OHS

OHS

Welding fumes and radiation cause lung and eye cancer, possibly kidney cancer

In 2018, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified welding fumes as “carcinogenic to humans”, an upgrade on its previous 1989 status as a “possible” cancer-causing agent. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from welding was also classified as carcinogenic, while molybdenum trioxide – a chemical sometimes used in welding – was classified as possibly carcinogenic […]

5 years ago
OHS

Spill containment: What you need to know

Correctly managing spill containment is crucial for any workplace storing or using liquids that could pose a threat to humans or the environment if a leak or spill occurs. Businesses are legally required to protect employees, others and the environment. In the case of hazardous liquids, this means ensuring that a spill risk assessment has […]

5 years ago
OHS

2019 OHS/WHS Safety and Events Calendar

A comprehensive list of Australian workplace health and safety (WHS) events, awards and related campaigns in 2019. If there is an event or campaign not covered below that is relevant to OHS in Australia, please comment with the details at the end of this article and we’ll take a look. Safety Australia Group Mock Trials […]

5 years ago
OHS

New SWA chemical storage guide for workplaces

A new guide from Safe Work Australia (SWA) aimed at helping small and medium-sized businesses safely identify and store their chemicals has been released. “If you store chemicals in your workplace and need information on how to store them safely, this guide is for you,” said SWA Director of Chemicals Policy, Dr Paul Taylor. Chemical […]

5 years ago
OHS

Work health and safety laws and strategy in New Zealand

In recent years, New Zealand’s government has made major changes to work health and safety in response to concerning rates of workplace injuries and fatalities. Pro Safety Gear takes a closer look at what’s been happening.   Reducing workplace injuries and fatalities: The New Zealand (NZ) government plans to reduce workplace serious injuries and fatalities […]

5 years ago
OHS

Guide to stormwater management in construction

Stormwater management in construction is critical, with the primary goal in both commercial and DIY projects being to prevent building site by-products from entering stormwater drains. It is illegal to discharge any pollutants into a stormwater system, that is, anything other than rainwater, so careful site planning is imperative. Failure to plan can cause costly […]

5 years ago
OHS

Safety guide for automotive mechanic workshops

This safety guide is for automotive mechanic workshops and encourage Occupational Health and Safety (OHS). Ultimately, it gives an overview of the different hazards to be aware of when working in a mechanic’s workshop, as well as appropriate safety procedures to implement. In 2014–15, automotive electricians and mechanics made 1,760 serious workers’ compensation claims, involving […]

5 years ago
OHS

How does obesity impact workplaces?

Nearly two-thirds of Australian adults are overweight or obese, with the consequences of this being felt in workplace productivity, lost time injury (LTI) and cost. According to the 2014–15 National Health Survey by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), those with a Body Mass Index (BMI) between 25–29.99, classified as overweight but not obese, accounted […]

5 years ago
OHS

How to use sunscreen correctly

The most common mistakes that people make when applying sunscreen are to not check the expiry date, apply too little and not apply the sunscreen early enough. All of these mistakes reduce the effectiveness of sunscreen by decreasing the sun protection factor (SPF) it offers, according to dermatologist Dr Saxon Smith and the Cancer Council. […]

5 years ago
OHS

Young workers 21 per cent more likely to be hospitalised: Safety Guide

Young workers – classified as 15-24 year-olds – face the greatest risk of workplace injury due to their inexperience, combined with developmental and generational factors. Shockingly, any new worker – no matter their age – is as likely to suffer an injury during the first six months at a workplace as during the whole of […]

7 years ago