Ninety nine per cent of workers in the agricultural industry are exposed to one or more carcinogens on the job, according to a May 2016 Safe Work Australia (SWA) report. Carcinogen Exposures in the Agriculture Industry is part of a series of three reports that came from SWA’s Australian Workplace Exposure Study (AWES): Construction, Agriculture […]
In the three years 2009–11 there were 3830 serious worker’s compensation claims due to a fall from a Ladder – equivalent to a staggering three injuries every day requiring one or more weeks off work. The construction industry is the most dangerous for ladder use, with falls from ladders being the most common causes of […]
Standards are technical documents that outline requirements, rules or specifications to ensure products, materials, processes or services are consistently fit for purpose. SAI Global’s Director of Knowledge Solutions, Matthew Clark said that “standards are developed to set minimum acceptable performance benchmarks to meet safety requirements and to ensure conformity and consistency.” Standards ‘certification’ is the […]
Critical elements of height safety include a correctly fitted and adjusted harness tailored to an individual’s body size and shape, along with worker training on harness fit and use. Independent certification of harnesses and lanyards is also critical to safely working at heights, according to Chief Technical Officer of LINQ Height Safety Equipment, Stephen Sugden. […]
Varying design features among harness brands can lead to significantly different forces on the body in the event of a fall, potentially meaning the difference between life and death. Chief Technical Officer of LINQ Height Safety Equipment, Stephen Sugden says that LINQ harnesses are designed to preclude a “floating” Dorsal Dee which is stabalised during […]
An ex-carpenter has told LINQ Height Safety Gear how inadequate safety procedures resulted in a fall from a roof that left him with severe spinal injuries and quadriplegia. In 1991 David Crawford had the world at his feet. A budding professional surfer who regularly competed in Hawaii and a keen soccer player, he never imagined […]
Hot and humid summer conditions can present a number of OHS hazards for the blue collar worker, including exposure to potentially cancer-causing UV radiation, dehydration and heat stress. UV Exposure: Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world and outdoor workers are exposed to around five to 10 times more UV rays […]
With the beginning of the year seeing many young people entering the workforce and others returning relaxed and potentially unfocused after Christmas holidays, a senior safety figure has called for employers to focus on safety. Executive Director of Health and Safety at WorkSafe Victoria, Marnie Williams has told ProChoice Safety Gear that new workers need […]
