Blogs
Safety Governance Awards
Consider nominating your workplace for the first ever Safety Governance Awards, proudly sponsored by SafeWork NSW.
These national awards aim to recognise organisations that go beyond frontline management of risks and hazards, to set up effective oversight of workplace safety by boards and executives.
This can include things like:
- setting up whistle blower hotlines so workers can anonymously report hazards
- making sure boards have access to independent advice
- offering ongoing education to leaders so they can protect the safety of their workplace, products, services and clients.
Awards are available in nine categories
- Excellence in safety governance – leadership and culture
- Safety, risk, governance or sustainability committees
- Board recruitment, review and remuneration
- Board and leaders education
- WHS governance reporting
- WHS governance auditing and advising
- Whistle blower programmes
- Supply chain and modern slavery
- Response to significant event
Nominate your organisation
Submit your nomination on the Safety Governance Foundation website
Nominations close 16 April 2023.
The winners will be announced on 17 May 2023.
National WHS Radar
The Centre for Work Health and Safety has launched the National WHS Radar, an initiative that will deliver the latest insights on work health and safety in Australian workplaces twice a year.
The National WHS Radar will empower Australian regulators, academics, and leaders to take a proactive approach to WHS, informing existing and future policies, practices, and research projects.
How can you get involved?
The first round of the National WHS Radar survey will be released on Monday 9 January 2023 and will be open until Tuesday 31 January 2023.
Take the survey now and go in the draw to win a $500 gift card.
We encourage you to share the survey with your network so we gather as many experiences from Australian workers as possible.
How does it work?
Every six months, the Centre’s Research Team will delve into a range of new WHS data and evidence.
The team will incorporate data from these five streams:
- existing data, including incidents, worker’s compensation, ABS, and prosecutions
- analysis of grey literature
- social media listening
- nationwide survey of WHS inspectors and experts
- nationwide survey of Australian workers across all industries
The Team will then analyse and synthesise this information into reports that will be made publicly available.
What’s the benefit?
This type of reporting has never been done at this scale and frequency in Australia.
The National WHS Radar Reports will deliver relevant, local, and current information into the hands of the people who can effect real change, and ultimately create safer workplaces in Australia.
Where can I read the reports?
The National WHS Radar Reports will be shared on the Centre's website and other communication channels.
The first report will be released in April 2023.
If you would like updates on the reports, head to the Centre's Engage with us page.
Make safety a priority this festive season
With the festive season fast approaching there is a flurry of activity in workplaces.
Whether you have just picked up a summer gig, or rushing to finish jobs before the holidays, make sure your safety is top of mind.
It is easy to forget work health and safety basics when you're distracted, stressed or winding down.
Resources to help
October is National Safe Work Month
A productive, healthy and safe workplace shows that everyone shares common values that make worker health and safety a priority.
The theme for Safe Work Month this year was "know safety, work safely".
Workplaces were encouraged to make a pledge to maintain safety at the forefront of everyone's mind by:
- training and supervising workers and monitoring their safety
- reviewing and continually improving consultation procedures
- establishing an accredited work health and safety management system
- introducing specific health-related programs that are holistic and promote physical and mental wellbeing
- supporting culturally and linguistically diverse workers by offering additional resources in their preferred language.
During the month of October, workplaces were encouraged to host a ‘SafeTea’ chat where teams could 'grab a cuppa' and have an informal conversation about health and safety. Show your workplace safety commitment all year round by having regular check ins and conversations about safety and wellbeing.
If you missed out, visit the Safe Work Month page where you can find a range of tools and resources to assist your workplace conversations. You can also register for upcoming events on a range of topics, such as psychosocial hazards, construction supervision, summertime hazards, manual handling and more.
How mentally healthy is your business?
Find out with the new Workplace Wellbeing Assessment Tool
SafeWork NSW has launched a free digital tool that helps your business survey staff and get tailored actions to improve your workplace.
Using insights from leaders and workers, the tool will reveal how your business is performing in areas critical to workplace mental health, such as leadership and culture, and give recommended actions to improve your workplace, based on the results.
Benefits of the tool:
- get actions to help keep workers safe and engaged
- compare your business to others in your industry and NSW
- see how experiences vary across teams
- track changes in your workplace over time.
Survey your workers using the Workplace Wellbeing Assessment
Learn more about the Workplace Wellbeing Assessment.
The Workplace Wellbeing Assessment was developed as part of the NSW Mentally Healthy Workplace Strategy.
Regional roadshow: Managing psychosocial hazards in the workplace
SafeWork Inspectors will deliver free face-to-face information sessions about managing psychosocial hazards in the workplace in 10 regional areas.
Psychosocial hazards at work can cause workers harm, disrupt workplaces, and cost time and money. Common psychosocial hazards include fatigue, high workloads, workplace violence, bullying and sexual harassment.
Since 2015, there has been a 53% increase in claims for psychological injury across NSW and the average cost of these is more than $85,000 per claim.*
On 1 October 2022, new laws will come into force about managing psychosocial risks in the workplace.
To help businesses in regional areas understand more about psychosocial hazards, SafeWork Inspectors will hold free face-to-face information sessions as part of a regional roadshow.
Read more and register on Eventbrite
Who is eligible to attend?
The information sessions are open to people from any industry in NSW.
Small business owners (less than 50 employees) will be eligible to claim the $1,000 SafeWork small business rebate after attending the training.
Professional development points are also available to trade industry workers.
What will you learn?
Each face-to-face session will cover the following topics:
- the Code of practice on managing psychosocial hazards at work
- real examples of psychosocial hazards
- strategies and free tools to help identify, assess and manage psychosocial hazards
- the new Mentally Healthy Workplaces regional resource kit, a new resource that provides practical actions that address common issues impacting regional businesses.
What sessions are available?
Below is the timetable for the regional roadshow. The sessions are free and two hours in duration. Registration is required.
Albury, Tuesday 18 October, 10.00am - 12.00pm
Coffs Harbour, Thursday 24 November, 10.00am - 12.00pm
Dubbo, Tuesday 25 October, 10.00am - 12.00pm
Newcastle, Thursday 17 November, 11.00am - 1.00pm
Nowra, Wednesday 26 October, 3.00pm - 5.00pm
Orange, Thursday 27 October, 10.00am - 12.00pm
Port Macquarie, Tuesday 29 November, 2.00pm - 4.00pm
Tamworth, Tuesday 15 November, 4.30pm - 6.30pm
Wagga Wagga, Thursday 20 October, 10.00am - 12.00pm
Wollongong, Tuesday 25 October, 10.00am - 12.00pm
* SafeWork NSW public consultation on the code of practice for managing the risks to psychological health, September 2020.
2021 SafeWork Awards winners have been announced
The annual awards ceremony on Wednesday 27 October 2021 recognised businesses and individuals for excellence in work health and safety. This year, the two categories recognised businesses, industry associations and unions who have protected workers at risk.
There were eight winners of the 2021 SafeWork Awards:
Businesses
- Talk 5 Pty Ltd
- Gymnastics NSW
- Koppers Wood Products Pty Ltd
- IPAR Rehabilitation
- Prescribe Australia
- UGL Unipart
Industry associations and unions
- NSW State Emergency Service
- Australian Services Union NSW & ACT (Services) Branch, and,
- Master Builders Association of NSW.
Four finalists received the highly commended award: Carter Heavy Haulage & Transport Pty Ltd, Gutter Monkeys Pty Ltd, The Big Banana Pty Ltd, Essential Energy.
To hear a little more about our winners and their solutions, head to the SafeWork NSW YouTube channel.
Working safely at heights in construction
One wrong step could be your last. Falls from 2 to 4 metres can be devastating and often fatal.
SafeWork inspectors now targeting work at heights safety on construction sites across the state.
Do work safety right, at any height
Employers must protect workers from the risk of falling from one level to another – no matter the height.
Use these resources to help make your workplace safe.
- Code of practice: Managing the risk of falls at workplaces (PDF, 2326.56 KB)
- Code of practice: Managing the risk of falls in housing construction (PDF, 2296.79 KB)
- Safety checklist - Working at heights in construction
(PDF, 208.69 KB) - The pocket guide to construction safety (PDF, 1759.1 KB)
- Webinar: Working safely at heights in construction
- Poster - Prevent falls from heights (PDF, 2419.61 KB)
- Working at heights in construction safety checklist (PDF, 208.69 KB)
This is a recording of a webinar presented by SafeWork NSW. The webinar explains the legislative requirements to manage working at height risks. It also looks at past incidents and statistics to you assist with compliance.
Key safety measures
Falls from heights are entirely preventable if you follow these steps:
- Work on the ground or on a solid construction where possible.
- Prevent your workers from falling by using a fall-prevention device, such as:
- temporary work platforms
- temporary roof edge protection
- scaffolding.
- Use a work-positioning system, such as:
- a restraint system
- industrial rope access.
- If it is not possible to use a fall prevention device or a work positioning system, use a fall arrest system, such as:
- industrial safety nets
- catch platforms
- harness-based fall-arrest used with lifelines or individual anchors.
- Complete a safe work method statement (PDF, 4004.58 KB) (SWMS) for work where a person could fall more than 2 metres.
Go to the Working at heights page in the A-Z hazards library
If you are a small business owner in NSW, the $1,000 SafeWork small business rebate will help you purchase safety items to improve work health and safety for you and your workers.
Work safely on ladders
A frame ladders
Many workers fall from A-frame style step ladders because they were working from the top two rungs, or over-reaching.
- Make sure your ladder is tall enough so you don’t have to stand on the top two rungs (standing on the upper two rungs de-stabilises the ladder).
- Ensure the ladder is rated for industrial use, is well maintained, and free of obvious visual defects (cracks, significant bending, missing rivets/fasteners etc).
- Make sure the ground is solid and level so that all 4 feet of the ladder are in contact with the ground when set up.
- Ensure all locking devices (legs or bracket) on the ladder are secured.
- When working on the ladder, have both feet and one other point of contact i.e. hand, waist or upper torso.
- Don’t overreach. Move the ladder if you need to. Never lean so far that your belt buckle is outside the ladder stiles.
Extension ladders
Many falls from extension ladders are because the ladder slipped outwards or sideways.
- Make sure your ladder is tall enough for the job. If you are using it to access a roof or another level, it needs to extend at least 1 metre past the landing. If you are using it to access a roof or another level, it needs to extend at least 1 metre past the landing.
- Make sure it is rated for industrial use and in good working order.
- Set it up so that it is not too close or too far from the support structure. The ratio should be 4:1. That means the base of the ladder is 1 metre away from the supporting structure, for every 4 metres of height.
- Wherever possible the ladder should be secured at the top and bottom.
- When climbing face the ladder, have both hands free to grip the ladder, and have at least one hand and one foot in contact with the ladder at all times.
- When working on the ladder, have both feet and one other point of contact i.e. hand, waist or upper torso.
- Use a tool pouch or similar if you need to carry tools.
Ladder resources
- Toolbox talk: Using ladders in construction. The toolbox talk is also available in the following languages:
- Video: Safe use of ladders
- The pocket guide to ladder safety (PDF, 1104.94 KB)
Keep you and your work mates safe. Our Speak Up Save Lives app lets you report an unsafe work situation, while giving you the choice to remain anonymous.
Work safely on roofs
The biggest risks for roof work are falling off the edge or through fragile roof materials. Safety measures include using:
- a physical barrier, such as a temporary roof edge protection system or scaffold
- skylight covers, crawl boards, or physically marked exclusion zones for fragile surfaces.
After completing a risk assessment and consulting with your workers, you need to determine if the use of a fall prevention system is possible. If it is not possible, only then should a harness-based restraint system or fall arrest system be considered. You need to be adequately trained in these systems before use.
Temporary roof edge protection, skylight covers and crawl boards are quick and easy to install. They are cost-effective and you can re-use them.
Roof resources
If you work on roofs, download the temporary edge protection (roof rails) fact sheet (PDF, 2885.66 KB). The fact sheet is also available in the following languages:
Are you installing solar panels? Learn more about installing solar panels safely.
Listen and learn. SafeWork NSW SafetyCasts are podcasts presented by NSW Inspectors for the building and construction industry. There are a range of topics to choose from.
Work safely around voids and penetrations
Most falls through voids and penetrations occur because they were uncovered or there was no guard rail in place.
- Make sure all voids and penetrations have a clearly marked cover that is secured so it can’t be dislodged. Plywood that is marked and screwed into the ground is a cost-effective solution.
- If the void/penetration is large or needed for temporary access, put in guard rails.
- If using the void/penetration to access another level, consider using temporary stairs or make sure your ladder extends 1 metre past the landing point.
Incident animations
- Fall through void profiles an incident where a worker was seriously injured after falling through an unprotected stairwell void at a residential construction site.
- Owner builder – fall through void is based on an actual incident involving a worker falling through a void on a residential construction site.
Videos
Working safely on scaffolds
The main risks with scaffold include falls from incomplete scaffolds, being hit by tools or materials that fall off them and scaffold collapse.
Tradies who don’t hold a scaffold licence must not erect, alter or dismantle a scaffold where the risk of a person or object falling is more than 4 metres.
These are some of the things that you should visually check from the ground, before using a scaffold:
- Constructed on solid foundations (using 1 sole board preferably)
- Mesh installed to prevent debris falling onto neighbouring properties
- Diagonal bracing installed (every 4th bay)
- Adequately tied to the supporting structure
- Platforms are not overloaded with materials
- Handrails and mid-rails installed (to prevent external and internal falls)
- Kickboards installed to all working decks
- Safe access and egress onto stairs and between deck levels
- Scaff tag at scaffold entrance – showing last inspection no more than 30 days ago
Scaffolding resources
- Consult with your workers using our Toolbox talk: Using scaffolds (PDF, 690.33 KB). The toolbox talk is also available in the following languages:
- Download our scaffold safety checklist for site supervisors (PDF, 567.71 KB)
The Reducing falls from heights in the construction industry - June 2023 options paper (PDF, 1427.25 KB) explores the major findings of SafeWork NSW's initiatives to reduce falls since 2017.
Digital White Card now available
Following the success of the Digital NSW Drivers licence, the NSW Government is working to digitise trade licences, with the aim of improving customer service, providing convenience and making compliance with legislation easier.
Service NSW in partnership with SafeWork NSW have introduced the initial Digital Trade Licence with the SafeWork NSW Digital ‘White Card’ (general construction induction card) now available.
The Digital White Card is an added option for those customers preferring a digital version of the card and will not replace the physical card being issued.
To obtain:
- you require the ‘Service NSW App’
- log in and select the add (+) symbol next to ‘Licences & Credentials’ followed by ‘White Card’ and enter your credentials
- read the terms and conditions and click ‘I Accept.’
Your Digital White Card will then be prepared and displayed.
Learn more about the Digital trade licence program.
Apply for your Digital White Card on the Service NSW website or call 13 77 88.
Speak up to report a work health and safety concern
Speaking up about an unsafe work environment can feel like a challenge, especially if you are a younger worker or if English is not your first language. Sometimes you may feel you don’t have a voice.
It’s important to understand that people can be seriously injured or killed when work health and safety issues are not raised in the workplace.
It’s everyone’s responsibility to raise hazardous working environments to a manager or supervisor, however if you don’t feel comfortable or aren’t able to speak up at work; you can tell us via the Speak Up Save Lives app.
The Speak Up Save Lives app is an effective tool to anonymously report any health and safety concerns you may have in your workplace.
All submissions via Speak Up Safe Lives app are assessed and responded to by SafeWork NSW. You’ll also get a reference number so you can follow up, should you wish to share your details.
If you choose to share your contact details, we can keep you updated on the outcome of your submission. We can also advise you on how to manage the safety issue, including how to raise it with your employer or supervisor. We can also let you know what the law says about your concern.
If your submission identifies a potentially serious safety issue, we may need to send an inspector out to the workplace.
If there is an incident involving a serious injury or illness of a person, a death of a person or a potentially dangerous incident, the person in charge will need to notify SafeWork NSW immediately by calling 13 10 50.
Download the app
Learn more about the Speak Up Save Lives app including how to download it.
Or you can report an incident online.
Drought assistance
As NSW experiences one of the worst droughts on record, the NSW Government is offering a range of relief measures to support impacted farmers and communities.
As part of these initiatives, we will waive licence fees to drought affected customers from 1 October, who are experiencing financial hardship.
To be eligible you must work or live in an area classified as “Intense Drought or Drought” by the Department of Primary Industries.
To see if you qualify for your fees to be waived contact us on 131 050.
You may also be eligible for other assistance. See:
Paralympian Speaker Program
There is a group of safety champions whose job it is to look you in the eye and tell you it is important.
The icare Paralympian Speaker Program really is a unique way to raise awareness of workplace health and safety.
It's run in partnership with Paralympics Australia and provides icare customers with free access to current and former Paralympians who sustained their disability through a work-related injury.
They're the sort of people you respect, not just because they overcame serious, debilitating work-related injuries themselves, but because they soared above their injuries, going on to master a sport and then share their stories to make other workplaces better and safer.
Since 2000, the program has made it possible for Paralympian speakers to leverage their own injuries to connect with workers and employers across industries in the belief that they can change lives.
In this period of time, we imagine they've changed a vast number and saved more than a few.
There is power in stories - if your safety messages seem to be falling on deaf ears, why not try a different approach and invite a Paralympian speaker to talk to your workers?
Step by step information service for life events
At SafeWork NSW, we have an online toolkit that helps you create a safer, healthier and more successful business.
The NSW Government has also produced a range of online guides to help you during life’s many complex events.
Whether you’re starting a family or planning for retirement; starting school or getting your first job; suffering a serious injury or planning a funeral; renting property or dealing with a flood, these guides will improve your access to the many services the government can offer you during the significant events in your life.
Information, advice and support so that you can make the right decisions for you.
Putting you at the centre of everything we do is one of the Premier’s priorities.
Beware – working when young
During the January to March 2019 quarter, we prosecuted eight companies in the district or local courts for breaching work health and safety laws.
In all these cases employers were fined for tragedies that could have easily been avoided.
In four cases, young workers were seriously injured and one young worker died.
A 25 year old male sustained serious injuries when he and his co-worker fell 11 storeys from a 12 storey building while cleaning the outside windows. The ropes failed on the exterior maintenance platform they were working on. As a result, the business was fined $300,000 for neglecting to maintain their equipment.
Another 25 year old male sustained fatal head injuries when he fell from his motorbike while mustering sheep on a farm north east of Broken Hill. He was not wearing a helmet.
Two more young workers were critically injured in incidents while cleaning in commercial kitchens. A 17 year old male suffered third degree burns to both his feet and subsequently spent seven weeks in hospital while mopping up hazardous chemicals at a Queanbeyan hotel.
A 24 year old male slipped and stepped into a pot of hot cooking oil when he was cleaning the canopies of a commercial cooking unit. He also sustained third degree burns up to his knee and required skin grafts.
Tony Williams, SafeWork NSW Executive Director of Operations said regardless of how a young worker is employed or in which industry, they require extra support to ensure they are carrying out their tasks correctly and safely.
“We know young workers are less likely to speak up, they don’t have the experience and they are often employed in more casual or temporary positions, all of which makes them more vulnerable to hazards,” Mr Williams said.
“If you are a young worker you need to know your rights and understand that your employer has obligations to ensure your workplace is safe and you are trained for your job.”
All workers have the right to:
- be shown how to work safely
- appropriate safety equipment
- speak up
- say no to unsafe work
- be consulted
- workers compensation
- a fair and just workplace
- fair pay and conditions.
You have obligations too, such as taking reasonable care of yourself, not doing anything that would affect the health and safety of others at work and following any reasonable health and safety instructions from your employer.
“If you are an employer or supervisor it is critical that you encourage all young workers to speak up when they are not sure how to do a job or don’t feel that a job they are doing is as safe as it could be,” said Mr Williams.
“This will be something they can then carry through their working lives that will help keep themselves and others safe.”
Our Young Workers e-Toolkit for employers and young workers has a range of resources including how to deal with difficult scenarios and steps for assessing a situation – wait, take five.
Getting back to work after injury
Finding suitable duties for an injured worker in the construction industry can often hit a brick wall.
While most workers recover faster at work than at home, this concept can be a stumbling block for many construction employers.
‘Construction is a very physically demanding industry and one where small employers will often feel that a recovering at work after an incident is impossible,’ SafeWork NSW inspector Lydia Grepl said.
‘But we have numerous examples that show a staged return to work is actually possible in many cases.’
One involved a 22-year-old qualified electrician who sustained life-threatening head injuries requiring lengthy recovery after falling three metres at a Sydney residential construction site.
It is believed that the electrician fell head-first through the stair void on the first level where there was no handrail, platform or barrier installed.
‘This worker was very lucky to survive,’ the inspector said.
‘He had to re-learn basic human skills such as how to talk, walk, write and eat.’
Remarkably, eight months later the worker had recovered enough to begin a staged return to work on suitable duties, supported by his employer, insurer and doctor.
Initially assembling switchboards for four hours a day, two days per week in a warehouse, this increased by an extra day within a month, then an additional two hours a day. Soon, he was working eight hours a day, three days a week, and visiting sites to fit power points and conduct maintenance work. This gave him great relief and improved both his physical and mental wellbeing as he was able to return to some sense of normal after his incident.
‘This was a good example of how a successful staged return to work can be achieved in the construction industry.’
Find out how to develop a return to work program.
Protecting workers from the risk of falls
These fines can be issued by inspectors if the risk to workers is imminent or serious, or if the workplace is considered to be a repeat offender.
The fines are aimed at reducing the number of worker fatalities and serious injuries, and protecting workers and the community from these high-risk activities.
In 2017 alone, we attended 234 incidents involving falls from heights. Over half these incidents occurred in the construction industry.
Eight workers were killed in NSW in 2017, as a result of a fall from height.
Working at heights is a high-risk work activity and requires a safe work method statement. You must assess the risks involved for each activity that involves working at height, and implement the highest level of control that is reasonably practical in the circumstances.
You can:
- use a suitable working platform and, wherever possible, undertake the work from the ground
- use edge protection, such as scaffolding or guardrails ensure all scaffolds are checked by a competent person and handover certificate is provided before using
securely cover open penetrations, or use physical barriers - have a safe means of access and egress to all relevant areas of the worksite only use fall restraints and fall arrest systems when other higher order controls are not reasonably practicable
- establish and test emergency procedures for fall restraint/arrest systems
- only use ladders for access and egress, or for short term work when controls such as working platforms and scaffolds are not practical
- give your workers relevant equipment, information, training and instruction to work safely at heights.
Fines are $720 for an individual and $3600 for a corporation.
See how simple safety can be when you’re working at heights.
Good consultation improving more than just the bottom line
But for Groves Joinery owners Tracey and Gary Fuss, the reasons for putting good workplace consultation methods in place aren’t just about the bottom line – they’re much closer to home.
“Our employees have become an extension of our family, so it’s vital that we keep them safe,” said Tracey, who has owned the small joinery business with her husband Gary for 11 years.
“It’s our responsibility to make sure they are equipped with all of the information they need to make sure that their safety is protected on a daily basis. Continually talking and consulting with them about safety is the best way to do this.”
Groves Joinery mainly manufactures kitchens for the Hunter region. The business employs eight workers and two subcontractors. The main risks within their workplace revolve around working with machinery, manual handling, and completing repetitive tasks that can cause strain.
Tracey said their simple, but effective workplace consultation methods have created a culture in the business whereby safety is second nature.
“We don’t use the term consultation because I feel that is one of the terms that make people feel like it’s a long and possibly complex process. I probably use the words ‘a chat about safety’,” Tracey said.
“We like to do it in a non-formal setting for the most part. For us, consultation is an open discussion regarding a safety issue and working through the best way for the whole business to manage it.”
The staff at Groves Joinery participate in regular monthly meetings where they are encouraged to raise and talk through safety matters. Issues are identified and documented, and solutions are then implemented.
Tracey also relies heavily on the experience of her workers to help inform workplace procedures and policies.
“They’re at the coalface, so it’s important that we listen to what they have to say, and they’re really good at feeding back information about things we can do to improve, or changes that we can make to be safer.”
This extends further than just talking about safety, with Tracey and Gary also using consultation methods to plan for the future of their business.
For example, when deciding on new machinery or equipment, Gary talks with his workers at the business to help make decisions about what to buy.
When that new machinery is installed, the workers all stop work to go through the operating procedures for the machinery, and to talk about risks and how to prevent them while using it.
“It doesn’t have to be formal, and the bulk of what we do isn’t formal. But it’s these simple things that have made a big difference for us,” Tracey said.
Although Tracey had had some experience in work health and safety in her previous job as a registered nurse, she admits to feeling slightly overwhelmed when starting to review the consultation methods in her own business.
“I think the most important thing is to just make a start. Just start with one thing. I started with our general WHS policy and just built from there,” she said.
“It’s all about looking at those things – the bigger picture. So my advice to other businesses would be to write yourself a list and just start.”
Let SafeWork NSW help you implement effective workplace consultation methods in your workplace. Request a free safety advisory visit or call 13 10 50.
Help us shape the future of mental health in small business
With 1.51 million people working in small business in NSW, approximately 600,000 may be affected each year.
The opportunity to change the mental health and wellbeing of the NSW community by targeting small business is great.
Despite the availability of effective treatments for mental health conditions, evidence suggests that many people either do not seek treatment at all, or seek treatment following lengthy delays, during which the health, social and work consequences can accumulate.
Evidence also suggests that current workplace mental health programs tend to focus on larger organisations and industries and are not addressing the unique nature or the specific needs of small business.
Researchers at Everymind are developing a workplace mental health program for those who work in small business. They will work in partnership with the Priority Research Centre for Brain and Mental Health Research at the University of Newcastle, the icare Foundation, and other health, mental health and business partners in NSW and nationally.
If you own a small business or have worked in a small business (20 employees or less), tell us what you think about mental health!
A range of mental health resources are also available from our website or call 13 10 50.
Hazardous chemicals: from mushroom farms to stonemasons
Eight people died and more than 250 are now permanently disabled.
These fatalities and injuries are 100 per cent preventable when the workplace is safe and the simplest of control measures are used, like ventilators, respirators, gloves and goggles.
After consultation and negotiation with key stakeholders, we have identified the top 10 ‘priority chemicals’ used in NSW workplaces.
Over the next five years, inspectors will contact more than 10,000 workplaces to help businesses use these chemicals safely.
Initially, the focus will be on the top two chemicals – formaldehyde and crystalline silica – which can cause anything from allergic skin reactions to lung disease.
Inspectors will visit workplaces where formaldehyde is likely to be found, such as hospitals, laboratories, manufacturers of wood-pressed products (such as MDF board), poultry and mushroom farms, and funeral homes.
They will also visit workplaces where crystalline silica is present, workplaces where tunnels and roads are constructed, as well as stonemasons and manufacturers of polished stone benches.
A New South Wales parliamentary inquiry into the Dust Diseases Scheme was told that silicosis had become a huge problem in the manufactured stone industry, particularly in small businesses.
For crystalline silica workplaces, air monitoring records will be reviewed to ensure that workers are working below the limits required by the Australian Workplace Exposure Standard and that health monitoring is being undertaken.
And we will work closely with SafeWork Australia to review these standards, to ensure they meet international best practice exposure limits for crystalline silica.
We will also review current health monitoring tests, to ensure they are still the most adequate tests available for the early detection of any changes to health.
We will work in collaboration with iCare and Dust Diseases Care to make the lung bus available in regional areas and large workplaces for health monitoring tests, and will work with other government agencies and stakeholders to influence the introduction of a mandatory reporting program for occupational respiratory diseases.
By 2022, not only will serious injuries and illnesses have fallen by 30 per cent, but NSW businesses will have implemented best practice controls to eliminate or significantly reduce hazardous chemical exposures in their workplaces and exposure standards will be in line with international best practice.
Also, the testing of silicosis will be the most accurate and efficient available worldwide, a respiratory disease register will hopefully be legislated, and at-risk workers will receive and understand key safety messaging.
Managing musculoskeletal disorder
Every year, we see over 19,000 major musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) claims costing on average over $30,000 per claim.
In 2016, we launched a six-year work health and safety strategy that set a target of reducing serious MSDs. We met an exceeded the original target of 30 per cent. The target is now set at 50 per cent.
Following consultation with a variety of industry sectors, we subsequently developed and launched an MSD strategy that focuses on those at greatest risk, such as storepersons and nurses.
If we can meet this 50 per cent target, it will see thousands fewer workers receiving a serious MSD, saving NSW businesses in excess of $415 million.
The strategy highlights the impact that MSDs have in the workplace and identifies approaches to reduce their incidence and severity.
Consultation and communication are the foundation for the effective management of MSDs.
The essential ingredients for successfully managing MSDs in the workplace include embedding a work health and safety landscape to address risks that lead to MSDs; eliminating MSD hazards at the planning, purchasing and design stage; increasing the use of high level controls; ensuring effective reporting and compliance with legal responsibilities; and supporting injured workers to recover at work.
As an ideal starting point, we recommend the PErforM program– Participative Ergonomics for Manual Tasks. It is a simple, internationally recommended program that helps to effectively manage hazardous manual tasks.
Get more information on the PErforM program and check out the free PErforM workshop schedule.
When small wins = big change
It’s not unusual for people to be averse to change. It can challenge us and make us feel uncomfortable, particularly when we’ve had the same habit for years. Change at work can be equally confronting.
But according to Marco Rindo, Work Health Safety and Compliance Manager at Carey’s Freight Lines, celebrating the small wins is the best way to get people on board.
“Safety can be a hard sell,” said Marco.
“Some people have been in our team for 20 or 30 years and change can be overwhelming.
“I’ve worked at Carey’s Freight Lines for five years now and have come to realise that small wins matter.
“By showing the positive outcome of the change you actually see increased engagement from workers.
“They want to become part of that change.”
Carey’s Freight Lines is a family owned company established in 1927.
It manages refrigerated freight, general freight and container transport across Brisbane, Sydney and Tamworth.
Four years ago, they implemented a consultation process, led by Marco, to manage the risks faced by their workers.
“It was a bit difficult at first to get support from all 120 workers, but Australia’s views on wellbeing at work are changing, which has created a big shift over the past four years,” said Marco.
Marco believes the trick is to show the small improvements, and to be transparent and honest with workers throughout the process.
He is now starting to see a different attitude emerge among workers .
“We recently installed electronic work diaries (EWDs) into our trucks to track driver’s hours,” Marco said.
“The EWDs allow us to monitor how long a driver has been working, and then send alerts to the driver and office staff when they need to take a break or stop working.
“They were hesitant at first, but now some won’t get in the truck without them.
“They know the EWDs are there to assist with our chain of responsibility obligations, keep them safe, and make sure they come home to their families.
“It was a big change, so we took it slow by installing the EWDs in a select few trucks.
“We listened to feedback from the drivers, sent our insights to workers via our newsletter and discussed them during consultation meetings.”
The EWDs are just one safety change Carey’s Freight Lines have undertaken over the years. Other changes have been smaller, but all contribute to the larger goal of improving the mental and physical health and wellbeing of their workers.
“We have a number of monthly meetings for different facets of the business with the first agenda item always being safety.
“Meeting minutes and newsletters are made accessible to all workers through our noticeboards, via email and uploaded to the trucks on board ‘iFace’.
“Our monthly newsletter has a dedicated section to health and safety.
“It keeps everyone up-to-date on the latest initiatives and gives us the opportunity to celebrate the little wins across departments.”
Oil company completes more than $800,000 of safety improvements after workplace incident
Since the incident in July 2013, Caltex Australia Petroleum Pty Ltd has spent more than $200,000 on rectifications at its Banksmeadow terminal and on its national terminal network. This included improvements to isolation standards, work procedures and training for permit to work, as well as management of change, emergency management, and delivering improved hazard awareness training for all workers and contractors.
In addition to these rectifications, Caltex committed more than $600,000 on a number of strategies to deliver wider benefits to the industry and the community.
These strategies included development of a mobile contractor safety management app to help businesses manage the health and safety of their workforce. The free Onsite Safety app enables businesses to connect with their workforce remotely through a smartphone or tablet. It includes checklists for activities such as working at heights, working with chemicals, electrical work, confined spaces, using plant and using vehicles on construction sites.
A series of webinars has also been produced, with industry experts speaking on topics such as managing organisational change, implementing drug and alcohol programs, developing process safety KPIs, and adopting the Global Harmonisation System requirements for classifying and labelling chemicals.
Benefits to the community include funding seven fire-fighters from Fire & Rescue NSW to undertake advanced petrochemical fire response training in Texas, USA. Caltex has also helped FRNSW develop e-learning courses to teach fire-fighters how to respond to incidents in the petrochemical industry.
Read more about enforceable undertakings.
A strategy for workplace mental health
Workers sitting around a table chatting.
The scientific, professional and technical sectors were the worst performing industries.
It is estimated that the cost of mental health issues to NSW employers is about $2.8 million a year. Research also suggests that businesses that invest in workplace mental health programs could reap more than $4 for every $1 invested as a result of improvements to productivity and reductions in absenteeism.
Mental illness is now the leading cause of long-term sickness among Australian workers, overtaking back pain as the most common cause of work incapacity.
Our six-year Work Health and Safety Roadmap includes a commitment to reduce serious injuries and illnesses by 30 per cent by 2022, with a focus on serious mental health disorders. Please note, the Roadmap has been replaced by the SafeWork NSW Regulatory Priorities.
A Mentally Healthy Strategy of NSW incorporating initiatives designed to raise awareness and improve business capability to prevent and manage poor mental health in the workplace will be developed in consultation with stakeholders, along with
a range of compliance and enforcement measures.
In this short video, Sam Harvey, Associate Professor at the University of NSW and Professor Nick Glozier from the University of Sydney share their thoughts on the importance of creating a mentally healthy workplace.
How to report a serious incident
Not only is telling us about work-related ‘notifiable incidents’ a legal requirement, but it can help us pinpoint causes and take action to prevent similar incidents. A ‘notifiable incident’ is a death, serious injury, illness or dangerous incident.
Commonly referred to as a ‘near miss’, a dangerous incident is reportable if it exposes someone to a serious health and safety threat.
A serious incident, meanwhile, is any work-related fatality or serious injury or illness and must be reported immediately, whether it involves a worker, contractor or member of the public.
In the aftermath of a serious incident, there is often confusion and people in shock but it is important that the incident scene is preserved intact – other than treating or rescuing an injured person and making the immediate area safe – until an inspector arrives or tells you otherwise.
The list of potential injuries or illnesses that qualify as serious is lengthy but a rule of thumb is any injury or condition that requires immediate professional medical treatment and admission to hospital as an in-patient.
It’s crucial no time is lost. Call us on 13 10 50. If outside normal business hours, calls are diverted to a special after-hours emergency service.
Provide a clear and detailed description of the incident to help us assess if it is notifiable. It’s possible you may be asked to submit follow-up details in writing, but you will have 48 hours to do so.
Start with a brief summary of what happened and whether it was a death, serious injury or dangerous incident, and the date and time it occurred. Establish where exactly the incident happened and, for example, what equipment, machinery or structures were involved.
Next, provide a fuller description of the incident along with the injured person’s name, date of birth, address, contact number, occupation and role within the business – and details about the business or businesses involved.
Describe the injury or illness, initial treatment and where the person has been taken for medical attention, and if any action has been taken or is planned to prevent similar incidents. You must also keep a record of the incident for at least five years.
Penalties apply for not notifying incidents. M S Glass Pty Limited failed to immediately notify SafeWork of an incident after a worker was injured. After our investigation, the local court convicted and fined MS Glass Pty Ltd $4,000. The maximum penalty for failing to notify is $50,000 for a body corporate and $10,000 for an individual.
For more information, see our customer service standard.
Centre for Work Health and Safety
The Centre for Work Health and Safety is looking to the road ahead
Comprising experts in the fields of research, insights and analytics, science outreach and business, the Centre leverages data and evidence to create awareness, suggest smarter approaches and bring about behaviour change in work health and safety.
The team doesn’t do this alone – a key approach of the Centre is co-designing its research with industry, workers, government, academia and regulators to uncover insights that:
- ensure the research is practical and useful for the end user
generate and disseminate new knowledge about work health and safety risks and controls - quickly translate research findings and knowledge into practice and innovative harm prevention interventions
- identify, pose and tackle important questions around current and emerging work health and safety risks.
Since its launch, the Centre has been hard at work defining its research focus. The Centre is working towards its Research Blueprint, which spells out its research strategy to 2022. This strategy is aligned to the targets and priority areas identified in the Work Health and Safety Roadmap for NSW 2022. (Please note, the Roadmap has been replaced by the SafeWork NSW Regulatory Priorities).
The Centre has also started its first round of research projects. These include looking at effective engagement between workers, industry and regulators; what work health means to NSW workers; and drawing on evidence to inform best practice regulation.
For more information visit the Centre for Work Health and Safety website or join the conversation on social media @centreforWHS.
Enviable health and safety landscapes
Sailfish Catamaran
Established in 1993 and based in Alstonville in northern NSW, Sailfish Catamarans builds aluminium boats. From a staff of two producing five boats a year, the company has grown to a staff of 19 full time tradesmen and apprentices building about 30 custom-built catamarans a year. Today, it is a successful manufacturing and exporting business.
It is also the envy of many small businesses, having won the 2017 SafeWork award for excellence in workplace health and safety culture for small business.
‘It’s a great achievement,’ said Ian Drew, Purchasing and Administration Officer.
‘We’ve come a long way and everyone’s on board with our new culture.’
The company is proud of its young workforce and employs a new apprentice every year – and from day 1 a safety culture is embedded. New employees are taught the company’s values, what they will learn, work ethic and workplace expectations.
This, coupled with a no bullying policy and apprentice buddy system, allows everyone to understand and own their responsibilities in the workplace.
The owner, Darren Foster, says the company has undergone significant cultural change in its commitment to health and safety. There is now an open door policy with all senior management regarding health and safety issues, and daily tool box talks in which all mangers participate.
The company’s consultation process recently resulted in new equipment being introduced to address risks associated with working at heights.
Today, Sailfish Catamarans boasts a dynamic workforce that is committed to safety.
Port Stephens Council
Testament to Port Stephens Council’s outstanding safety culture is a work health and safety audit score exceeding other regional councils by more than 20 per cent.
The council is also the winner of the 2017 SafeWork award for excellence in workplace health and safety culture for large business.
The council boasts 13 health and safety representatives, plus deputies, a hazard ID app, a dedicated safety page on its intranet, health and safety noticeboards, ergonomic assessments, safety alerts, monthly newsletters, and a health and wellness program.
The general manager attends induction sessions for new employees and chairs health and safety committee meetings, and all senior managers are required to do two field visits every month.
The results speak for themselves: premiums are down 50 per cent over the past seven years; cost of claims are about half that of other councils; the number of claims have fallen almost 50 per cent over the past six years; and the council scored over 96 per cent in a work health and safety audit, compared with about 75 per cent for other councils.
Read more about the SafeWork NSW Awards.
30 years' bad practice bites back
NSW District Court Judge David Russell fined the business owner $60,000 for breaching his health and safety duties regarding safe systems of work and $1,500 for failing to notify us of a serious incident immediately after becoming aware of it.
The principal duties of the worker included making houseboats and doing general steel fabrication work. He was a first-class sheet metal worker and held a forklift and elevated work platform licence, but had no formal qualifications as a roofer and no training in relation to working from heights.
On the day of the incident, the business owner left work early to attend a funeral and, during his absence, another worker – supposedly the company’s ‘informal’ supervisor (given he’d been with the company the longest) – told his colleague to finish roofing the workshop.
The worker used a scissor lift to access the roof and convey the cladding to the roof, then climbed out of the lift to secure the sheeting. When a sheet slipped sideways, the worker fell almost three metres onto a compressor and another metre onto a concrete floor. There was no fall prevention system in place.
Immediately following the fall, the supervisor called an ambulance then contacted the owner, who in turn notified the insurer (but not us). If there is a serious injury or illness, a death or a dangerous incident, the law says you must report it to us immediately – and notify your insurer within 48 hours.
Under cross examination, the business owner revealed that for the past 30 years workers’ regularly worked on houseboats and were often four metres above the ground without fall protection or proper training. This revelation was a clear contradiction to his assurance that had he been present at work, he would have insisted on getting a qualified roofing contractor and would have forbidden anyone else from doing the job.
See our Working at heights page for further information on minimising risk.
Best Individual Contribution to Workplace Health and Safety (WHS manager) winner
Glenn joined Calvary, a non-for-profit health organisation, in 2011. With more than 12,000 staff and volunteers, Calvary operates 15 public and private hospitals, 15 retirement and aged care facilities, and a national network of community care centres.
No sooner had he joined Calvary, Glenn set out to develop a group workplace health and safety strategy from the ground up – there was no safety system in place. A significant challenge was the geographical spread of the organisation, so he developed an intranet site that provided a single platform for all health and safety resources. He introduced online forums and discussion boards, audit tools, fact sheets, procedures and manuals.
Glenn also implemented a national safety excellence award program that recognised individuals and teams, a monthly safety scorecard, and a national management review process. He was particularly conscious of the need to engage with workers, health and safety representatives, committees and senior management.
Glenn’s initiatives have been a catalyst for other system and technological changes throughout the organisation. These same initiatives have also resulted in the frequency rate of lost time injuries falling from 60 to three since 2011.
An inspiration to us all
Twenty years ago, David was seriously injured when his arms became caught in a hay baler as he was trying to fix a fault. As the baler pulled his arms in with such force, he suffered chest and head injuries along with extensive injuries to both arms. He was trapped for more than an hour before being rescued by a passing motorist and rushed to hospital.
David spent five months in hospital, had his right arm amputated above the elbow and numerous surgeries to save the left arm, including orthopaedic reconstruction, skin grafting, vascular grafting and infection control.
David knew nothing other than farming and was widely known in his community for solving problems and finding solutions. And this horrific tragedy did not deter him. His motto: the farm will not beat me.
With the help of a rehabilitation provider, prosthetic technician, case manager, family and friends, he developed a comprehensive return to work program and purchased modified equipment through SIRA’s vocational rehabilitation program. He made changes to the farm set-up, re-designed his work practices, and researched widely to find equipment that would satisfy his needs.
David credits a determined, problem-solving attitude and a great team as the principal reasons for his remarkable achievements.
Although the incident happened 20 years ago, David continues to receive medical treatment for his injuries but has returned to his pre-injury duties as a self-employed cattle farmer, hay contractor, bob-cat operator and earth mover.
David’s achievements were recognised last year when he won the 2017 SafeWork NSW Award for Recovery at Work Achievement Award for Injured Workers.
Tech savvy consultation improves safety culture
We know that good workplace cultures improve employee mental health, increase productivity and boost workplace morale.
But how do you bond as a team if you don’t all work in the same place?
It’s a challenge faced by many NSW businesses who have mobile workers, operate across multiple states or rely on contractors.
The problem often falls on the shoulders of the HR or wellbeing manager to find an efficient way to coordinate the wellbeing of an organisation spread over multiple locations.
Retail construction company, Prime Build, faces this challenge everyday.
Technology therefore plays a big role for the team at Prime Build.
It allows all of their workers to remotely join in on conversations with the whole team and have their say.
Ronnie Boukaram, their WHSEQ Manager said staff work everywhere; in the office, on the road and throughout work sites across Australia.
“We work in a fast-paced, 24-hour environment,” Ronnie said.
“It can be exhausting and negatively impact our workers’ professional and personal lives if not managed properly.”
Ronnie got the ball rolling on new ways for people to connect and talk about safety and wellbeing.
“We have a Skype meeting once a month with the Prime Build Safety Team, which can be joined by anyone, to discuss all things safety related – including concerns, injuries and ideas for improvement.”
“We also have an online platform that enables employees to catch up on anything they missed, and a monthly newsletter that shares wins and upcoming projects.
The more connected we are, the better it is for morale.”
Ronnie is a firm believer in little changes making a big difference to overall workplace culture.
He saw how introducing a form for employee suggestions was pivotal in slowly improving processes throughout the company.
“It’s all about making small changes and constantly improving until you start seeing better outcomes.”
“Consultation doesn’t need to be an expensive or time-consuming process. Just listening to your team is a good first step to improving safety and culture.”
Managing Director, Dean Willemsen, emphasised that Prime Build’s consultation process was a constant learning process and encourages other workplaces to take it one step at a time.
“We are not perfect and have work to do,” Dean said.
“Here at Prime Build we are committed to continually improving and while we have made mistakes in the past, we are committed to learning from them.”
How we're tracking - at a glance
Since the release of the Work Health and Safety Roadmap 2018-2022, we’ve been working towards defined targets to reduce the number of fatalities, serious injuries and workplace illnesses. Please note, the Roadmap has been replaced by the SafeWork NSW Regulatory Priorities.
We’re keeping zero fatalities in our sights and tracking our progress on a range of safety fronts.
We want you to follow the numbers too, be involved in changing the safety landscape, and remain motivated to make NSW workplaces the safest places to work in the country.
Each quarter we will publish our status report so you can see how the Roadmap is influencing workplace safety in NSW.
An inspiration to us all
David Nugent owns a cattle farm near Wagga Wagga and does some contract work supplying hay and operating heavy machinery to supplement his income when times are tough.
Twenty years ago, David was seriously injured when his arms became caught in a hay baler as he was trying to fix a fault. As the baler pulled his arms in with such force, he suffered chest and head injuries along with extensive injuries to both arms. He was trapped for more than an hour before being rescued by a passing motorist and rushed to hospital.
David spent five months in hospital, had his right arm amputated above the elbow and numerous surgeries to save the left arm, including orthopaedic reconstruction, skin grafting, vascular grafting and infection control.
David knew nothing other than farming and was widely known in his community for solving problems and finding solutions. And this horrific tragedy did not deter him. His motto: the farm will not beat me.
With the help of a rehabilitation provider, prosthetic technician, case manager, family and friends, he developed a comprehensive return to work program and purchased modified equipment through SIRA’s vocational rehabilitation program. He made changes to the farm set-up, re-designed his work practices, and researched widely to find equipment that would satisfy his needs.
David credits a determined, problem-solving attitude and a great team as the principal reasons for his remarkable achievements.
Although the incident happened 20 years ago, David continues to receive medical treatment for his injuries but has returned to his pre-injury duties as a self-employed cattle farmer, hay contractor, bob-cat operator and earth mover.
David’s achievements were recognised last year when he won the 2017 SafeWork NSW Award for Recovery at Work Achievement Award for Injured Workers.
The best way to improve employees' mental health
A world-first study published in Lancet Psychiatry, led by researchers at the Black Dog Institute and University of NSW, suggests that basic mental health training for managers can result in significant benefits for employees.
The research looked at the effects of a four-hour mental health training program delivered to Fire & Rescue NSW managers.
It found that the training was associated with a return on investment of $9.98 for each dollar spent on training and major reductions in work-related sickness absence. It is also the first study to show that training managers about mental health can have a direct impact in improving occupational outcomes for workers.
‘Having a supportive manager can make a huge difference to a person’s mental wellbeing, and as this study shows, giving basic mental health training to managers can bring significant changes to both confidence and behaviour among staff,’ says Samuel Harvey, who leads the Workplace Mental Health Research Program at the Black Dog Institute.
Jason's story: A young life lost
In this video, produced by Workplace Health and Safety Queensland, Jason’s family and friends share their experiences to raise awareness about the importance of workplace safety, the need for effective communication between subcontractors on construction sites, and appropriate supervision and supportive mentoring for young workers.
It also brings to attention the importance of housekeeping in preventing incidents, and allowing emergency access to sites if an incident does occur.
Statistics show how vulnerable children and young people are in the workplace. They can be oblivious to hazards in their surroundings, are often unaware of their rights and responsibilities, and may not be confident to speak up about safety concerns.
On 28 April each year, countries around the world pause to commemorate workers who have died as a result of a workplace incident or occupational disease.
Each year, Unions NSW and SafeWork NSW hold a service on the 28th of April, which is International Day of Mourning to honour and remember those who lost their life at work.
At the service, families are invited to add ‘memory cards’ and flowers to the Memory Lines sculpture in honour of their loved ones.
We encourage employers and workers across the state to take time on International Day of Mourning to think about the significance of work health and safety and how workplace incidents can affect those around them.
For more information about young workers, read the Young Workers eToolkit which has information for parents, young workers and employers.
Managing hazardous chemicals
There are literally thousands of hazardous chemicals used in the workplace – paints, pesticides, cleaners and fuels, to name a few. They come in various forms – powders, solids, liquids and gases.
You must manage health and safety risks when storing, handling or using hazardous chemicals at a workplace by using the hierarchy of controls.
This video demonstrates what to consider when applying the hierarchy and how to go about choosing the appropriate controls.
You should review your chemical management strategies and use controls higher in the hierarchy in combination with lower level controls for the greatest effect.
You should also ensure that your workers receive training and supervision and consider the risks associated with storage, handling and disposal.
Through the implementation of the Hazardous chemicals and materials exposures baseline reduction strategy, the level and impact of workplace exposures to hazardous chemicals will be identified and reduced.
A priority list of 100 chemicals, based on national and international research has been developed, in which formaldehyde and crystalline silica rank first and second.
Read the codes of practice for more information on how to manage work health and safety risks and managing risks of hazardous chemicals in the workplace.
Safety improvements raising the bar
Following an incident where a worker sustained serious injury from being hit by a steel beam, Multiplex Constructions Pty Ltd (formerly Brookfield Multiplex Constructions Pty Ltd) agreed to undertake significant business safety improvements that would also benefit their industry and the wider community.
Headlining Multiplex’s achievements is their development of the Practical guide to the safe erection of steel structures, the principles of which have since been adopted as part of the Australian standard for structural steel fabrication and erection (AS/NZS 5131:2016). The guide was developed in consultation with the Australian Steel Institute, engineers and the construction workforce to bridge the gap between documented procedures and workplace practices.
Multiplex has also spent more than $100,000 on the evaluation and distribution of the guide across its organisation and the wider steel erection industry through the Australian Steel Association and the Australian Contractors Association. A training video summarising the detailed processes contained in the guide was also produced to help deliver safety awareness training for all workers and contractors in the steel erection industry.
Since the incident in January 2013, Multiplex has also spent over $50,000 on rectifications, which included developing a tool to conduct audits on structural steel erection work and updating their steel erection checklist.
Benefits to the community from the completion of the undertakings to SafeWork NSW include the funding of graduate scholarships at Wollongong and Newcastle University for work health and safety students.
Multiplex Constructions Pty Ltd continues to promote the use of the guide to improve safety practices to benefit both the industry and wider community.
Read more about enforceable undertakings.
Use power tools safely
Early this year, SafeWork inspectors attended an incident in southwest Sydney after a 15-year-old construction worker got severe lacerations to his thigh, down to the bone, while using a circular saw to cut lengths of timber. It was his first day on the job.
Power tools come in various shapes, sizes, voltages and varieties. Yet, irrespective of the size of the tool or how it’s powered, the principles of safe use apply equally to all.
First, remember that a power tool’s effectiveness is proportional to your level of training in using the tool, as well as your diligence in following safety guidelines.
Before starting any job, go through a pre-start process and ensure everyone who is using power tools is trained and competent. And always check to make sure tools are in good working order.
Keep your hands and feet away from moving parts, keep others a safe distance away, and wear the correct personal protective equipment for the job.
Finally, employers and experienced workers need to ensure new and young workers receive the correct training and supervision.
Watch the following video safety alert on how to keep you and your workers safe around power tools.
You can also watch this short video by the Roofing Tile Association of Australia. This video is relevant to all residential and commercial building constructors, and in particular, roof tilers.
Take a nap. Eat a snack.
Naps can help improve alertness. Many shift workers nap before and during their shift, and often before driving home in the morning.
Generally, when shift workers are sleepy, they turn to food for comfort. Tests have shown that those who eat a large meal during their night shift feel sleepier than those who don’t eat at all. The best advice is to eat a snack and avoid large meals.
Read the full article.
Use power tools safely
Power tools come in various shapes, sizes, voltages and varieties. Yet, irrespective of the size of the tool or how it’s powered, the principles of safe use apply equally to all.
First, remember that a power tool’s effectiveness is proportional to your level of training in using the tool, as well as your diligence in following safety guidelines.
Before starting any job, go through a pre-start process and ensure everyone who is using power tools is trained and competent. And always check to make sure tools are in good working order.
Keep your hands and feet away from moving parts, keep others a safe distance away, and wear the correct personal protective equipment for the job.
Finally, employers and experienced workers need to ensure new and young workers receive the correct training and supervision.
Watch this short video by the Roofing Tile Association of Australia.
Your safety: it starts with you
Coming home safely to loved ones is generally everyone’s number one motivator to keep safe at work.
But it is all too easy to become blasé about workplace safety, believing the chances of being hurt are very slim.
Aside from the implications for employers – down time, low morale, and hiring and retraining a replacement – the consequences for the worker reach far beyond the workplace.
If lucky, an injured worker will be back at work within days, but if not, and recovery drags on – in some cases, indefinitely – the emotional and financial impact on their family can be devastating.
Life as they know it is never the same again and things normally taken for granted, such as walking the dog, driving a car, socialising or playing sport, may no longer be possible. Even what initially appears to be a minor injury sustained via a common workplace incident, a slip or trip, can have a major impact.
An arborist, for example, suffered a permanent and serious brain injury when he fell 11 meters to the ground while cutting a tree with a chainsaw.
A 49-year-old man suffered head, spinal and chest injuries when he fell three metres down a set of stairs on a Sydney construction site.
Another worker whose life will never be the same again, an 18-year-old labourer, sustained horrific injuries when a steel bar pierced his skull while he was operating an excavator on a Sydney demolition site.
All these incidents, like most workplace injuries, could have been prevented if the employers and workers had not let their guard down on work health and safety priorities.
No matter what you do, safety starts with you.
Watch this video.
Manage the risks of falls - or risk a fine
Over the past three years, most serious falls were from two to four metres – or about a single storey.
In November 2017, in response to alarming statistics regarding falls from heights, we introduced new on-the-spot fines – where employers can be fined up to $3600 for failing to control the risk of falls adequately – and launched a 12-month blitz on NSW construction sites.
Astonishingly, our inspections revealed more than 50 per cent of sites had unsafe scaffolding, more than 40 per cent didn’t have proper edge protection, and nearly 25 per cent didn’t provide a site safety induction to their workers.
Recently, a 20-year-old apprentice plumber died after suffering a broken neck and fractured skull when he fell six metres through a hole in a roof and landed on a steel beam. ‘In a spilt second your whole life changes forever,’ said his devastated aunt.
In another incident, a 67-year-old man sustained a traumatic brain injury, a fractured skull, collarbone and neck, and a punctured lung when he fell through an unprotected stairwell void on a Sydney construction site. He was in hospital for two months.
While working at heights is clearly a risky business, there are plenty of ways you can help avoid workplace tragedies and ensure your workers go home in one piece at the end of the day.
As with any high-risk activity, the best solution is to eliminate the need to work at heights where possible. If you can’t, you must provide a stable and securely guarded work platform or a suitable alternative.
Some typical examples are scaffolding, perimeter screens, guarding, fencing or other barriers capable of withstanding the loads that may be placed on it. Harness systems, such as fall restraint or fall arrest devices, should only be used as a last resort.
Last year and throughout 2019, our blitz on construction sites will continue. So, ensure you protect your workers – or risk a fine!
For more information on managing the risks of falls, visit our working at heights page.
If it's not safe, speak up!
One in 10 workers were too afraid to report safety issues because they might be fired and one in 20 have been demoted after making a safety complaint at work.
The survey also found that 37 per cent of workers have witnessed a colleague not reporting their injury at work for fear of losing their job.
Consultation is a good way to use the knowledge and experience of your staff to achieve a safer and healthier workplace.
Through talking about safety, you can become more aware of hazards in the workplace and workers can provide suggestions about how the work could be done safely.
This page outlines the basics of consultation at work and is available in Arabic, Mandarin, Cantonese and Vietnamese.
Let's talk safety in the supply chain
The transfer of work health and safety information in a supply chain includes identifying and controlling risks during the life cycle (including disposal) of buildings, products, substances, machinery and equipment. It includes transferring and consulting on work health and safety information to each of the duty holders during the design, production, supply and sale.
From 2018 to 2022 and beyond, we will work with industry to identify areas to influence the exchange of health and safety information.
Our strategy is to collaborate with industry and educate supply chain stakeholders of the role they can play in improving the exchange of safety-critical information.
We want to help you understand your responsibilities.
Together, we can educate everyone in the supply chain, and ensure the safe installation and supply of equipment and materials.
Tackling trees after wild weather
Determine the safest way to tackle the job
When you get to a new job, work out whether it is safer to work from ground level, to climb the tree, or to work from an elevated platform. If the weather or anything else changes, check the method you are using is still the safest one.
Inspect the tree
Check its condition before you start. In addition to any storm damage, look for signs of pest infestation, decay, dead wood and bark inclusions. A lack of foliage, soil movement, cracking at the base or a leaning tree could mean it has weakened or shifted roots and is unstable.
Inspect the site and your equipment
Check for hazards such as uneven ground, electrical lines, underground services, bad weather, nearby traffic, and people. Also check in on your own energy and alertness levels – fatigue and dehydration can be hazards too.
Inspect your machinery and climbing equipment before every use. If you are using wood chippers or stump grinders, it is particularly important that the emergency stops are working and workers are trained on how to use them. Make sure you mark exclusion and drop zones, that no one enters them, and that ground workers have an escape route.
Conduct a toolbox talk
All workers need to know what approach you will be using for the job and their role.
Train, equip and prepare your workers
Staff should always have the right protective gear, be fit for work, and not affected by drugs or alcohol.
Each year more than 150 people are seriously injured while doing tree work because of things like falls, working around power lines, working with equipment or being struck by falling objects.
By following the steps above, those helping our community clean up after the storms can plan to avoid injury and get home safe.
6 tips for a healthy workplace
Well, aside from a big morale boost, business benefits could be up to three times more productivity, less sick leave and fewer injuries. In a nutshell, a healthy workplace is very good for your business.
Research reveals healthy workers are fitter, more aware, alert and resilient against illness, and less likely to sustain manual handling injuries and strains.
While bigger businesses with more resources can afford to establish a formal health and wellbeing program, such an expense is probably a bit of a stretch for you. But fear not, there are still plenty of inexpensive things you can do to help make a difference.
Even small changes can have a huge impact, so here are six ideas:
- Target workers’ eating habits, especially if lunchtime fare is fast food high in saturated fats such as burger and fries. Install a larger fridge and an extra microwave so more staff can bring in meals from home to reheat – also saving them money.
- Offer more flexible working hours so workers go for walks, runs or swims, or attend a gym at lunchtime. Speak to a local fitness club about offering discount memberships for your workers.
- Print out simple exercise guides to place around the workplace.
- Establish a ‘break-out’ room where workers can make personal phone calls or have some quiet time.
- Help workers to quit smoking.
- Establish a workplace zero injuries target and promote this over one month, progressing to three then six months.
Get more great ideas about how you can help your workers get healthier and your business better.
Insider tips
In this feature, seasoned SafeWork inspectors, Anthony Nicholson and John Mizzi, provide helpful tips and pointers.
John: One catchphrase I often tell clients is that if it’s worth doing, then it’s worth documenting. Work health and safety laws don’t require employers to document day-to-day activities such as worker consultation or training for most workplace tasks. However, documenting these things, as well as risk assessments, provides evidence they have actually been done. So if an inspector responds to a particular health and safety issue, then the employer will be able to show they have addressed the issue by producing a supporting document. I advise clients to get safety messages over to workers by holding a toolbox talk and document it, using templates from our website.
Documenting a toolbox talk does not need to be complex. All you need to do is simply note the date, attendees and key messages discussed with workers.
Anthony: Some employers will spend a fortune hiring a consultant to develop a health and safety system or buying an off-the-shelf one. Often, these are generic and not directly related to a specific business. Honestly, the best systems are ones developed by a business in conjunction with workers. It’s not rocket science, just a method of delivering simple safety messages, information and support to workers.
John: If you are documenting training or safe work procedures and recording a worker’s name to confirm they’ve been trained, then they are also more likely to comply.
Anthony: The idea is to keep it simple and not to over-complicate it.
John: If you are unsure how to document a toolbox talk, and have 50 workers or less, then call SafeWork and request a free workplace advisory visit. An inspector will happily show you how to do it and even provide the templates.
Anthony: All it costs employers is some commitment and their time.
John: Plus small employers who request an advisory visit are eligible to apply for a small business rebate for the purchase of equipment or solutions they buy to improve workplace health and safety.
Find out more about our small business rebate program and search for ‘templates’ on our website.
Solvents can affect your memory
Author Erika L. Sabbath said the findings were significant as workplace exposure to solvents was extremely common and posed a real risk both in the present and the future.
“And as retirement ages go up, the length of time that people are exposed is going up, too,” Dr Sabbath said.
Chlorinated solvents can be found in dry cleaning solutions, engine cleaners, paint removers and degreasers, while petroleum solvents are used in carpet glue, furniture polishes, paint, paint thinner and varnish.
Researchers assessed the lifetime exposure of 2143 retirees, as well as their last exposure to chlorinated solvents, petroleum solvents, and benzene, which is used in synthetics manufacturing.
Participants took eight memory and thinking skills tests 10 years after they had retired at an average age of 66.
Researchers found those with high and recent exposure at the greatest risk for memory and thinking deficits regardless of other factors, such as education levels, age, smoking and alcohol consumption.
Dr Sabbath, of the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, said retirees with high exposure within the past 12 to 30 years had demonstrated impairment in virtually all areas of memory and thinking.
For more information about using solvents, visit the hazardous chemicals page.
10 things you should know
Here are 10 things you can do that will help your business comply with work health and safety regulations and keep your team safe.
- Get a workers compensation policy if you need one.
- Talk about safety and get input from your workers.
- Make sure everyone is properly trained and understands how to do their work safely.
- Establish safe working procedures.
- Provide adequate workplace facilities.
- Use personal protective equipment if no other controls are available.
- Record any workplace injuries in a register.
- Notify us of serious incidents.
- Have a recover at work program
- If in doubt, ask for help – give us a call on 13 10 50.
Work health and safety made easy
We have developed the ‘Easy to do work health and safety toolkit’ to make it easier for small businesses to understand and meet their work health and safety obligations. Check it out today.
6 ways to stay safe
Store and handle chemicals properly at all times.
Depending on the quantity and type – paint, glue, cleaning agents, fuel, pesticides or solvents – the consequences could be catastrophic.
Not only could your workers be exposed to harmful fumes or toxins that may cause chronic illnesses such as cancer or asthma, but leaks or spills can cause costly environmental damage such as water contamination.
Unchecked, a gradual-release or prolonged exposure could come years down the track, via financially crippling legal action by affected workers or environmental watchdogs.
Some potential hazards might not be obvious, such as a spray painter working in a booth listening to a portable radio – a possible ignition source for flammable fumes.
Often the risk has never occurred to them because it’s how they’ve always done it or been told how to do it. And unfortunately it’s often only when an accident does occur that the penny drops.
SafeWork Assistant State Inspector
Aside from the risk of an explosion or violent chemical reaction, simply inhaling vapours could render your workers drowsy and more likely to make errors or suffer an injury.
Here are some pointers.
- Make sure chemicals delivered to your workplace are clearly labelled.
- Make sure workers understand safety data sheet and labels.
- Make a list of all your hazardous chemicals – and always keep it up to date.
- Isolate hazardous chemicals from the rest of the workplace, restrict access to dangerous areas, and use exhaust ventilation for fumes.
- Develop an emergency plan and provide appropriate personal protective equipment.
Exercise helps prevent depression
The results show even small amounts of exercise can protect against depression, with mental health benefits seen regardless of age or gender.
The study involved more than 30,000 adults who had their levels of exercise and symptoms of depression and anxiety monitored over 11 years.
The study found that 12 per cent of cases of depression could have been prevented if participants undertook just one hour of physical activity each week.
According to an Australian health survey, 20 per cent of Australian adults do not undertake any regular physical activity, and more than a third spend less than 1.5 hours per week being physically active.
At the same time, around 1 million Australians have depression, with one in five Australians aged 16-85 experiencing a mental illness in any year.
To improve your physical and mental wellbeing through exercise, see the institute’s Exercise your Mood campaign.
Understanding workers compensation
The workers compensation process can be complex – and this complexity is amplified when you have limited claims management experience, resources and cash flow.
For most small businesses, a workers compensation claim may only occur once every several years. Many employers pay their annual premium and have no further contact or relationship with their insurer.
A challenge for small businesses is the number of stakeholders involved with the workers compensation process, and the various relationships that exist between these stakeholders.
This seminar features three panel members representing the employer, insurer and regulator. They discuss the role of each in the workers compensation process, the supports available for business – eg vocation rehabilitation and work trials – and the recovery at work programs run by the State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA).
SIRA has also developed a tool that helps injured workers understand their weekly payments and entitlements at different stages of their claim.
SafeWork licence register: making it easier to do business
Following an amendment to the WHS Regulation, the NSW Government published a register of individuals who hold asbestos, high risk work and demolition licences as well as holders of general construction induction training cards (otherwise known as white cards).
The register includes the licence holder’s name, licence number and type, the licence status, the licence expiry date (if any), licence conditions, prosecution summaries and information about penalty notices issued in connection with the licence.
The register enables better protection for workers and the community by providing licence information via a single online portal, and makes it easier for businesses and consumers to check the validity of the licences/cards and make informed decisions regarding the contractors they engage.
The changes are consistent with the NSW Government’s objective to provide a single and accountable point for the administration of business regulation schemes, which in turn provides greater business confidence while maintaining appropriate levels of consumer protection.
Do you get enough sleep?
Train drivers, waiters, chefs, and shift workers in manufacturing and healthcare are most likely to suffer the greatest sleep deprivation.
Shift work, job stress, work hours and physically demanding work are also linked to sleep deprivation. Round-the-clock access to technology and pressure to work harder has increased work hours and led to an increase of short sleep.
If it’s not safe, speak up!
A recent survey of more than 2000 workers found that one in five have made a complaint about a workplace safety issue that was never fixed.
One in 10 workers were too afraid to report safety issues because they might be fired and one in 20 have been demoted after making a safety complaint at work.
The survey also found that 37 per cent of workers have witnessed a colleague not reporting their injury at work for fear of losing their job.
Consultation is a good way to use the knowledge and experience of your staff to achieve a safer and healthier workplace.
Through talking about safety, you can become more aware of hazards in the workplace and workers can provide suggestions about how the work could be done safely.
This video is also available in Arabic, Cantonese, Mandarin and Vietnamese.
Keep it cool this summer
UV radiation causes 95 per cent of skin cancers in Australia. All skin types can be damaged by exposure to UV radiation. The damage is permanent and irreversible – and increases with each exposure.
Roughly two in three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer by the time they are 70 and over 750,000 are treated for non-melanoma skin cancers in Australia each year.
Non-melanoma skin cancer is more common in men, with almost double the incidence compared to women. In 2015, 2162 people died from skin cancer in Australia, 1467 from melanoma and 642 from non-melanoma skin cancers.
During the summer months, it is easy to become dehydrated or for your body to overheat. It is very important that your body temperature stays in the range of 36.1 – 37.8°C, or you risk developing heat-related illness.
Working in a hot environment can cause you to become fatigued and physically weak, as well as slow your reaction times and affect your judgement. Any of these increase your risk of injury, and you may begin to make errors, drop tools or stumble.
You can reduce the risks from exposure to UV radiation or extreme heat by:
- providing an air-conditioned area for frequent rest breaks
- providing air-conditioning and window tinting in work vehicles
- providing mechanical aids to reduce the need for strenuous physical work
- supplying lots of cool drinking water and encouraging workers to drink frequently.
- providing shade and shelter for outdoor workers
- rotating tasks, to reduce exposure to UV radiation and extreme heat
- scheduling work to cooler times of the day
- using the SunSmart app to identify sun protection times for outdoor work
- providing information, instruction, training and supervision
- providing personal protective equipment, eg: for outdoor workers – SPF 30+ sunscreen, SPF 50+ clothing, long-sleeve shirts, broad-brimmed hats and the like.
Register and listen to this webinar to learn about the risks that outdoor workers are exposed to and how employers can manage these risks, with the Small Business rebate available to eligible participants.
You can also tune into this webinar to discover the top 10 ways to manage sun exposure and how to check your own skin.
This video provides handy hints about managing the risks from working in extreme heat.
More information is found on the following web page:
Other sun safety resources are available from:
Exercise helps prevent depression
The results show even small amounts of exercise can protect against depression, with mental health benefits seen regardless of age or gender.
The study involved more than 30,000 adults who had their levels of exercise and symptoms of depression and anxiety monitored over 11 years.
The study found that 12 per cent of cases of depression could have been prevented if participants undertook just one hour of physical activity each week.
According to an Australian health survey, 20 per cent of Australian adults do not undertake any regular physical activity, and more than a third spend less than 1.5 hours per week being physically active.
At the same time, around 1 million Australians have depression, with one in five Australians aged 16-85 experiencing a mental illness in any year.
To improve your physical and mental wellbeing through exercise, see the institute’s Exercise your Mood campaign.
Understanding the workers compensation system
The State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA) has developed a new web app to help workers understand their rights and entitlements in the workers compensation system.
If you are entitled to ongoing payments, the app will tell you how your payments and entitlements are structured.
The app will show you:
- who is there to support you
- what you can expect in each claim period
- what vocational programs you can access
- what affects your weekly payments
- how your weekly payments are calculated
- how your degree of permanent impairment affects your entitlements
- what to do if you have a dispute.
Use the app as a go-to source of information on your rights and entitlements in the workers compensation scheme.
Have you been injured at work? is mobile friendly and will virtually live in your pocket, providing guidance whenever you need it.
Get started now and save the app to the home screen of any digital device.
Changing age-old traditions for a safer workplace
Despite the generations-old method of lowering coffins, John was determined to find a safer alternative. After extensive consultation with council colleagues and funeral parlours, he designed and built a trolley on an A-frame to transport a coffin-lowering device behind a ride-on mower or small tractor.
John’s invention reduces manual handling activities by about 90 per cent and minimises trip hazards around the grave. It eliminates the need to lift the 52-kg coffin-lowering device on and off the frame and eliminates the need to push the 300-kg trailer.
Following John’s innovative creation, the council now actively encourages all staff to be proactive and provide suggestions on improving health and safety outcomes.
Fittingly, John (pictured below) was a stand-out winner at the 2017 SafeWork Awards for best individual contribution to workplace health and safety.
Get it right: ask an inspector
Manufacturing pallets is a high risk industry and, following a request for service, a SafeWork inspector visited the premises and met with Mark Duffin, the factory manager, to offer some health and safety advice.
‘The workplace had a number of safety hazards,’ said Cris Jelley, Assistant State Inspector.
‘These included issues relating to poor housekeeping, machine guarding, traffic management, forklift safety, and handling and storage of hazardous chemicals.’
‘I issued numerous improvement notices,’ said Mr Jelley.
Regardless the severity of the notices, Mr Duffin saw it as a wake-up call and, over the next three months, he encouraged and welcomed further interactions with Mr Jelley.
Mr Duffin organised a massive clean-up of the workplace, fixed his chemical issues, fitted and improved guarding on machinery, improved traffic management, made walkways for pedestrians, issued personal protective equipment to everyone and, most importantly, sought his workers’ input on safety improvements.
‘The improvements have made my business safer and more productive,’ said Mr Duffin.
‘I have realised through your help, Cris, that it is more beneficial to be proactive than reactive, and I thank you for that – never too old to learn.’
Becoming an exemplary regulator
Visit the Centre for Work Health and Safety
With a greater focus on innovation and data analytics, we will be empowered to lead the nation as a smarter and more targeted work health and safety regulator.
Our newly established, world-class research centre, the Centre for Work Health and Safety (the Centre), will pull together the latest data and research to inform safer business practices and more effective regulation for workplaces in NSW.
The Centre will build a network of world-class expertise and capabilities to drive further reductions in workplace fatalities and serious injuries. A high-profile Research Foundation will support the Centre by investing in leading-edge, cross-disciplinary and academic research through collaboration and partnership with eminent work health and safety research providers.
The Centre comprises four fundamental streams: research, insights and analytics, science outreach and business support.
The research stream will undertake business-driven and applied research with our partners.
The insights and analytics stream will analyse a variety of knowledge sources to uncover insights and use analytical capabilities to investigate workplace harms, behaviours and practices.
The science outreach stream will lead the development of appropriate skills, activities and dialogues to raise interest in, and understanding of, work health and safety research. It will inform work practices and change safety behaviours.
The business support stream will lead the centre’s governance, align strategies, and manage finances, contracts, projects and information.
By providing employers and workers with relevant, evidence-based information drawn from robust research and data, we will ensure that people are safer, healthier and more productive at work.
Consultation: some practical advice
Held at the Sydney Cricket Ground on October 25 2017, the conference was part of national Safe Work Month.
Research has shown that NSW businesses are unsure of their consultation obligations, and are concerned it is expensive and time consuming.
The conference provided approximately 200 delegates with simple and practical ways to meet their obligations, and gave them a platform to share stories.
Keynote speakers included health, safety and security expert and lawyer Alena Titterton and safety organisational culture specialist Robert Sams.
Delegates also participated in an interactive theatre performance. The performance was based around the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and offered a unique way to learn important safety lessons gleaned from the tragedy.
The conference is just one element of our two-year Consultation @ Work program.
As part of this program, we will develop a ‘consultation toolkit’ to help businesses better understand their obligations, and learn practical and efficient ways to consult.
A short animation about the basics has already been produced, and case studies for the manufacturing and healthcare industries have been published.
With more than 55 sites around the state, the Cerebral Palsy Alliance has also shared tips on how their business consults. Watch their short video.
Do you have a story to share? Email [email protected].
Meat processor fined $375,000
The 28 year old worker died after he became pinned between a steel bin that was being carried by a forklift and a wall.
The incident occurred when the man, who was employed to undertake meat rendering and general plant duties at the processing plant, was using a forklift to remove empty steel bins from the rendering plant.
The worker was not licensed to operate a forklift and was not being supervised by a licensed forklift driver.
After moving a steel bin to the wall, the worker stopped the forklift on a sloping incline and applied the handbrake, but did not chock the wheels. He then walked between the front of the forklift and the wall, pushing and kicking the bin in an attempt to close the bin’s door.
The forklift’s handbrake suddenly released, pinning the man between the bin and the wall, causing fatal injuries.
The company pleaded guilty and was fined $375,000 in the District Court.
Executive Director of SafeWork NSW, Peter Dunphy said the risk of serious injury or death was obvious but the employer’s work health and safety systems were inadequate.
“Proper safety systems include providing workers with instruction and training in the safe use of forklifts, and providing wheel chocks on forklifts to prevent unintended movement.
“Other steps include implementing and enforcing a key register to restrict the use of forklifts to licensed operators only.
“Trainee forklift drivers should be supervised by a licensed driver and a risk assessment on the parking of forklifts on inclines should be undertaken.
“As a result of this totally preventable incident, a young family has lost its father and a small community has been left devastated.”
For more information, visit our forklift safety page or call 13 10 50.
Consultation is key at IOH
Often at the centre of that is the Rehabilitation Consultant, supporting everyone involved and making sure everyone is kept well informed.
It’s a high pressure job with the potential for stress, as emotions run high and priorities compete with one another.
So it’s absolutely vital that the health and safety of the Rehabilitation Consultant is taken care of.
IOH Area Manager Paula Cormack is responsible for doing just that. IOH is a rehabilitation services provider, and Paula is responsible for managing seven Rehabilitation Consultants who work from Liverpool to Goulburn.
“There can be a high stress element to the role of a Rehabilitation Consultant, because there’s a lot of different people involved with a lot of different agendas that they have to deal with, Paula said.
“Although the risks to the Rehabilitation Consultations aren’t overwhelmingly physical, there’s huge potential for stress.”
The best way to deal with this, she said, comes down to good workplace consultation.
“Using formal and informal forms of consultation allows the Rehabilitations Consultants to share their stories helps us to identify problems, and then tackle them,” Paula said.
Given the large geographical area that the Rehabilitation Consultants have to cover, Paula said she and her team have relied on technology to do this.
They use a program called Slack – an online tool that allows them to share messages in real time, hold video chats, and upload documents to share.
“My guys share information every day. Whether it be something interesting they’ve read that might help with their role, or information that others might need to know about a site that they’ve just been to. The beauty about it is that it’s in real time, and it’s versatile” Paula said.
“I guess what we’re trying to do is to create an environment where we don’t have to think about it too much, so it’s just seamless and it becomes second nature to talk about things that relate to their health and safety.”
They combine this with more formal workplace consultation methods, such as one-on-one meetings every fortnight, monthly team meetings; and a keeping a Register of Injuries, where any workplace injuries – no matter how minor – are formally recorded.
“All of these things provide a really great environment where everyone can feel relaxed and confident enough to raise issues and discuss safety concerns, because at the end of the day we want to tackle potential injuries before they happen,” Paula said.
“From there, the benefits to our business just flow. We have a happier workforce, lower injury rates and incidents, and a more productive business.”
If you would like more information on how to establish good workplace consultation methods, visit our website or call 13 10 50.
If you’re a small business operator, you can also request a free workplace advisory visit. By doing so, you could be eligible for a small business rebate of up to $1000.
Improving mental wellness in the workplace
I have seen firsthand the impact suicide has on workmates who have lost family and friends to suicide. It is devastating and we can do something about it,’ Dillon says.
Ruralco has partnered with Lifeline to ensure its workers are equipped to deal with conversations about suicide and mental health, and know how to recognise, respond and refer those people to Lifeline services.
‘Once the taboo is broken,’ Dillon says, ‘something unexpected happens.’
‘People forget to be embarrassed and they share. They talk about their personal experiences, their worries and their hope that they can help others who might be suicidal.’
That fits well with a volunteer corps of mental wellness champions, according to Alan Stokes, a Lifeline telephone crisis supporter and training facilitator.
‘They can be called ‘mental wellness wardens’, just as your office might have a safety warden or first-aid officer,’ Stokes says.
Dillon says he thinks the idea has merit.
‘Schools and universities have counsellors, pastoral care and other support professionals. Needing guidance is not something we grow out of once we leave the education system – if anything, it probably increases. From a corporate governance and responsibility perspective, it makes sense.’
- Lifeline suggests corporate leaders adopt a proactive approach: *Seek executive support to develop a suicide prevention strategy.
Call for expressions of interest among staff to complete an accidental counsellor course. To find out more about accidental counsellor courses, contact Lifeline Northern Beaches on 02 9949 5522 or Lifeline Harbour to Hawkesbury on 02 9498 8805. - Appoint accidental counsellors as mental wellness wardens across the organisation.
- Incorporate accidental counsellor training in every orientation program for new workers.
- Support efforts to develop world best practice in suicide prevention and support for sufferers of mental illness among your staff.
If you need support with a crisis or suicidal thoughts, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Resources that can assist you managing mental health in your workplace can be found on our website.
Remember, a conversation could save a life. So, ask RUOK? on 14 September.
Work near overhead power lines: the basics
In fact, contact between mobile plant and equipment with live overhead power lines is one of the biggest workplace killers – but many of these incidents have the same underlying causes:
- operators failing to see the power lines (or realising the danger)
- not maintaining a safe approach distance.
What is the risk?
Any voltage that causes sufficient current to pass through the heart – such as that found in live overhead power lines – can cause serious injury or death.
The discharge of electrical energy from contact with power lines can also cause serious burns, fires and explosions that can immobilise the equipment involved.
You don’t even have to have direct contact with a high voltage line to receive a fatal electric shock. Electricity can arc or jump across gaps, meaning that simply being too close can kill.
Even if a worker survives a close encounter with high voltage, their injuries can require intensive medical care and may render them out of action indefinitely.
Unfortunately, in 1999, 17 year old Tim was fatally electrocuted. Watch the video below as told by his father.
What is the impact on your business?
The effects on the injured worker and their family are obvious, but a simple lapse in concentration or supervision can also have a significant impact on your workplace. Lost time, a workers’ compensation claim, not to mention finding and retraining a replacement can all add extra burden to your business.
How can you avoid these incidents?
- Your safest option is to relocate work away from overhead power lines wherever possible.
- If it’s a short-term task, arrange with the electricity supply authority to have the power isolated.
- For long term jobs, consult the electricity supply authority. They would assess the site and advise of appropriate controls that you should adhere to.
If you can’t avoid working near overhead power lines you need to properly assess and control the risks. That may mean having a supervisor on the ground to manage the risks. This will at least give you peace of mind to be able to focus on running your business and it could save a life.
Attention to detail is critical – potentially a matter of life or death – so please refer to the Work near overhead power lines: Code of practice, or call 13 10 50.
Taking care of your mental health at work
October is mental health month and a reminder for us to stop and think about how we, and the people in our lives, are travelling.
Many of us spend one-third of our lives at work, which can have a huge impact on our mental health – in both positive and negative ways. Nearly 1 in 6 Australian workers are experiencing mental ill health right now, and almost 50 per cent of us will experience mental ill health at some stage in our lives. So, if it doesn’t impact you, it is likely to impact someone close to you.
Mental illness is now the leading cause of long-term sickness absence in Australian workplaces, costing the economy up to $12 billion a year. It is important to be aware of the risk factors for mental ill health and know what to look out for in your workplace.
Research from the Black Dog Institute has identified three key risk factors that can contribute to mental health problems at work: occupational uncertainty, lack of value and respect in the workplace, and imbalance in job design. A Black Dog Institute study has also identified a strong link between people experiencing job strain (the combined result of high work pace, intensity, and conflicting demands, coupled with low control or decision-making capacity) and the increased risk of developing a mental illness.
So, what can we do to improve mental health at work? The good news is that there are some simple steps that everyone in the workplace can take to improve mental wellbeing:
- Lead change
- Create a positive culture and manage risk factors
- Raise awareness and educate
- Connect to support
Everyone can benefit from a mentally healthy workplace. Mentally healthy workplaces encourage prevention of mental ill-health through good job design, effective consultation and connecting workers to support early to improve their recovery. When workers feel supported, valued and engaged they are more committed to their organisation and doing their best work. It’s good for business too, with a return on investment in mentally healthy workplaces up to $4 for every $1 invested.
Did you know that the NSW Government has FREE mental health training programs available to help your business create a mentally healthy workplace? Find out more and sign up.
The mentalhealthatwork.nsw.gov.au website has some valuable tools and resources for managers and workers to recognise the signs of an unhealthy workplace and learn how to take effective action.
How mentally healthy is your workplace? Take our quick online mental health capability check now.
How mentally healthy is your business?
There has never been a more important time for businesses to support their staff’s mental health at work. A mentally healthy workplace is a great place to work where there is a positive culture, engaged staff, and better productivity, which matters to your bottom line and business success.
October is national Mental Health Month, and a great reminder to start a conversation with your people about how well your workplace promotes, manages, and supports, mental health. Is your workplace doing enough to ensure staff are both physically and mentally safe?
The NSW Government has launched the Workplace Pulse Check so you can find out how mentally healthy your workplace is. It is a quick 11 question survey that will take only 5 minutes. Your results will include, the level, between 1 and 5 of how mentally healthy your workplace is, plus how your results compare to other businesses of the same size in your industry. You will get practical actions to take to improve your score and you can share your results with other leaders and colleagues to get everyone on board to making your workplace mentally healthy.
Mental health at work matters. Learn how mentally healthy your workplace is.
Take the Workplace Pulse Check at mental health at work.nsw.gov.au
Floods and other natural disasters
Find other information and support services at the NSW Government website
Many parts of NSW are currently experiencing flood conditions. Your safety is important – you should always:
- listen to your local radio station for further warnings and advice
- keep an eye out for any fallen or dangerous trees or powerlines
- stay away from electrical signs, streetlights, electrical cables or other conductive material
- do not touch switchboards if they have been damaged by water
- do not do your own electrical work – it is illegal and dangerous.
Staying safe
As an employee, if you are planning to work or travel to work in an area that’s impacted by flooding, assess the potential for hazardous conditions and what you can do to mitigate that risk.
As an employer, you must reduce the risk of death, injury and illness to yourself, your workers (including volunteers) and others involved in clean-up and recovery activities.
Find more information about managing hazards and risks.
Asbestos
Asbestos-containing materials may be found during the clean-up of buildings damaged by floods.
When asbestos containing products are damaged, small fibres may be released into the air. These fibres are harmful if inhaled and may lead to asbestos-related diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer or mesothelioma.
SafeWork NSW always recommends that a licensed asbestos removalist is used to remove any amount of asbestos. In some cases, emergency services may undertake this role in an emergency situation.
Find more information about safely cleaning and/or removing asbestos-containing materials.
Biological hazards
Workers involved in storm and flood recovery work should maintain good personal hygiene. You should always:
- wash your hands after contact with mud, flood water and contaminated items and equipment
- wear enclosed footwear, protective eyewear, gloves, and suitable clothing
- take precautions to avoid mosquito bites
- clean and cover cuts and wounds.
Illness caused by carrying out work should be notified to SafeWork NSW.
Chemical hazards
Storms and floods can bury, move, or damage hazardous chemical containers including paints, pesticides, cleaners, and fuels. They come in various forms – powders, solids, liquids and gases. Hazardous chemicals must be handled and disposed of safely by:
- identifying chemicals and their hazards using labels and markings – seek expert advice if the container cannot be identified
- avoiding contact with unknown chemicals or chemical containers
- separating chemicals from general waste
- wearing personal protective equipment such as protective eyewear, chemical resistant gloves, enclosed footwear, and a suitable respirator.
Find more information about hazardous chemicals.
Demolition
Demolition work includes demolishing or dismantling a structure or part of a structure that is either load bearing or related to the physical integrity of the structure. You should always:
- notify SafeWork NSW using the online notification system or the demolition notification form
- check which demolition licence is needed to complete the work
- prepare a safe work method statement
- check for asbestos
- remove all asbestos before beginning demolition work.
A Clearance Inspection and a Clearance Certificate must be issued following asbestos removal work and prior to demolition.
An asbestos assessor or removal licence may be required. Find a SafeWork licensed asbestos removalist or assessor in your area.
Find more information about demolition.
Electrical safety
Electricity can kill or severely injure people and cause damage to property. Do not do your own electrical work at any time, under any circumstances, especially during or after a flood or storm. Electrical plant or equipment should not be used when at risk of exposure to water. Find information about other electrical hazards.
Find more information about electrical safety, including how to safely inspect and test electrical equipment.
Fatigue
Fatigue can reduce your ability to work safely and effectively, particularly after the physical and emotional impact of a natural disaster. Employers have a duty to control the risks of fatigue by:
- rotating shifts
- providing regular rest breaks
- providing a space for workers to rest before commuting home
- providing transport (where possible) to minimise the risks associated with commuting.
Find more information about fatigue.
Hazardous manual tasks
Responding to flood conditions can often involve activities that may expose workers to the risk of a musculoskeletal disorder caused by hazardous manual tasks. In consultation with workers, employers must:
- identify manual tasks that are hazardous
- eliminate risks associated with hazardous manual tasks (e.g., handling of heavy sandbags, working in awkward postures)
- if it is not reasonably practicable to eliminate the risks, minimise the risks by implementing suitable control measures (e.g., use mechanical aids, re-design the task)
- provide suitable information, training, and supervision to workers.
Find more information about hazardous manual tasks.
Mental health
Natural disasters can take a significant mental and emotional toll on the many people impacted. To minimise the impact of mental health risks and psychological stress on workers, employers should:
- consult with workers about any changes to their roles and tasks
- consult with workers when setting work targets and priorities
- facilitate regular discussions on additional pressures/challenges
- provide rest areas for workers to take breaks
- highlight crisis support and assistance available.
Find more information about mental health.
Mould
As flood waters recede, you may find significant mould growth in parts of a building that have been flooded or exposed to high humidity levels.
Before cleaning or removing any mould growth, you should review the information provided by NSW Health.
Find more information about mould at work.
Operating machinery
Operating wheeled or tracked machinery can be dangerous in flood affected areas. You should always:
- be aware of changed ground conditions which may increase the risk of roll over, bogging or instability
- identify potential hazards prior to operating any machinery, including decreased vision
- operate machinery at a safe speed suitable to the conditions
- do not allow untrained or inexperienced people to operate machinery.
Find more information about operating machinery. You can also find information about quad bike safety.
Working at heights
If you have to work from a height, you must manage the risk of a fall by:
- working on the ground or on a solid construction
- using a fall-prevention device
- using a work-positioning system
- using a fall-arrest system.
Find more information about working safely at heights.
Related information
- Find emergency contacts and services, support and resources at the Service NSW website
- Visit NSW State Emergency Service for the latest advice in your area and for information on how to know, plan and prepare before extreme storm or flood emergencies occur
- Visit Resilience NSW for information about the ongoing rebuild and recovery effort
- Guide for dealing with trees after wild weather
- Order a hard copy or download (PDF, 1759.1 KB) a pocket-size guide with useful information on common health and safety issues on construction sites
Top 3 safety resources for young workers
If you are a young worker – or you are the employer, parent, guardian, or educator of a young worker – check out our top 3 safety resources below:
1. Young Workers eToolkit
In the Young Workers eToolkit, you can access a range of easy-to-understand resources that have been specifically developed to support young workers’ safety. Information has been specifically tailored for young workers, employers, parents and guardians, as well as educators.
The eToolkit has real stories about young people who have been injured or killed at work, the impact of this, and how it could have been prevented.
2. Wait, Take Five
Before completing a task, remember to wait, take five.
- Stop
- Ask yourself, is it safe?
- Could it hurt someone?
- Speak up if you’re concerned
- Ask for help
3. Speak Up, Save Lives
Are you worried about raising a health and safety concern at work? The Speak Up Save Lives app is a quick, easy and anonymous way to report an unsafe work situation directly to SafeWork NSW.
You can download the app for free on the App Store or get it on Google Play.
Can’t download the app? You can still speak up and share your concerns at the Speak Up Save Lives website or call 13 10 50.