and diagnosis by a sleep specialist.

Vocam Training Videos
Driver Fatigue Management
Shift Work Safety Essentials

E-learning Courses
Driver Fatigue Management - E-Learning
Shift Work Safety Essentials - E-Learning

Available as part of TrainNOW. For more information, contact us or visit our website.

Source: The Australian

Worker killed after being crushed by one-tonne steel beam

A 32-year-old man has died after being crushed by a one-tonne steel beam at a tip.

The man was pile driving at the site of the tip's new waste transfer station. He left an excavator to direct a steel beam into a hole.

"The beam has started to swing uncontrollably in the air, it's hit him on the head as it has swung around. It has then actually come away from the excavator and rolled onto his chest” Inspector Glen Woolley said.

Other workers tried to administer first aid but the man died a short time later in hospital. Unions Tasmania says the death can only be described as an absolute tragedy.

"We've been to meet representatives of the minister and Workplace Standards Tasmania on numerous occasions, voicing concerns about health and safety in the construction industry” Spokesman Kevin Harkins said.

Vocam Training Video
Construction: Fundamentals for Safety
Construction: Managing Hazards and Risks

E-learning Course
Construction: Fundamentals for Safety – E-learning
Safety Awareness - E-Learning

Available as part of TrainNOW. For more information, contact us or visit our website.

Source: ABC News

Electrical apprentice suffers electric shock at building site

An electrical apprentice suffered an electric shock at an apartment site in Canberra last week.

Early investigations suggested the fourth-year apprentice was working alone on a platform ladder and was shocked by a live circuit that she believed had been switched off.

"It's supposed to be turned off and when it is, it should be tagged so that no one else turns it back on" said Work Safety Commissioner Mark McCabe.

The government's inquiry into health and safety laws on ACT building sites found the ACT had the worst record for construction site safety in Australia with one in every 40 workers expected to sustain a serious injury on the job each year.

Vocam Training Video
Lockout / Tagout - Making it Safe
Safety Awareness
Leadership: Being Proactive in Safety

E-learning Course
Lockout Tagout – E-learning
Electrical Safety Essentials - E-Learning
Safety Awareness - E-Learning

Available as part of TrainNOW. For more information, contact us or visit our website.

Source: The Canberra Times

OSHA inspection leads to fine for company that exposed workers to ammonia

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited a company that produces pasta with 12 safety violations following a complaint inspection alleging workers were exposed to ammonia. Proposed fines total $54,000.

Eight serious violations were cited for deficiencies in the company's ammonia refrigeration process. These included a lack of written standard operating procedures for the ammonia refrigeration process, no emergency action plan and failing to perform inspections and tests on process equipment.

Three additional serious violations involve failing to develop, implement and train employees in hazard communication, provide an emergency eyewash station and provide material data safety sheets for hazardous chemicals present in the workplace.

Vocam Training Video
Workplace Environmental
Hazard Communication Safety Essentials
Handling and Storage of Hazardous Substances

E-learning Courses
Hazard Communication Safety Essentials – E-learning
Available as part of TrainNOW. For more information, contact us or visit our website.

Source: http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=23556

Firm fined £60,000 after an employee's hair was ripped out by machinery

A company has been fined £60,000 after a young worker was severely injured when her hair was ripped out by poorly guarded machinery.

The 25-year-old was sorting clothes hangers on a conveyor when her scarf and hair became caught in the chain and sprocket drive of the belt as she bent over to remove accumulated hangers.

She sustained serious throat injuries, lost a substantial part of her hair and fractured a finger in the incident.

The firm had fitted a guard to the conveyor but it did not fully enclose the dangerous moving parts. There was no emergency stop button on the conveyor and the company's risk assessment failed to identify the dangers of entanglement in conveyors.

The company was fined £60,000 and ordered to pay costs of £21,668.

HSE Inspector David Wynne said: "Employers must ensure that workers are properly monitored, supervised and trained when working with this sort of equipment."

Vocam Training Video
Risk Assessment for Industry
Safety Awareness
Lockout / Tagout – Making it Safe

E-learning Courses
Safety Awareness – E-learning
Lockout Tagout – E-learning
Available as part of TrainNOW. For more information, contact us or visit our website.

Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2013/rnn-w-mainetti.htm

Employees exposed to potentially deadly bacteria

A trust has been fined for safety failings after employees were exposed to a potentially deadly strain of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (TB) bacteria when a test vial smashed in a specialist laboratory.

The HSE identified the following issues with the management and maintenance of the containment facility:
• Inadequate risk assessments for activities involving TB
• Critical control measures weren't examined, monitored, tested or maintained
• Poor emergency arrangements in the event of an incident
• Those responsible for health and safety were lacking appropriate training

The test vial containing a strain of TB bacteria smashed when it fell to the floor. Three employees were present and a fourth risked exposure when she helped with the clean up operation.

No-one suffered any adverse effects, but The Trust should also have better implemented appropriate and adequate control measures, and ensured that staff were suitably trained. The Trust was fined £12,500 and ordered to pay £25,000 in costs.

Vocam Training Videos
Hazardous Chemicals - GHS Classification & Communication
Hazardous Substances Safety Essentials

E-learning Courses
Hazardous Chemicals: GHS Classification and Communication - E-Learning
Safety Awareness – E-Learning
Hazardous Substances Safety Essentials - E-Learning

Available as part of TrainNOW. For more information, contact us or visit our website.

Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2013/rnn-ldn-01013.htm

Manufacturer cited for failing to protect workers from exposure to hazardous materials

OSHA has cited a manufacturer with 6 serious safety violations for failing to protect workers from exposure to hazardous materials and provide adequate emergency response plans and training at the company's manufacturing plant. Proposed fines total $41,200.

"Manufacturers need to demonstrate a commitment to properly training and protecting workers from exposure to hazards," said Tom Bielema, OSHA's area director in Peoria.

3 of the violations involve failing to ensure workers used protective equipment when exposed to hazards capable of causing injury and impairment. These included a lack of hand, eye and face protection for workers exposed to liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids.

The remaining violations involve failing to include evacuation routes and procedures in the company's emergency response and contingency plan and to ensure workers engaged in emergency response involving inhalation hazards were provided with breathing apparatus for respiratory protection and trained on adequate emergency response.

Vocam Training Videos
Safety Awareness
Handling and Storage of Hazardous Substances

E-learning Courses
Safety Awareness– E-learning
Hazard Communication Safety Essentials – E-learning

Available as part of TrainNOW. For more information, contact us or visit our website.
Source: http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=23538

Up to $650,000 fine faced by firm after a worker died in gas explosion

A business has been charged over a gas explosion that killed a 24-year-old tradesman.

The refrigeration mechanic was killed instantly when his work van exploded in the driveway of his home. He had pressurised flammable gas cylinders in his vehicle when the accident happened.

The Northern Territory Work Health Authority alleges the company was in breach of an employer's general statutory duty of care. The charge has been laid under provisions of the Workplace Health and Safety Act that was in force at the time of the accident.

The maximum penalty for the charge is $650,000.

Vocam Training Videos
Workplace Fire Prevention and Response
Fire Safety for Industry
Hazardous Chemicals: GHS Classification and Communication

E-learning Courses
Workplace Fire Prevention and Response – E-Learning
Hazardous Chemicals: GHS Classification and Communication - E-Learning

Available as part of TrainNOW. For more information, contact us or visit our website.

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-01-15/gas-explosion-company-charged-paddy-bird-dies/4466112?section=nt

Worker suffers severe burns in workplace accident

A garage has been fined after a mechanic was badly burned while trying to cut the top off an empty oil drum.

The 26-year-old was using a propane torch to remove the lid when the remaining oil inside the drum set alight, causing an explosion. He suffered burns to his hands and arms, and was kept in hospital for five days.

The employees at the garage cut the tops off empty oil drums approximately once every three months so that they could be used to store scrap metal. However, the company failed to consider the risk of the propane torch creating and igniting a vapour from the small amount of oil remaining in the drums.

The company was fined £6,000 and ordered to pay £4,746 in prosecution costs.

Vocam Training Videos
Hazardous Chemicals - GHS Classification & Communication
Hazardous Substances Safety Essentials

E-learning Courses
Hazardous Chemicals: GHS Classification and Communication - E-Learning
Safety Awareness – E-Learning
Hazardous Substances Safety Essentials - E-Learning

Available as part of TrainNOW. For more information, contact us or visit our website.

Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2013/rnn-nw-kankkultd.htm?eban=rss-

Employee injured after being flipped around a rotating roller

A fabric firm has been fined after an employee was badly injured when he was flipped around a large rotating roller.

The 39-year-old was trying to straighten a crease on a roll of fabric as it was being wound up when his clothes became caught in the mechanism. He was dragged around the roller three times, suffering cracked ribs and bruising to the side of his body.

There were no guards on the machine to prevent workers from accessing dangerous moving parts, and the emergency stop button nearest to where the employee was working was defective. The company had carried out an assessment which identified the risk of workers' clothes becoming entangled as a hazard, but it failed to act on this.

The company was fined £6,000 and ordered to pay £3,600 in prosecution costs.

Vocam Training Video
Risk Assessment for Industry
Safety Awareness
Lockout / Tagout – Making it Safe

E-learning Courses
Safety Awareness – E-learning
Lockout Tagout – E-learning
Available as part of TrainNOW. For more information, contact us or visit our website.

Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2013/rnn-nw-flameproofingsltd.htm

Crushing fatality leads to $250,000 fine

A construction company working on upgrades to a highway has been fined $250,000 after one of its workers was crushed to death by a roller.

The 31-year-old labourer was on his second day on the job on a road upgrade project. He was helping to lay asphalt when a three-tonne multi-wheeled roller ran over him.

The worker was spraying the stationary roller when the operator accidentally released the brakes, causing the vehicle to lurch forward and roll over him.

A WorkCover investigation subsequently found the company failed to properly train or supervise the man.

NSW Finance Minister Greg Pearce says the fine is a reminder to maintain safety protocols.

"This tragedy could have been avoided had there been the right instruction and the vehicle properly maintained," He said in a statement.

Vocam Training Videos
Construction: Fundamentals for Safety
Construction: Managing Hazards and Risks
Safety Awareness

E-learning Courses
Construction: Fundamentals for Safety - E-Learning
Safety Awareness - E-Learning

Available as part of TrainNOW. For more information, contact us or visit our website.

Source: http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1727634/Company-fined-after-worker-fatally-crushed

Two companies fined for exposing workers to asbestos

Workers were exposed to dangerous asbestos fibres following a catalogue of errors by an engineering company and a building firm during a demolition and refurbishment project.

The project was badly managed, with untrained staff put in charge of the operation, and was underpinned by inadequate surveys for the presence of asbestos and poor planning throughout.

The engineering firm contracted the construction company to renovate a building. The engineering firm had two asbestos management surveys for the site, which, although later deemed to be inadequate, identified the presence of asbestos material. Despite this, work was allowed to begin in the building.

The building company failed to appoint a competent Construction, Design and Management co-ordinator and principal contractor to plan and manage the construction work. They also failed to provide a proper assessment of the presence of asbestos and its condition in the building before work started.

The building company was fined a total of £16,000 and ordered to pay £3,287 in costs, and the engineering firm was fined £8,000 with costs of £2,000.

Vocam Training Videos
Hazardous Chemicals - GHS Classification & Communication
Hazardous Substances Safety Essentials

E-learning Courses
Hazardous Chemicals: GHS Classification and Communication - E-Learning
Safety Awareness – E-Learning
Hazardous Substances Safety Essentials - E-Learning

Available as part of TrainNOW. For more information, contact us or visit our website.

Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2013/rnn-w-wallcolmonoyoaktree.htm

$87,010 in fines proposed for roofing company that failed to provide fall protection

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited a roofing company with seven safety violations following two separate inspections for failing to provide and ensure workers use proper fall protection while conducting roof work on a multicomplex apartment building. Proposed fines from both inspections total $87,010.

"When working from heights, such as roofs, ladders and scaffolds, employers must plan projects to ensure that the job is done safely, provide the proper equipment and train workers," said Kathy Webb, OSHA's area director in Aurora.

The repeat and wilful violations were for failing to provide fall protection. Five serious violations were cited for overloading and improperly using an aerial lift and failing to provide proper lanyard tie offs to workers in the aerial lift. The company was also cited for exposing workers to electrical shock by failing to provide proper ground fault protection and using a ladder that did not extend 3 feet above the landing surface.

Vocam Training Videos
Height Safety Essentials
Slips Trips and Falls

E-learning Courses
Safety Awareness - E-Learning
Height Safety Essentials - E-Learning
Available as part of TrainNOW. For more information, contact us or visit our website.

Source: http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=23496

Worker's serious injuries lead to £7,000 fine for labels company

A labels company has been fined for a safety breach after a worker sustained a serious hand injury when it was caught between two contra rotating rollers on a working machine.

The employee severed the first finger of his right hand to the second knuckle and broke his middle finger in the incident.

He was attempting to clean a coating roller on a finishing machine, and had removed the roller several times to make adjustments and clean away dried on primer. He then tried to brush off the dried primer from the roller while it was in situ on the working machine, but his right hand was caught and pulled between two rollers.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive established that the machine was missing suitable guarding, and had been for some time. Had a guard been fitted the incident would have been avoided.

The company was fined £7,000 and ordered to pay £5,637 in costs after pleading guilty.

Vocam Training Video
Lockout / Tagout – Making it Safe
Hand Aware
Safety Awareness

E-learning Course
Lockout Tagout – E-learning
Safety Awareness – E-learning
Available as part of TrainNOW. For more information, contact us or visit our website.

Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2013/rnn-se-00313.htm?eban=rss-

Scaffolding company forced to pay over $300,000 after worker's fall

A man rendered bedridden for months by a workplace accident has been awarded more than $300,000 by an ACT court.

The man broke his leg after falling two metres from shoddy scaffolding. He was disassembling scaffolding at a building site when the structure twisted and collapsed. Medical reports said the accident and treatment resulted in a permanent 1.7 centimetre shortening in his leg, giving him a limp.

The scaffolding company was found negligent because the scaffolding was shoddily constructed, and was ordered to pay the injured worker $311,530.

Vocam Training Videos
Construction: Fundamentals for Safety
Construction: Managing Hazards and Risks
Safety Awareness
Slips Trips and Falls

E-learning Courses
Construction: Fundamentals for Safety - E-Learning
Safety Awareness - E-Learning
Slips Trips and Falls - E-Learning
Available as part of TrainNOW. For more information, contact us or visit our website.

Source: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/payout-for-injury-in-scaffold-collapse-20121223-2btu7.html#ixzz2HzhO7FK8

Instrument company fined over worker's exposure to hazardous chemicals

An instrument company and a health and safety consultant have been fined for risking the health of employees from hazardous chemicals.

A 36-year-old paint sprayer suffered irritation to his eyes, breathing difficulties, headaches and lost the ability to concentrate after working with harmful substances.

His job was to prepare and paint small components for scientific instruments, which involved working with chemicals including trichloroethylene, a powerful de-greaser used to clean metal before it is painted, and paints containing isocyanates.

An investigation found that the company did not provide suitable equipment to adequately remove the hazardous fumes from the workplace, especially where items were left to dry. The company also failed to provide employees with the necessary health surveillance for workers using hazardous substances.

The company was fined £9,000 and ordered to pay full costs of £2,852 after pleading guilty.

Vocam Training Videos
Hazardous Chemicals - GHS Classification & Communication
Hazardous Substances Safety Essentials

E-learning Courses
Hazardous Chemicals: GHS Classification and Communication - E-Learning
Safety Awareness – E-Learning
Hazardous Substances Safety Essentials - E-Learning

Available as part of TrainNOW. For more information, contact us or visit our website.

Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2013/rnn-e-00313.htm?eban=rss-

OSHA cites company with 5 violations after worker is struck by forklift

OSHA cited a firm with five safety violations after a worker was injured when struck by a forklift. The complaint inspection has resulted in proposed penalties of $89,000.

"Employers are responsible for ensuring workers are properly trained in the operation of equipment and that equipment, such as forklifts, are maintained in good working order," said Kim Nelson, area director for OSHA in Toledo.

A willful violation was cited for failing to remove unsafe forklifts from service. Three serious violations were cited for failing to complete forklift inspections, retrain workers in forklift operations following an incident where an injury occurred and operate a forklift in a safe manner.

Vocam Training Video
Forklift Stability Essentials
Forklift Safety Essentials

E-learning Course
Forklift Stability Essentials – E-learning
Forklift Safety Essentials – E-learning

Available as part of TrainNOW. For more information, contact us or visit our website.

Source: http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=23520

Food manufacturer fined after worker loses tip of finger in poorly guarded machine

A food manufacturer has appeared in court for safety offences after one of its workers lost the tip of her finger while trying to clear a blockage in a badly-guarded machine.

The worker was in the production area while a mobile screw conveyor was being used to fill a packing machine, known to block regularly.

HSE found that the fixed guard over the top of the hopper, which prevented workers getting access to the dangerous screw part, had been modified. Instead of being fixed at all four corners, it was fixed at only two, allowing it to be lifted while the machine was running.

The worker attempted to clear a blockage while the machine was operating and her hand slipped, hitting the screw mechanism.

The company was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2,506.

Vocam Training Video
Lockout / Tagout – Making it Safe
Hand Aware
Safety Awareness

E-learning Course
Lockout Tagout – E-learning
Safety Awareness – E-learning
Available as part of TrainNOW. For more information, contact us or visit our website.

Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2013/rnn-yh-713.htm

Forklift failures lead to fine for company that supplies stones

A company has been fined for failing to keep a forklift truck in good working order, which posed a danger to workers.

The company supplies stone in flexible large bags that hold around a tonne. HSE found that a forklift truck had not been maintained and that two sets of bearings holding the forks in line had collapsed.

As the forks were lowered, they could jam on the mast and then fall when dislodged, putting employees working nearby at risk of serious injury.

HSE found the forklift had been repaired on many occasions in the previous year but all the work had been reactive. The company's maintenance regime was to repair in response to breakdowns.

Vocam Training Videos
Forklift Stability Essentials
Forklift Safety Essentials

E-learning Courses
Forklift Stability Essentials - E-Learning
Forklift Safety Essentials - E-Learning

Available as part of TrainNOW. For more information, contact us or visit our website.

Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2013/rnn-yh-00513.htm

Steel firm in court after worker struck by large steel girder

A firm has admitted safety failings that led to one of its workers being struck on his back by a large steel girder.

The 46-year-old man narrowly escaped being crushed by the girder and was instead knocked to the floor when it hit him from behind. He suffered severe bruising and soft tissue damage to his foot and lower leg.

Before leaving for the weekend, the worker had brought two girders into the workshop and placed them on powered rollers. On Monday, he set the rollers running and climbed through a curtain screen to put clean cling films on the rollers, forgetting the girders were on the same rollers. He was struck in the lower back as the girder moved toward him and knocked over the rollers onto the floor.

The company had never assessed the risks involved in using the machine and had not provided guards for the rollers to prevent access during operation. They were fined a total of £20,000 and ordered to pay £7,356 in costs.

Vocam Training Videos
Leadership: Being Proactive in Safety
Safety Awareness
Risk Assessment for Industry

E-learning Courses
Leadership: Being Proactive in Safety - E-Learning
Safety Awareness - E-Learning

Available as part of TrainNOW. For more information, contact us or visit our website.

Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2013/rnn-yh-00613.htm

WorkHealth program reveals excessive drinking and smoking is common in the hospitality industry

According to findings from WorkSafe Victoria’s WorkHealth program, smoking and excessive alcohol consumption are widespread in the hospitality industry.

7,300 industry employees in Victoria submitted to a 15-minute WorkHealth check between April 2009 and April 2012. The findings revealed 25% smoke and 42% drink excessively.

Wayne Kayler-Thomson, a WorkHealth ambassador, encourages industry employees to adopt healthier life choices, explaining that these current trends pose a real threat to health, safety and productivity in the industry.

Joanne Forde, human resources manager, Mercure Geelong said that employers have a responsibility to help employees achieve good health. “Supporting the health of staff can benefit not only productivity but also safety – we know that healthy workers are less prone to injury,” she explains.

Vocam Training Videos
Drug & Alcohol Awareness

E-learning Courses
Drug & Alcohol Awareness - e-Learning

Available as part of TrainNOW. For more information, contact us or visit our website.

Source: http://www.safetyculture.com.au/news/index.php/01/tests-reveal-poor-health-of-hospitality-workers/

Study reveals 20% of Australians have fatigue and exhaustion from lack of sleep

Around 20% of Australians have fatigue and exhaustion due to lack of sleep, according to a national survey.

The Sleep Health Foundation's study of adult sleeping habits showed that one in five of respondents said poor sleep affected their mood and ability to perform daily activities.

The Foundation's chairman Professor David Hillman says sleepiness can significantly increase the risk of an accident on the road or in the workplace.

"A lot of the population work under the misapprehension that they can get by with less sleep than they actually need," he said.

"The average adult needs seven-and-a-half to eight hours sleep a night and if they don't get it, they feel it."

"Sleep's in this rather grim competition with the other things we want to do - social life, family life and work life - and for a lot of people it comes off a rather poor fourth in that competition."

Vocam Training Videos
Driver Fatigue Management
Drug and Alcohol Awareness
Shift Work Safety Essentials

E-learning Courses
Driver Fatigue Management - E-Learning
Shift Work Safety Essentials - E-Learning
Drug and Alcohol Awareness - E-Learning

Available as part of TrainNOW. For more information, contact us or visit our website.

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-12-31/tired-australians-risk-accidents-mood-disorders/4447922

Electrical and machine guarding hazards lead to OSHA inspection and citation

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited a building materials company with 7 serious violations for exposing workers to electrical and machine guarding hazards, with proposed penalties of $41,000.

OSHA conducted a safety inspection in response to a complaint about unsafe working conditions and machine hazards. They discovered workers building prefabricated wood trusses without the required machine guarding.

"The lack of machine guarding can lead to serious injuries, including amputations," said Casey Perkins, OSHA's area director in Austin. "OSHA's standards must be followed to prevent accidents, injuries and illnesses."

The serious violations include failing to provide machine guarding while operating saws, ensure that rotating shafts on machines are covered, ensure that electrical wiring is protected and ensure electrical cords are maintained in safe condition.

Vocam Training Videos
Lockout / Tagout - Making it Safe
Safety Awareness

E-learning Courses
Lockout / Tagout - E-Learning
Safety Awareness - E-Learning

Available as part of TrainNOW. For more information, contact us or visit our website.

Source: http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=23481