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.

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Source: Safe Work Australia media releases
The report can be accesed at www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au

Proposed workplace bullying laws allow workers to claim compensation for being left idle

Workers in cushy jobs will be able to claim compo for being left idle, under national laws drawn up to combat bullying.

Employer groups have hit out at Safe Work Australia's "nanny state" rules, outlined in a draft code of practice that would be admissible in court cases. The code lists "not providing enough work" as a form of "indirect bullying", along with constantly changing deadlines or setting timelines that are difficult to achieve. It advises employers to ban pranks and discourage "exclusive clubs or cliques", so workers are not "ostracised" by colleagues.

The Australian Industry Group's representative on the board of Safe Work Australia, Mark Goodsell, said "It's easy for people to make an allegation and it is expensive and difficult for companies and management to rebut it."

The latest draft by Safe Work Australia states that "in some situations, behaviours may unintentionally cause distress and be perceived as bullying. For example, a manager or supervisor in a position of power may have a management style that seems to be strict or disciplinary when it is in fact bullying.”

The code has been put on ice pending the outcome of a parliamentary inquiry into bullying, ordered by Prime Minister Julia Gillard. The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry director David Goodwin said "employers are now responsible for virtually every aspect of wellbeing of their staff, whether they know about it or not”.

ACCI work health and safety manager Carolyn Davis said "the guidance must clearly distinguish bullying from legitimate management practices and reasonable management”.

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Source: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/national-bullying-laws-allow-workers-left-idle-to-claim-workers-compensation/story-e6frg6n6-1226504514022

Safe Work Australia has proposed a code of practice to fight workplace fatigue

Under proposed national laws to fight workplace fatigue, bosses will have to roster jobs around workers' social lives and check that staff who yawn or daydream aren't too tired to work safely.

Safe Work Australia’s checklist for employers to spot worker fatigue includes headaches, daydreaming, constant yawning, low motivation, moodiness, slow reflexes and responses, increased errors and drifting in and out of traffic lanes while driving.

The draft code proposes that:
• Bosses "eliminate or reduce the need to work extended hours or overtime" so staff don't get too tired.
• "Safety critical" tasks - such as administering drugs, driving a truck or electrical work - should not be performed in the "low body clock period" of 2pm to 4pm.
• Rosters should be drawn up to accommodate workers' social lives.
• Employers should train workers in "balancing work and personal lifestyle demands".

The code of practice - to be finalised next year - will be admissible in court if an employer is charged with breaching workplace health and safety laws.

Safe Work Australia is revising the code. "Changes aim to reflect recent research findings and outcomes of case law," a spokeswoman said.

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Source: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/safe-work-australia-plan-to-cut-risk-for-tired-workers-puts-employers-offside/story-fndo471r-1226489795262

130 workplace deaths in Australia so far in 2012

As of 24 September, 130 Australian workers have died at work. During the same period last year, 120 deaths had occurred. Safe Work Australia records cases of work fatality and injury, updates statistics and prepares several reports.

Worker deaths by industry as of September 24, 2012:
Transport, postal and warehousing (42)
Agriculture, forestry and fishing (27)
Construction (19)
Manufacturing (9)
Administrative and support services (6)
Arts and recreation services (4)
Mining (4)
Public administration and safety (3)
Electricity, gas, water and waste services (2)
Wholesale trade (2)
Retail trade (2)
Education and training (2)
Other services (2)
Health care and social assistance (1)
Financial and insurance services (1)
Professional, scientific and technical services (1)
Industry unknown (3)

The data is only an initial estimate for the number of people killed. More information can be found at the Safe Work Australia website.

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Source: http://www.safetyculture.com.au/news/index.php