In December 2022, a positive duty on employers, businesses, and organisations to take ‘reasonable and proportionate’ steps to eliminate unlawful conduct in the workplace was included in the Sex Discrimination Act. Continue reading
Model Work Health and Safety Legislation Amendment (Offences and Penalties) 2023
Amendments have been made to the model WHS Act and model WHS Regulations, including how WHS penalty provisions are expressed, increasing penalty amounts and providing for the indexation of penalty amounts. Continue reading
Safety News March 2023
March 2023
Issue 44
Psychological Safety vs Psychosocial Risk
Psychological safety and psychosocial risks both require attention from employers to create a safe and healthy work environment, but how well do leaders understand the difference between the two terms and the factors that contribute to them?
Sea Safe: bringing the seafood industry home
Renowned for being a dangerous industries, Seafood Industry Australia (SIA), in conjunction with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) and the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC), have launched Sea Safe, a national program designed to improve the culture of safety in the commercial seafood industry.
WHS leading with both the head and the heart
According to Dr Kirstin Ferguson, WHS professionals need to balance leading with the qualities of both “the head and the heart” in order to become more effective leaders at work. The more attributes of a head and heart leader you can draw upon, the more effective you will be in the widest range of situations you might find yourself leading in.
National Safety Strategy: 2023-2033
The Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy 2023-2033 has been released which represents a national commitment to work together to reduce worker fatalities, injuries and illnesses over the next decade. More than 150 stakeholders were consulted on the development of the Strategy. It outlines targets to measure progress over the next 10 years, including a reduction in worker fatalities caused by traumatic injuries by 30%.
Worldwide violence & harassment at work
More than one in five employed people worldwide – 23 per cent – have experienced one or more forms of violence or harassment at work, according to a global study. The risk of workplace violence or harassment was greater if the worker was younger, if the worker was a migrant and if the worker was not self-employed, according to the survey.
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National Safety Strategy: 2023-2033
A new 10-year national strategy to reduce workplace fatalities, injuries, and illnesses in Australia has been released.
The Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy 2023-2033 addresses ongoing and emerging challenges in work health and safety over the next decade, including managing psychosocial risks, the rise of artificial intelligence, automation and related technologies, and new types of work including gig work.
Continue reading
Understanding Psychological Safety and Psychosocial Risk
With the release of the new Model Code of Practice: Managing psychosocial hazards at work in July 2022, psychological safety and psychosocial risks are currently at the top of most safety agendas.
Psychological safety and psychosocial risks both relate to the workplace but they differ in the factors that contribute to them and their impact on employees. Continue reading
Sea Safe: Bringing the seafood industry home safely
“Everybody deserves to come home safely” is the message the commercial seafood industry is promoting as part of their launch of a new national safety program called ‘Sea Safe’.
The four-year program has been designed to drive culture improvement and change throughout the sector through a focus on peer-to-peer sharing, learning and ultimately behaviour changes. Continue reading
Worldwide violence and harassment at work: 1 in 5
More than one in five employed people worldwide – 23 per cent – have experienced one or more forms of violence or harassment at work, according to a global study.
It found that the main forms of work-related violence and harassment were psychological violence and harassment, including insults, threats, bullying or intimidation. Continue reading
WHS leading with both the head and the heart
OHS professionals need to balance leading with the qualities of both “the head and the heart” in order to become more effective leaders at work, according to author and company director Dr Kirstin Ferguson.
The art of being a modern leader is knowing what attributes of leading with the head and heart are needed (and when). Continue reading
Lessons Learned in Safety
Australia is a world leader in WHS. Unfortunately, workers and others continue to be injured at and by work, sometimes fatally.
We need to ensure that WHS is core to how we do business in Australia. Lessons learned from prosecutions can provide insight into future safety improvements.
Continue readingMentally healthy workplaces – tools for small business
Understanding the signs of a mentally healthy workplace is tricky – especially when you can’t see them. That’s why SafeWork Vic have created the WorkWell Toolkit, to help you control hazards that you can’t see and help you on your way to creating a mentally healthy workplace and fulfilling your responsibilities as an employer.
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Safety Australia Group