Silicosis is a group of occupational lung diseases caused by breathing in silica dust. It has been described since ancient times, when miners and stone cutters were exposed to dust containing this crystalline mineral.

However, there has been a worrying resurgence of cases recently, as a recent New South Wales parliamentary committee has heard. Now one of the fastest growing occupational groups we’re seeing with silicosis are people who make and install engineered stone products, the type of benchtops and tiles you might find in your kitchen or bathroom. Continue reading →

Helping workers return to their normal job after an injury is called ‘return to work’, and it’s an important step in their recovery.

Research shows that work is generally good for health and wellbeing, while long term work absence, work disability and unemployment can have a negative impact on health and wellbeing. Continue reading →

Construction is one of the fastest growing industries in Victoria, employing around 275,000 workers.

While significant safety improvements have been made, the number of deaths, injuries and near miss incidents remain too high. Each week, around 60 construction workers are injured seriously enough that they have to stop work. These injuries commonly occur as a result of basic site safety failings. Continue reading →

SafeWork NSW has launched a $3.2 million campaign aimed at ensuring workers and employers stay safe on the job.

The “Safety starts with you” campaign has been developed to improve safety and help reduce workplace injuries and illnesses across NSW.

It highlights risky behaviour in an effort to reduce the number of injuries in NSW workplaces. Continue reading →

While office workers often worry they sit too long while on the job, research suggests standing at work increases the risk of heart disease.

There’s been a lot of interest in the harmful effects of prolonged sitting at work, from academics and the public alike. The attention being paid to sitting — or rather, not sitting — while on the job stems from the scientifically validated message that being sedentary in general, both indoors and outdoors, is bad for your health. Continue reading →

WorkSafe is pleading with employers and workers to take a step back and focus on safety as Victoria enters a traditionally dangerous time of year.

According to WorkSafe statistics, more Victorian workers die in the weeks leading up to Christmas than at any other time of year.

Over the past decade, almost 25 per cent of all workplace fatalities occurred in November and December. Continue reading →

The warning is clear – if you cost someone their life, you’ll pay. That’ll be the case under new laws which create the offence of industrial manslaughter in Queensland.

The maximum penalty for the new offence is 20 years imprisonment for an individual, with a maximum fine of $10 million for a corporate offender. Continue reading →