JUNE 2018 - KEY STORIES INSIDE MANUAL HAZARDOUS TASKS FEATURE FIND OUT WHAT WORKSAFE IS DOING - WORKSAFE TASMANIA

 
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JUNE 2018 - KEY STORIES INSIDE MANUAL HAZARDOUS TASKS FEATURE FIND OUT WHAT WORKSAFE IS DOING - WORKSAFE TASMANIA
June 2018

      Key stories inside

Manual hazardous tasks feature
Find out what WorkSafe is doing
Don’t freeze out safety
JUNE 2018 - KEY STORIES INSIDE MANUAL HAZARDOUS TASKS FEATURE FIND OUT WHAT WORKSAFE IS DOING - WORKSAFE TASMANIA
Contents                                                                                                                     Publisher
                                                                                                                                 Published quarterly by
                                                                                                                                 WorkSafe Tasmania.

                                COVER STORY                                                                                      Online
                                Find out about WorkSafe’s activities, including what our                                         To see current and past
                                Advisors are doing, on page .....................................................8               editions, our warnings about
                                                                                                                                 telefraud and graphic images,
                                                                                                                                 and to subscribe, go to
                                NEWS + EVENTS
                                                                                                                                 www.worksafe.tas.gov.au then
                                WorkSafe: What we’re doing.......................................................8               choose the ‘Resources’ button
                                                                                                                                 then the ‘Workplace Issues
                                WorkCover Board visits north west..........................................10                    magazine’ link.
                                                                                                                                 Phone:
                                What will be the future of work?............................................... 11
                                                                                                                                 1300 366 322
                                Update: WorkSafe Month 2018.................................................12                   Email:
                                                                                                                                 wstinfo@justice.tas.gov.au
                                WorkSafe awarded for asbestos awareness campaign ..........12
                                                                                                                                 Disclaimer
                                WHS laws review in progress ...................................................18
                                                                                                                                 WorkSafe Tasmania and the
                                Update: Revised Australian WHS Strategy ..............................19                         Crown in the right of the State
                                                                                                                                 of Tasmania, its employees
                                                                                                                                 and agents disclaim
                                 MANUAL HAZARDOUS TASKS FEATURE                                                                  liability for the accuracy or
                                Practical guidance and resources ............................................4                   comprehensiveness of the
                                                                                                                                 information, data and advice
                                Infograph...................................................................................24   provided in Workplace Issues;
                                                                                                                                 and will not be responsible
                                                                                                                                 for any loss, however arising
                                 SAFETY                                                                                          and whether or not due to
                                Be safe with carbon monoxide .............................................. 13                   negligence, arising from
                                                                                                                                 reliance on, or action taken on
                                Don’t freeze out safety ............................................................ 14          the basis of any information,
                                                                                                                                 data or advice provided in
                                New resource: Working in heat ................................................15                 Workplace Issues.
                                                                                                                                 Any information, data and
                                Ageing workers + WHS ...........................................................16
                                                                                                                                 advice is provided solely on
                                Volunteer organisations: What are your WHS duties?.............17                                the basis that readers will
                                                                                                                                 be responsible for making
                                What about Australian Standards? ..........................................18                    their own assessment and
                                                                                                                                 verification of such information,
                                Got a problem?.........................................................................19        data and advice before any
                                                                                                                                 reliance is placed upon it.

                                 WORKERS COMPENSATION                                                                            Views expressed in Workplace
                                                                                                                                 Issues are those of the
                                Employers: Notify your insurer of an injured worker claim......22                                individual contributors or
                                                                                                                                 the editorial committee and
                                What’s the workers comp premium rate suggested                                                   are intended to stimulate
                                for your industry?......................................................................22       discussion. They do not
                                                                                                                                 necessarily reflect the policy of
                                 REGULARS                                                                                        the Government or WorkSafe
                                                                                                                                 Tasmania.
                                From the Minister ....................................................................... 3
                                                                                                                                 ISSN 1444-6316 (Print)
                                Want to know what’s on?............................................................3
                                                                                                                                 ISSN 2204-5597 (Online)
                                Build a wellbeing program........................................................20
                                                                                                                                 Throughout, the acronyms
                                Build a safety system................................................................21          ‘WHS’ stands for work health
                                                                                                                                 and safety and ‘PCBU’ stands
                                Everybody’s talking...................................................................23         for person conducting a
                                                                                                                                 business or undertaking.

2   Workplace Issues   No. 90     June 2018
JUNE 2018 - KEY STORIES INSIDE MANUAL HAZARDOUS TASKS FEATURE FIND OUT WHAT WORKSAFE IS DOING - WORKSAFE TASMANIA
THE HON. GUY BARNETT
MINISTER FOR BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION

Welcome to the June edition
of Workplace Issues magazine
                                             lunchtime walks with a group of your
                                             co-workers, or making sure healthy
                                             food is an option in your tearoom or
                                             vending machine. This edition’s ‘Build a
                                             wellbeing’ column has practical ways to
                                             organise these initiatives; you can also
                                             find resources on the WorkSafe website
                                             at www.worksafe.tas.gov.au (search for
                                             ‘wellbeing resources’).
                                             In this edition, you’ll also find a
                                             feature on hazardous manual tasks,
                                             with practical advice on preventing

                                                                                           Want
                                             body strain injuries. Manual tasks
                                             continue to be our biggest contributor
                                             to work-related injuries, across many
                                             industries. Whether these hazardous
                                             manual tasks are a daily part of our          to know
                                                                                           what’s on?
                                             jobs or a one-off, the consequences
                                             to our health and wellbeing can be
                                             serious. The risk of body strain is
While the end of the financial year
                                             something that none of us can ignore,
is a busy time for Tasmania’s many
                                             so I encourage you to look to the
businesses, it is also a great time to                                                     Want to know dates for
                                             practical guidance in this feature.
review and refocus on work health and                                                      WorkSafe Tasmania and Better
safety objectives.                           Finally, I hope you found time to enter
                                             a submission to the 2018 WorkSafe             Work Tasmania events? The
Alongside reducing workplace injuries,                                                     best way to keep your calendar
                                             Tasmania Awards.
many businesses now also focus on                                                          current is by going online.
health and wellbeing. With Australians       The Awards reinforce the message
spending about one third of their lives at   that safe business is good business,          • WorkSafe’s website, especially
work, it makes good sense to consider        with less injury and illness helping            its events page, will link you to
workplaces as prime opportunities to         improve overall performance and                 events such as WorkSafe Month,
improve health and wellbeing. This in        productivity. This year’s Award winners         as well as any calls for public
turn can also improve safety and lift        will be announced during the WorkSafe           submissions/comments on
business performance, as a healthy           Conference and Awards cocktail                  legislative changes.
workplace is often a productive one.         presentation, to be held at Hobart’s            Go to www.worksafe.tas.gov.au.
                                             Hotel Grand Chancellor this October.          • Better Work’s website allows
As a keen cyclist, squash and tennis
player and long-time advocate for            Since the Awards began in 1996, the             members to be notified of
healthy lifestyles through my role as        number of Tasmanians suffering work-            upcoming networking events,
Ambassador for Diabetes Australia, I’m       related injuries or illnesses has more          which are held regularly
passionate about building a healthier,       than halved. As encouraging as signs            throughout the year. Joining
safer Tasmania. I’m also pleased that        like this are, as long as Tasmanian             Better Work and getting
the Hodgman Liberal Government has           workers continue to be injured in the           access to this and other online
delivered $6.4 million of new funding        workplace, there is still work to be done.      resources is free. Go to www.
through the Healthy Tasmania Five Year                                                       worksafe.tas.gov.au/betterwork.
                                             Safety is everyone’s responsibility and
Strategic Plan to help make Tasmanians       with your help and commitment, I intend       • WorkSafe’s facebook page will
the healthiest population in Australia by    to continue building on the work already        keep you informed of important
2025, boosted further by an additional       done and make Tasmanian workplaces              dates, too. Go to www.facebook.
$1.1 million per annum of ongoing            the safest in the country.                      com/worksafetasmania.
funding from 2020-21.
                                             So as always, stay healthy and safe, and
Workplace wellbeing initiatives can          enjoy this edition of Workplace Issues.
be as simple as organising regular

                                                                                          Workplace Issues   No. 90   June 2018   3
JUNE 2018 - KEY STORIES INSIDE MANUAL HAZARDOUS TASKS FEATURE FIND OUT WHAT WORKSAFE IS DOING - WORKSAFE TASMANIA
Hazardous Manual Tasks feature:

    Manual tasks: Still a hazard
    Manual tasks remains our biggest            • the financial cost of these injuries is       • repetitive or sustained force
    contributor to injuries, across               $82.5 million to date.                        • high or sudden force
    many industries in the state. Body          The three most common industries for            • repetitive movement
    stressing is the highest of all injury      body stressing injuries are:
                                                                                                • sustained or awkward posture
    types, and this is true Australia-          • aged care
    wide, too.                                                                                  • exposure to vibration.
                                                • hospitals
    It’s definitely an issue we should all be                                                   If so, you’re performing a hazardous
                                                • local government administration.              manual task.
    re-focussing our attention on.
                                                Three most common occupations:                  Over time, these can cause wear and
    What’s the count                            • miscellaneous labourers                       tear to your joints, muscles, ligaments
                                                • personal carers and assistants                and spinal discs. You don’t even have
    Over the last 10 years (2008–17) in                                                         to do these activities every day for them
    Tasmania:                                   • cleaners and laundry workers.                 to pose a risk to you: a single strenuous
    • body stressing has made up an             In summary, one of the biggest                  or unexpected action can cause a body
      average of 36% of all claims and          situations we’re seeing is body strain          strain injury.
      39% of lost time claims                   injury to people working in the health          So think about what you or your workers
    • the number of body stressing claims       care industry, caused by handling               do at work, either daily or irregularly.
      has reduced by 27% — lagging              people/patients.                                Most jobs involve carrying out some
      behind the 33% reduction in the                                                           type of manual handling task. Chances
      number of injuries across the whole       What are hazardous manual                       are, you do too.
      scheme.                                   tasks?
    Over the last three years (2015–17):
                                                You don’t have to work in one of these
    • there have been 7,881 injuries            industries to be at risk. Do you lift, lower,
      caused by body stressing                  push, pull, carry, move, hold or restrain
    • these injuries have resulted in over      a person, animal or object? Involving
      150,000 days lost                         one or more of these?:

4   Workplace Issues     No. 90    June 2018
JUNE 2018 - KEY STORIES INSIDE MANUAL HAZARDOUS TASKS FEATURE FIND OUT WHAT WORKSAFE IS DOING - WORKSAFE TASMANIA
Consultation’s role in
preventing body strain
The best way to prevent body strain       Encourage your workers to report any         • what you each will do to control any
injuries in your workplace is to          problems with manual tasks so risks can        risk of injury.
involve your workers through every        be managed before they lead to an injury.
stage of identifying the hazards,                                                      Get the code
assessing the risks, and developing       Consult with others                          If you need practical help understanding
control measures.                         You might share responsibility for a         and undertaking consultation and
                                          WHS matter with others: for example,         co-operation in your workplace, read the
Consult with your workers                 if you’re involved with other businesses     Work Health and Safety Consultation,
                                          on a worksite, or working on the same        Co-operation and Co-ordination code of
Talk to the people who do the work for    activity. If so, you must:                   practice. It has examples of consultation
you, as well as their health and safety                                                arrangements and checklists that
representatives (HSRs). Your workers      • share information to find out ‘who
                                            is doing what’ about controlling the       go beyond managing manual tasks
know what equipment, tools and tasks                                                   — it will improve safety across your
they use or perform on a daily basis,       hazard
                                                                                       organisation. Go to www.worksafe.tas.
and they may have practical solutions     • work together in a co-operative            gov.au and search for ‘codes 2016’.
and suggestions about how to make           and co-ordinated way to remove or
sure these don’t cause harm.                reduce the risks to all your workers.      We also covered the topic in the
                                                                                       December 2017 edition of Workplace
You should consult with your workers as   The Hazardous Manual Tasks code of           Issues, in our regular ‘Build a safety
early as possible when you’re planning    practice gives this good example: If a       system’ column. Find this at
to:                                       supplier comes to your workplace to          www.worksafe.tas.gov.au under the
• introduce new work tasks or change      deliver goods, discuss with them:            Resources tab.
  existing ones                           • how the goods will be handled at
• choose new equipment                      your workplace

• carry out work in new environments      • whether there are any environmental
                                            or other factors that may increase
• refurbish, renovate or redesign your      the risk: for example, using a flight of
  existing workplace.                       stairs while handling large boxes

                                                                                        Workplace Issues    No. 90    June 2018    5
JUNE 2018 - KEY STORIES INSIDE MANUAL HAZARDOUS TASKS FEATURE FIND OUT WHAT WORKSAFE IS DOING - WORKSAFE TASMANIA
Hazardous Manual Tasks feature:

Employers: Prevent body strain injuries
in your workplace
    The Hazardous Manual Tasks code             The code’s practical advice in these       Share the message
    of practice is your best guide to           areas is valuable for any workplace or
                                                industry.                                  SafeWork NSW has a straightforward
    removing or reducing the risks of                                                      video that explains hazardous manual
    hazardous manual tasks.                     Because it’s such a thorough guide, we     tasks and the approaches you can take
                                                recommend you download a copy. Go          to reduce body strain injuries.
                                                to www.worksafe.tas.gov.au and search
    About the code                                                                         It doesn’t replace reading the code,
                                                for ‘codes 2016’.
    The Hazardous Manual Tasks code of                                                     and it does refer to NSW programs
    practice includes:                                                                     that aren’t available in Tasmania. But
                                                Case study                                 it’s a good introduction to hazardous
    • plenty of detailed examples of these                                                 manual tasks that you could play at staff
                                                Safe Work Australia has a great video
      tasks, covering many different work                                                  meetings when discussing the problem.
                                                showcasing how a Queensland council
      tasks, to help you identify them in
                                                reduced its body strain injuries through   Go to www.safework.nsw.gov.au and
      your workplace
                                                a successful program that used the         search for ‘sprains and strains video’.
    • a detailed chapter devoted to             input from workers to create solutions.
      controlling the risks, with illustrated
      examples covering these control
                                                By simply starting with good               Take a break
                                                communication — ‘What are your
      measures. This includes mechanical                                                   Taking regular breaks to stretch is good
                                                issues? Where is it hurting when you
      aids and equipment that workers                                                      for everyone. It can help keep your
                                                do this activity? Why do we need
      can use to remove or reduce the                                                      muscles warm and flexible, boost your
                                                to change it? What do you think we
      need for workers to lift, carry or                                                   circulation, and increase your range of
                                                should be doing?’ — and management
      support items, animals or people. It                                                 movement. We’ve included a poster in
                                                support and commitment, the council
      also addresses work environments,                                                    this edition of Workplace Issues that
                                                made simple design changes, and saw
      work practices, and training                                                         you can display around your workplace
                                                reduced injuries.
    • tools and templates you can                                                          to encourage workers to take regular
                                                Be inspired and watch this video. Go to    stretch breaks.
      use in your workplace, like a risk
                                                www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/media
      assessment worksheet.
                                                and search for ‘hazardous manual tasks’.

6   Workplace Issues    No. 90   June 2018
JUNE 2018 - KEY STORIES INSIDE MANUAL HAZARDOUS TASKS FEATURE FIND OUT WHAT WORKSAFE IS DOING - WORKSAFE TASMANIA
Workers: What you can do to protect
yourself from body strain
If you’re a worker, there are things          equipment. You may be able to help        important to recover and prevent the
you can do to reduce the risk of a            develop strategies to address body        situation worsening, and prevent the
body strain injury happening to you.          stressing injury risks.                   unwanted psychological issues that can
                                                                                        sometimes accompany physical injury.
• Take regular breaks to stretch. This
  can help keep your muscles warm           Warning signs
  and flexible, boost your circulation,     It’s important to recognise early warning
                                                                                        What can your employer do
  and increase your range of                signs of body stressing injuries. They      to help?
  movement. We’ve included a poster         can include:                                • Have your work area assessed to
  in this edition of Workplace Issues
                                            • regular feelings of discomfort,             identify risks or possible contributing
  that you can follow for regular stretch
                                              aching or pain in your back, neck,          factors.
  breaks.
                                              shoulders, arms or wrists                 • Introduce control measures such as
• Ask for assistance to set up your
                                            • tingling, pain or numbness in your          changing your work set-up, buying
  work area to avoid strain and
                                              hands or feet                               mechanical aids or equipment,
  awkward postures.
                                                                                          changing how you do work.
                                            • weakness or clumsiness
• Follow instructions, and take (or ask
                                                                                        • Provide support and any specialised
  for) training to know how to reduce       • stiffness or limited movement
                                                                                          equipment you may need to promote
  your risks. Training might include        • swelling                                    recovery.
  safe lifting techniques, or how to
  properly use any aids or equipment        • fatigue, disturbed sleep                  • Provide a tailored injury
  provided.                                 • twitching or burning muscles.               management program if you need
                                                                                          help returning to work.
• Use any safety equipment provided         Talk to someone early if you are
  as instructed.                            experiencing any of these (or other)        Includes guidance from Comcare’s
                                            symptoms. You might speak with your         ‘Preventing body stressing injuries:
• Contribute to safe working practices
                                            manager/supervisor, HSR or WHS              Information for employees’ at
  by discussing with your manager/
                                            officer.                                    www.comcare.gov.au
  supervisor or health and safety
  representative (HSR) any possible         And see your doctor: early medical
  work hazards, including faulty            treatment for physical symptoms is

                                                                                         Workplace Issues    No. 90    June 2018    7
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NEWS + EVENTS

                                 WorkSafe: What we’re doing
    This edition, we profile two of the targeted programs that WorkSafe’s inspectors, advisors and
    in Tasmanian workplaces. We’ll showcase two more in our September edition.

     Priority intervention programs
    What
    Inspectors play a major role in meeting
    WorkSafe’s strategic priorities, through
    their enforcement and education
    activities:
    • focusing inspection and advisory
      resources on high risk industries
    • targeting WHS education,
      compliance and enforcement on
      high-consequence activities.
    ‘The primary focus for WorkSafe’s
    Industry Safety Inspectorate is to work
    to achieve positive health and safety
    outcomes in response to notifiable
    incidents and intervention requests,’
    explained WorkSafe’s north west Team
    Leader, Anthony Warwick.
    ‘When we’re not engaged in this
    ‘reactive’ work, the Inspectorate is here
                                                Some of our inspectors: Roman Seliga, Andrew Robertson and Michael Clark
    to undertake proactive and preventative
    inspections focussing within targeted
    industry sectors.’                                                                          The Inspectorate maintains a major
                                                How                                             projects register that includes significant
    Goals                                       WorkSafe has around 20 field-ready              construction projects (usually around
                                                operatives based in Burnie, Launceston          $5 million in value). There is also an
    WorkSafe’s strategic priorities include     and Rosny and five Advisors ready to            ongoing review of all asbestos removal
    focusing on the industries and              promote, support and educate industry.          notifications and monitoring of any
    occupations that suffer the most deaths     Innovative use of data results in a             evident discrepancies.
    and injuries, or those with the most high   proactive and focussed approach to
    consequences if things do go wrong.         industry interventions and investigations.      Success
    The ultimate goal is to reduce the
                                                ‘Inspectors assess a wide range of WHS          In the last five years, manufacturing
    number of workplace deaths, injuries,
                                                risks during an inspection, but also            and mining (two of WorkSafe’s priority
    and illnesses.
                                                focus on major causal mechanisms that           industries) have reported notable
    Current subjects of priority intervention   lead to workers compensation claims             decreases in the number of injuries.
    programs are the manufacturing,             in each of the targeted industries,’ said
    construction, healthcare and social         Anthony. ‘For example, if we’re working         Our inspectors and advisors have spent
    assistance, and agriculture, forestry and   with a business in the agricultural,            over 10,000 hours in the field, engaging
    fishing sectors.                            forestry and fishing industry, the causes       with workplaces in these and other
                                                of incidents we look for include body           priority industries — or around 65%
    ‘The industries we focus on vary in each                                                    of their field activity. Over 60% of the
    region,’ said Anthony. ‘The north west      stressing, being hit by moving objects,
                                                and falls, trips and slips.’                    time that inspectors and advisors has
    has less construction activity compared                                                     spent in these workplaces has been for
    to the south, but we have more food         After an inspection, inspectors typically       proactive and educational visits, rather
    manufacturing, agriculture and forestry     communicate their findings to those             than reactive work.
    than the other regions.’                    involved in a workplace inspection
                                                report. If necessary, they’ll issue a
    How are these industries decided?           prohibition or improvement notice, to           More information
    It’s not random, but determined by          fix anything they’ve seen that poses a          Go to www.worksafe.tas.gov.au/safety/
    analysing our extensive workers             serious WHS risk.                               inspectors
    compensation claims data.

8   Workplace Issues    No. 90    June 2018
JUNE 2018 - KEY STORIES INSIDE MANUAL HAZARDOUS TASKS FEATURE FIND OUT WHAT WORKSAFE IS DOING - WORKSAFE TASMANIA
officers are delivering to improve work health and safety performance

     Student education program

    Advisor Paul Kilby, third from the left, with students from Elizabeth College

    What                                                  ‘We started going to employment             Success
                                                          services initially, then schools and TAFE
    ‘Welcome to the Workplace’ is run                     heard about it and asked us to talk         ‘I went to a small business network
    by WorkSafe’s Health, Safety and                      with their students,’ said the Advisory     forum recently, and discovered that we
    Wellbeing Advisory Service.                           Service’s Paul Kilby.                       are the only kind of program like this
                                                                                                      running in Australia,’ said Paul. ‘Michelle
                                                          ‘We emphasis the safety roles, rights
    Goal                                                                                              Baxter, the CEO of Safe Work Australia
                                                          and responsibilities that everyone has in
                                                                                                      wants to take the program to the G20
    To engage with students before they                   the workplace, from the officer and the
                                                                                                      OSH International Congress in Istanbul
    start work experience (and ultimately                 PCBU right through to them, the new
                                                                                                      — to share it on the world stage.’
    employment) with information about                    worker,’ explained Paul. ‘We give them
    their safety rights and responsibilities.             some guidance and confidence so that
                                                          if something isn’t safe, they can stop,     More information
                                                          go to their supervisor and say, hey, this   Find the guide the Advisors use at
    How                                                   isn’t safe.’                                www.worksafe.tas.gov.au by searching
    Advisors have been running interactive                The Advisors also run through personal      for ‘welcome’. To book an Advisor for
    seminars for school and TAFE students,                protective equipment (PPE) and their        your school or workplace, go to
    using WorkSafe’s successful Welcome                   requirements to wear them, drugs and        www.worksafe.tas.gov.au/safety/advisors
    to the Workplace guide as a starting                  alcohol, and other workplace safety
    point for discussions (the guide has                  issues.
    been used by schools and the TAFE
    system since 2005).

                                                                                                       Workplace Issues     No. 90    June 2018     9
JUNE 2018 - KEY STORIES INSIDE MANUAL HAZARDOUS TASKS FEATURE FIND OUT WHAT WORKSAFE IS DOING - WORKSAFE TASMANIA
NEWS + EVENTS

     WorkCover Board visits north west
     WorkCover Tasmania Board members and WorkSafe Tasmania staff meet Top Centre Laundry owner Rhys Johnson (far right)

     Members of the new WorkCover                   With amendments to the Workers                  • Julieann Buchanan, Wesfarmers’
     Tasmania Board took to the road                Rehabilitation and Compensation                   Tasmanian worker’s compensation
     for a recent meeting and visited the           Act 1988, the Board was re-structured             manager. Julieann has 30 years of
                                                    with new appointments commencing                  experience in workers compensation
     north west of the state.
                                                    1 January this year. The membership is:           insurance, rehabilitation, and work
     First stop was Top Centre Laundry in                                                             health and safety at strategic and
                                                    • Graham Wood, a partner in legal
     East Devonport, where Board members                                                              operational levels
                                                      firm Wallace Wilkinson and Webster.
     toured the impressive facility. The
                                                      Graham has been the principal                 • Dr Robert Walters, who has been the
     business invested heavily in reducing
                                                      solicitor for the Police Association            Board’s medical advisor since 1997.
     risk and improving efficiency using
                                                      of Tasmania for more than 20                    Dr Robert has extensive experience
     automation and mechanisation, and
                                                      years, providing advice on workers              on boards, including with Primary
     employs over 100 staff statewide.
                                                      compensation matters                            Health Tasmania and the Cancer
     The Board met with management                                                                    Council of Tasmania.
                                                    • Sofia Mavratzas, an insurance
     and staff, and heard how Top Centre
                                                      industry professional. Sofia has held         The Board works with employers,
     Laundry worked with WorkSafe
                                                      leadership roles with insurers, the           workers, doctors and others to reduce
     inspectors to overhaul its safety
                                                      South Australian statutory regulator          work-related injury and illness and
     management systems. The Board also
                                                      and South Australia’s largest private         aid the early return to work of injured
     lunched with inspectors and officers at
                                                      self-insured employer                         workers; and manages Tasmania’s
     WorkSafe’s Burnie office, meeting them
                                                    • Jessica Munday, the Unions                    worker’s compensation scheme.
     for the first time.
                                                      Tasmania secretary. Jessica has
     The new Board will be holding more
                                                      worked with the Community and
     of its 2018 meetings outside its
                                                      Public Sector Union (Federal) for
     usual Rosny base: in Launceston, in
                                                      12 years and is the Secretary and
     conjunction with WorkSafe Month in
                                                      Treasurer of the Worker Assist
     October, and at Parliament House to
                                                      Committee of Management
     meet with WorkSafe’s Minister, the Hon
     Guy Barnett.

10   Workplace Issues     No. 90    June 2018
NEWS + EVENTS

  What will be the future of work?
  Think about how much our lives,             • the extending reach of automated         play out. These range from ‘business as
  including our working lives, have             systems and robotics                     usual’ to totally ‘transformed’.
  changed over the last five, ten, twenty     • rising issue of workplace stress and     Safe Work Australia is already looking
  years. Do you remember your first             mental health issues                     at how the findings from the CSIRO’s
  mobile phone — and how it definitely                                                   report will inform future policy
  wasn’t mobile? Do you remember              • rising screen time, sedentary
                                                behaviour and chronic illness            development and highlight any areas
  banking before the internet? And can                                                   where new guidance, research and data
  you imagine what our working lives will     • blurring the boundaries between          might be needed.
  be like five, ten, twenty years from now?     work and home
                                                                                         As the report says, ‘the coming 20
  Safe Work Australia in partnership with     • the gig and entrepreneurial economy      years will bring significant changes
  the CSIRO is looking into the future:       • an ageing workforce.                     that are likely to have disruptive
  the future of work, and how emerging                                                   impacts on the Australian working
                                              Megatrends are issues that develop
  technologies and trends will impact                                                    environment. Anticipating these impacts
                                              gradually but eventually reshape the
  WHS and workers compensation over                                                      and preparing for a range of plausible
                                              environment.
  the next 20 years.                                                                     futures is an important step in ensuring
                                              Given these emerging factors, a            the long-term effectiveness of Australian
                                              key question for WHS and workers           WHS and workers compensation
  What’s happening                            compensation policy makers is: how         systems’.
  Digital technologies (including             much can current regulatory and
  automation and artificial intelligence)     compensation systems meet these
  are becoming more common in the             future challenges?
                                                                                         Get the report
  workplace. Employment patterns and                                                     Get the full Workplace Safety Futures
  structures are also shifting, with more     Planning for the future                    report to learn about the megatrends
  and more freelance task-based work.                                                    and the four response scenarios in
  These changes are happening within          ‘Scenario planning’ addresses this         greater detail — and stimulate some
  the broader context of Australia’s ageing   question and the influential megatrends    thought-provoking conversation in
  workforce and rising levels of stress and   by sketching out the plausible             your workplace.
  chronic disease.                            conditions that may or may not require     Go to www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au
                                              change.                                    and search for ‘future of work’.
  New technologies and ways of working
  introduce new risks and challenges for      This enables decision makers to start
                                              thinking about and ‘stress testing’         The future of work, and building
  WHS and workers compensation, but
                                              probable futures before they eventuate,     the capacity of industry to respond
  they also have the potential to make
                                              and make wiser planning, policy and         to emerging issues such as these
  work safer and reduce workplace injury.
                                              strategic decisions.                        covered in the Safe Work Australia
                                                                                          report, will be the theme of WorkSafe
  Emerging trends                             The Workplace Safety Futures report         Month 2018. For more information
                                              presents four plausible future scenarios    about the month, see the article in
  The Workplace Safety Futures report         for the future of WHS and workers
  by CSIRO’s Data61 group identifies six                                                  this magazine or go to
                                              compensation in Australia, based on         www.worksafe.tas.gov.au.
  emerging ‘megatrends’:                      alternative ways the megatrends could

                                                                                          Workplace Issues    No. 90   June 2018     11
NEWS + EVENTS

     Update: WorkSafe Month 2018
     The WorkSafe Month 2018 theme is                     Month to provide practical workplace      The Conference will include valuable
     ‘The future of Workplace Health and                  safety, health and wellbeing advice and   networking opportunities and hands-
     Safety: Building capacity of industry to             education to regional small business      on tools that attendees will be able
     respond to emerging issues’.                         and the community at various organised    to implement in their workplaces
                                                          WorkSafe events. These will include:      immediately following the Conference.
     Walk for Wellbeing
                                                          • hosting statewide facilitated risk      Sessions will provide attendees with
     WorkSafe Month 2018 will again kick off                management workshops; dates and         the opportunity to share problems
     with a launch and Walk for Wellbeing,                  locations to be advised                 and challenges, and exchange ideas
     this year at Montrose Foreshore                                                                through theme aligned stream and
                                                          • attending the Flinders Island
     Community Park on Sunday 7 October.                                                            topic speakers, panel discussions and
                                                            Show on Friday 19 October and at
     As well as officially marking the start of             organised Flinders Island community     workshops.
     WorkSafe Month, the day coincides with                 engagement and awareness events         The key conference social engagement
     the beginning of Mental Health Week.                                                           and event is a cocktail networking event
                                                          • attending the 2018 Strahan Village
     This free event for everyone aims to                   Beach to Bay Fun Run on Saturday        on Monday 22 October. The event will
     raise awareness and understanding of                   November 3.                             recognise innovation and excellence
     the impact and risks that blurring the                                                         in work health, safety, wellbeing,
     boundaries between work and life can                 WorkSafe Conference 2018                  rehabilitation and return to work.
     have on an individual.                               Centered on the WorkSafe Month            For more details as they develop, watch
                                                          theme, the Conference — on 22–23          our website at www.worksafe.tas.gov.au.
     Advisory Service facilitated activity
                                                          October at the Hotel Grand Chancellor
     WorkSafe Tasmania’s Advisory Service                 Hobart — will form the pinnacle of
     will available throughout WorkSafe                   WorkSafe Month 2018.

NEWS + EVENTS

     WorkSafe Tas awarded for asbestos awareness campaign
                                                                                                    WorkSafe’s Principal Executive Officer
                                                                                                    Jenna Mays won ‘Outstanding 2017
                                                                                                    Asbestos Awareness Campaign
                                                                                                    Manager’ for her valuable contribution
                                                                                                    to Betty the Bus’s tour of the state in
                                                                                                    October and November last year.
                                                                                                    The Betty Awards recognise individuals,
                                                                                                    governments, organisations and
                                                                                                    businesses that conduct awareness and
                                                                                                    education activities in the community.
                                                                                                    WorkSafe was in good company:
                                                                                                    TasTafe also won an award, as did many
                                                                                                    local councils around the country.
                                                                                                    Jenna’s individual award recognised her
                                                                                                    detailed work helping promote Betty’s
                                                                                                    29-day, 4,000 km tour of the state,
                                                                                                    which was acknowledged as ‘the most
                                                                                                    successful tour since we launched Betty
                                                                                                    in Sydney in 2012’.
     Betty the Bus on display during her Tassie tour last year
                                                                                                    Jenna and WorkSafe were integral to
                                                                                                    the success of Betty tour by providing
     WorkSafe Tasmania recently won                      Asbestos Awareness Campaign, in            media awareness, communication and
     two Betty Awards for its outstanding                November 2017.                             ground support with inspectors, advisors
     contributions to increasing                         WorkSafe won ‘Best Asbestos                and officers who attended events and
     awareness of the dangers of                         Awareness Campaigner: Government           promoted the campaign messages.
     asbestos during the National                        Department or Organisation’ and

12   Workplace Issues        No. 90     June 2018
SAFETY

Be safe with carbon monoxide
Following a recent coroner’s findings        If gas appliances are maintained              • barbecues
into two deaths caused by carbon             and used according to operating               • fridge/freezers
monoxide poisoning, Consumer                 instructions, the risk of carbon
                                                                                           • butane cartridge ‘lunch box cookers’
Building and Occupational Services           monoxide being produced is greatly
(CBOS) provides this practical guide         reduced.                                      • gas lanterns.
to being safe with equipment that            CBOS recommends you have your gas             Appliances designed for outdoor
produces carbon monoxide gas as a            installations in boats, caravans and          use generally have far higher carbon
deadly by-product.                           RVs checked annually by a licensed            monoxide emissions and do not contain
                                             gasfitting practitioner. To find one, go to   the same safety devices of appliances
Carbon monoxide gas                          cbos.tas.gov.au and search under the          approved for indoor use.
                                             ‘licensing and registration’ square.          Do not set up outdoor appliances in
Carbon monoxide is a colourless,
odourless and tasteless gas produced                                                       enclosed spaces such as annexes.
when some fuels (such as LP gas,             Keep vents clear                              Position outdoor gas appliances
diesel, petrol or natural gas) don’t burn    Never cover or close your boat, caravan       well away from windows or doors of
properly. These fuels need a lot of air      or RV’s permanent vents to the outside.       enclosed areas.
and the right gas supply pressure to         Vents ensure a free flow of fresh supply      Never use gas appliances, including
burn safely.                                 air to your gas appliances and also           portable gas heaters, in unventilated
Carbon monoxide is generally not             to you. Covering these vents with any         spaces. If the appliance is not ventilated
produced in harmful concentrations           type of material could result in carbon       properly, it might not operate correctly
when fuels burn properly. But in faulty or   monoxide poisoning.                           and can result in carbon monoxide
poorly maintained appliances, carbon         Make sure the vents are free of dust and      being produced.
monoxide may be produced. Poor               lint, too.
ventilation, an appliance flue or exhaust                                                  Follow manufacturer’s
not located correctly, the wrong supply
pressure or dust blocking gas ports can      Always vent to the outside                    instructions
all affect the burning process.              and away from open                            Always use a gas appliance in
                                             windows                                       accordance with the manufacturer’s
Health dangers                                                                             instructions — do not use it for anything
                                             The location of your appliance is also        other than its intended purpose.
You can’t see, taste, feel or smell          critically important.
carbon monoxide. Inhaling low levels of                                                    For example, a gas cooker is for
                                             Never use free standing generators,           cooking. It is not designed to be a
the gas can cause dizziness, weakness,       other fuel-burning devices or engines
nausea, sleepiness and many other                                                          space heater.
                                             inside.
symptoms. Inhaling high levels can
cause seizures, angina or heart attacks,     Make sure exhaust gases always                About LP gas installations
vertigo, lack of consciousness. Very         discharge outdoors and not into an
                                             enclosed space such as an annex.              Check the installation date of the LP gas
high levels can cause death, within
                                                                                           installation in your boat, caravan or RV:
minutes.                                     Do not position fuel-burning devices
                                             near any vents or opening windows.            • if it has been installed by a licensed
                                             This may lead to the gases drifting back        gas fitting practitioner within the
Service your equipment                                                                       last six years, then it’s likely that the
                                             into your sleeping area.
Gas appliances and other fuel-powered                                                        ventilation requirements meet the
portable equipment need regular                                                              relevant Australian Standard
servicing to ensure:
                                             For outdoor use only
                                                                                           • if it’s older than six years, you
• they are operating correctly               It may seem obvious, but we need                should contact a licensed gas
                                             to say it: ‘approved for outdoor use            fitting practitioner to ensure that
• exhaust gases are conveyed outside
                                             only’ means you must only use the               the installation, appliances, flue or
• they are not damaged, dirty or out of      equipment outdoors. Sadly, there are            exhaust and permanent
  calibration                                people who do not follow this.                  ventilation requirements are in
• they are burning at their optimum          Examples of ‘approved for outdoor use           safe working order.
  level.                                     only’ gas appliances include:

                                                                                            Workplace Issues      No. 90    June 2018    13
SAFETY

     Don’t freeze out safety
     Cold weather creates some                       Moderate hypothermia is where               worksite. Lack of mental and physical
     safety challenges for people who                the body’s core temperature drops           co-ordination could put fellow workers
     work outside. Although we have                  to 35-33.8º C. Signs and symptoms           at risk.
                                                     include:                                    While many outdoor worksites in
     reasonably mild winters compared
                                                     • dazed or ‘fuzzy’ thinking                 Tasmania recognise the need to protect
     to some northern hemisphere
     countries, a cold winter’s day in               • loss of fine motor coordination,          their workers in hot weather — providing
                                                       particularly in hands                     sun protection and adequate rest and
     Tasmania can still put workers at
                                                                                                 rehydration breaks — it’s worthwhile
     risk of injury or illness.                      • slurred speech
                                                                                                 performing the same risk assessment
                                                     • violent shivering                         on outdoor workers in cold weather.
     Hypothermia                                     • irrational behaviour; an ‘I don’t care’
     Outdoor workers in Tasmania can be at             attitude.                                 What you can do
     risk of mild hypothermia under certain          Look for the ‘umbles’ — stumbles,           Outdoor workers should remember
     conditions, and should be alerted to            mumbles, fumbles, and grumbles.             the advice that follows with the simple
     the symptoms, risks and prevention
                                                                                                 acronym COLD:
     strategies as part of their safety induction.
                                                     How it happens                              C for Cover: Wear a hat or other
     The symptoms are not likely to be
                                                     Hypothermia can result from extended        protective covering to prevent body heat
     extreme, but can lead to an increase in
                                                     exposure to cold temperatures or a cool,    from escaping from your head, face and
     minor incidents and injuries and loss
                                                     damp environment. It doesn’t have to be     neck. If your job entails wearing a hard
     of productivity. Cold muscles are also
                                                     snowing – even at temperatures of about     hat, then a thermal cap or balaclava that
     more prone to sprains and strains from
                                                     15º C, mild hypothermia can set in.         is thin enough to allow you to maintain
     manual handling tasks.
                                                                                                 a correct fit of the hard hat can be worn
                                                     Hypothermia doesn’t just happen in          (no thick wool or pom-poms!).
     Signs and symptoms                              cold winter weather when there are low
                                                     temperatures or low wind chill factors,     Cover your hands with gloves or
     These symptoms are not always likely to         but under more mild conditions as well. A   mittens (depending on the work to be
     be recognised, but rather put down to           rain shower that soaks you to the skin on   performed). Mittens are more effective
     fatigue or just feeling off colour.             a cool day can lead to hypothermia if you   than gloves because mittens keep
                                                     don’t move inside to warm up and dry off.   your fingers in closer contact with one
     Mild hypothermia is where the body’s
                                                                                                 another, but may be impractical for
     core temperature, which is normally             Other contributing causes include           some tasks.
     37º C, drops to 37–35.5º C. Signs and           inadequate clothing and neglecting to
     symptoms include:                               cover your head, hands and feet.            O for Overexertion: Avoid activities
     • shivering that’s not under voluntary                                                      that would cause you to sweat a lot. The
                                                     See the box at right for more causes.       combination of wet clothing and cold
       control
                                                                                                 weather can lead to rapid heat loss.
     • not able to perform complex motor             Safety risks                                Sweating increases dehydration, so
       functions but can still walk and talk                                                     make sure you keep your fluid intake up.
                                                     Obviously even the mild symptoms
     • numb hands and feet.                                                                      L for Layers: Wear loose-fitting,
                                                     can create a hazard on an outdoor

14   Workplace Issues      No. 90    June 2018
SAFETY

                                            New resource: Working in heat
layered, lightweight clothing. Outer        It may be the middle of a cold Tassie winter, but workers subject to
clothing made of tightly woven, water-      hot conditions are still at risk in an indoor environment.
repellent material is best for wind
                                            Hospitality workers in kitchens, factory workers who use hot machinery, and
protection. Wool, silk or polypropylene
                                            construction workers who go into roof cavities with no air flow are just some
inner layers hold more body heat than
                                            examples of workers at risk.
cotton does. Look for fabrics that wick
moisture away from the body.                If these examples sound like situations in your workplace, then Safe Work
D for Dry: Stay as dry as possible.         Australia’s new guide, Managing the Risks of Working in Heat, can help you make
In the winter, pay special attention to     sure you and your workers stay safe.
your feet. Working in wet boots and
socks in low temperatures can lead          The dangers
to a condition known as ‘trench foot’
                                            Working in heat can be hazardous and can cause harm to people.
or ‘immersion foot’, which is similar to
frostbite but without freezing.             The human body needs to maintain a body temperature of approximately 37
                                            degrees Celsius. If the body has to work too hard to keep cool or starts to
Your mother wasn’t being fussy when
                                            overheat, a person begins to suffer from heat-related illness. This is a general
she told you to ‘rug up, wear a hat and
                                            term that describes a range of progressive heat-related conditions including
scarf’ before sending you outdoors
                                            fainting, heat rash, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.
as a child: she was just applying a
commonsense strategy to reduce the
possible effects of cold exposure. It       How to manage it
makes sense to remember her advice if       The new guide steps you through a risk assessment with questions and
you are an outdoor worker!                  pointers specific to working in heat (and a handy checklist you can use). It has
                                            relevant control measures that may help you protect workers from the effects
 Conditions that can                        of working in heat; and a first aid fact sheet that summarises the symptoms of
 lead to hypothermia                        different heat-related illnesses and the first aid measures you should take.
 • Cold temperatures/wind chill
                                            Find the guide
 • Improper clothing and equipment
                                            Go to the Safe Work Australia website at www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au and
 • Wetness from rain or perspiration
                                            search for ‘working in heat’.
 • Fatigue, exhaustion
 • Dehydration
 • Poor food intake
 • Alcohol intake: causes increased
   blood flow to the extremities,
   leading to increased heat loss
   and increased dehydration.

                                                                                     Workplace Issues     No. 90    June 2018   15
SAFETY

     Ageing workers + WHS
     Australians are increasingly working         skills (‘you can’t teach an old dog new   Facts
     to older ages. The rate is likely            tricks’). But age does not determine
                                                  one’s curiosity, nor productivity or      In a recent WorkSafe community survey,
     to continue to increase as the                                                         respondents in the 50+ age group were
                                                  physical fitness.
     retirement intentions of Australians                                                   the most aware of their responsibilities
     change.                                                                                and what they need to do to work safely,
                                                  Consequences                              and the least likely to take shortcuts with
     • In March
     Caption      2016, Australians aged
             goes here
                                                  These beliefs can negatively affect       safety. They were also the most likely to:
       65+ had a workforce participation
       rate of 13% (17% for men and 9% for        older workers by excluding them from      • keep up to date with current WHS
       women), compared with 8% in 2006           learning and training, denying them         issues
       (12% for men and 4% for women).            promotions, and even prematurely          • be thinking of safety every day
                                                  forcing them out of the workplace.        • report a safety issue or accident
     • By 2050, around one quarter of all
       Australians will be aged 65 years          According to the Australian Human         • use safety gear where provided.
       and over, with the proportion of           Rights Commission:
                                                                                            These counteract the myths that we
       younger Australians declining.             • around 35% of Australians aged          outlined above and that circulate in the
     • There are twice as many women                between 55 and 64 years say             community!
       as men aged 85 years and over,               they’ve experienced discrimination
       reflecting their longer life expectancy.     because of their age                    Moving forward
     • It is estimated that the number of         • the most common types of
                                                                                            A long working life is possible and
       Australians aged 85 and over will            discrimination include being turned
                                                                                            desirable for many of us. It can be
       increase from 400,000 in 2010 to 1.8         down for a job, being ignored
                                                                                            promoted by creating positive cultural
       million by 2050.                             or treated rudely, and having
                                                                                            and environmental factors that support
                                                    disparaging jokes made about their      health, safety and wellbeing in the
     Sources: Australian Government’s
                                                    age                                     workplace.
     Institute of Health and Welfare
     www.aihw.gov.au; Australian Human            • one in five Australians aged 55 years   Don’t just focus on or target your older
     Rights Commission www.humanrights.             or over claim that age is a major       workers, though: improving the health,
     gov.au/face-facts-older-australians            barrier to finding a job or getting     safety and wellbeing of all your workers
                                                    more hours of paid work. They say       will reap benefits for everyone. You’ll
                                                    that employers consider them ‘too
     Myths                                                                                  retain them for as long as possible, in
                                                    old’.                                   the best health as possible.
     Older workers can be victims of
                                                  These attitudes can also negatively       So take a holistic view to building the
     outdated attitudes, stereotypes, unfair
                                                  affect businesses. Older workers can be   capacity and capability of your workers:
     policies and prejudices.
                                                  a valuable resource, a source of skills   • recognise the value of experience
     For example, a common misconception          and knowledge, especially for younger
     is that older workers are ‘over the hill’    or newer workers just starting out.       • encourage lifelong learning
     and can’t work safely or effectively.                                                  • promote wellbeing at work and a
                                                                                              sustainable longer work life
     Others may think that older people
     are unable or unwilling to learn new                                                   • facilitate skills being passed on
                                                                                              between ‘generations’.

16   Workplace Issues    No. 90    June 2018
SAFETY

                                             Volunteer organisations:
                                             What are your WHS duties?
Other practical advice                       Sometimes there is confusion about         General and common law duties of
                                             WHS obligations towards volunteers         organisations that engage volunteers
We think it’s obvious that creating a safe   and in volunteer organisations. The        are well established. Australian courts
and healthy workplace will benefit all       simplest way to determine if you have      have long recognised that volunteers
your workers. That might mean reducing       duties is to ask:                          are owed a general duty of care by
manual handling risks, controlling                                                      the people and the organisations they
noise hazards, getting shiftwork rosters     Does my organisation employ and pay
                                             anyone to carry out work?                  support.
right, or taking measures to address
sedentary work practices. Following                                                     So even if your organisation is a
                                             Yes?
safe work procedures, using the                                                         volunteer association and does not
                                             Then both your organisation (which is      fall under the Act, it is a good idea to
appropriate PPE and looking after your
                                             a PCBU) and the volunteers it engages      comply with general WHS duties.
own health and safety is something
                                             (these volunteers are workers under the
workers can do, too.
                                             law) are covered under WHS laws.
WorkSafe’s ‘A guide to managing an                                                      Develop a system
                                             You should read the information for
ageing workforce’ provides practical                                                    Establishing an appropriate safety
                                             volunteer organisations on the Safe
know-how for employers and workers                                                      management system to ensure the
                                             Work Australia website. Go to
on these issues and more. Go to                                                         safety of your volunteers (workers) is a
                                             www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au and
www.worksafe.tas.gov.au and search for                                                  simple process.
                                             search for ‘volunteer guide’; this
‘ageing workforce’.
                                             essential guide contains practical         Read our Safety Management Toolkit,
                                             guidance on what you need to do.           which can help you meet your duties
 Snapshot: Tas facts                                                                    under the law if you are a PCBU, or
                                             No?
                                                                                        give you general guidance if you are a
 For the financial years 2011–12 to          Then your organisation is a volunteer      volunteer organisation. The toolkit steps
 2015–16:                                    association, made up only of volunteers    you through what you need to do to
 • the 55–64 year age group grew             working together for a community           develop and implement a safety system.
   by 20% (from 30,471 to 36,674)            purpose. The organisation and its          Go to www.worksafe.tas.gov.au and
                                             volunteers are not covered under the       search for ‘toolkit’.
 • the 65 and over age group grew            Work Health and Safety Act 2012, and
   by 43% (from 5,011 to 7,166)                                                         Our Work Health, Safety and Wellbeing
                                             therefore do not have WHS duties.
                                                                                        Advisors can also help you develop a
 • there is a higher proportion of           However, even though you have no           safety management system. To arrange
   workers aged 45 and over in the           duties under this Act, you should          a free and confidential visit, go to
   health care industry                      seriously consider complying with          www.worksafe.tas.gov.au and search for
 • there are fewer in Retail,                general WHS duties as a matter of          ‘request a visit’.
   Construction, and Agriculture,            course.
   Forestry & Fishing.                       Keeping your volunteers safe is your
 Source: WorkSafe Tasmania. Data             main priority, and establishing a system
 was taken at 20 July 2017.                  that protects them makes good sense.

                                                                                         Workplace Issues     No. 90    June 2018   17
SAFETY                                                                                          NEWS + EVENTS

                                                                                              WHS laws
     What about                                                                               review in
     Australian Standards?                                                                    progress
     We talk about safety codes, acts and           NZS 4005.2:2000 Training and
     regulations a lot in Workplace Issues.         certification of recreational divers
     But what about standards? What’s their         and AS/NZS 2815 Training and
     role in WHS and how do they connect            certification of occupational divers to
     with the codes and laws?                       define these competencies.
                                                  A court may also view that conforming
     What standards do                            to a Standard was ‘reasonably
                                                  practicable’ for that person to do in
     Australian Standards provide guidance
                                                  the circumstances. A standard may
     to ensure safety, performance and
                                                  be considered information that a duty
     reliability through specifications for
                                                  holder knows (or ought to reasonably
     goods, systems and services. For
                                                  know) about a hazard or risk and about
     example, there are standards regulating
                                                  the ways to remove or reduce the risk.
     sunglasses, to ensure these are made
                                                  This may include acquiring knowledge
     so your eyes are sufficiently protected
                                                  of, and keeping up-to-date with
     from damaging UV rays.
                                                  changes to, relevant Standards.
     There are Australian and international
     standards, and standards developed by
     industry and by regulators.
                                                  Standards and codes
                                                  While following codes of practice is
     Standards and laws                           not mandatory, codes are admissible
                                                  in court proceedings, and a court may
     Standards are not laws, so there’s no        rely on a code to determine what is
     general requirement to conform to them.      ‘reasonably practicable’ when deciding
     However, where the WHS laws say you          a matter.
     must conform to specific standards,          If an approved code recommends
     failing to do so may result in a breach of   following a specific standard, then it
     the WHS laws.                                would be reasonable to consider the         Marie Boland from Safe Work Australia
     For example:                                 specified standard forms part of that
                                                  approved code.                              Safe Work Australia is currently
     • Regulation 223 of the Work Health                                                      reviewing the WHS laws that came into
       and Safety Regulations 2012 covers                                                     effect six years ago. Safe Work Australia
       the use of laser equipment on plant.       Get detailed information
                                                                                              has engaged Marie Boland, former
       It refers to AS 2397:1993 – Safe use of    Safe Work Australia has a detailed          Executive Director of SafeWork SA, to
       lasers in the building and construction    information sheet that explains the         lead the review, and in late March she
       industry to define types of laser          relationship between the WHS laws           visited WorkSafe Tasmania offices to
       equipment that mustn’t be used             and Australian standards. It also           discuss the review.
     • Regulation 171 covers the required         covers international standards.
       competencies for those doing               Go to www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au          While public comment is now closed,
       diving work. It refers to AS/              and search for ‘Australian and              you can find out more about the review
                                                  other standards’.                           at engage.swa.gov.au.

18   Workplace Issues    No. 90    June 2018
SAFETY                                                                                       NEWS + EVENTS

                                                                                                               k Health and
                                                                                                Australian Wor
                                                                                                               y 2012 2022
                                                                                                Safety Strateg

                                                                                                                                      ng lives
                                                                                                                      productive worki
                                                                                                  Healthy, safe and

                                                                                              Update:
                                                                                              Revised
                                                                                              Australian
                                                                                              WHS Strategy
                                                                                             Safe Work Australia has published a
                                                                                             revised version of the Australian Work
                                                                                             Health and Safety Strategy 2012–2022,
                                                                                             to ensure it continues to make a positive
                                                                                             difference in Australian workplaces.

    Got a problem?                                                                           The changes include some terminology
                                                                                             changes, and a more explicit reference
                                                                                             to workplace bullying, harassment and
                                                                                             occupational violence.
  Are you having WHS issues in your            What WorkSafe needs
  workplace? Thinking about picking                                                          How they came about
                                               However, if you feel that these steps
  up the phone to WorkSafe Tasmania            have not been effective at fixing the         The changes are a result of the
  for an intervention? Before you              problem, or are not appropriate,              Strategy’s scheduled mid-term review.
  place that call, there are some steps        then you can contact WorkSafe for             While this review showed that overall
  you should try in order to resolve           assistance. You can call 1300 366 322         support for the Strategy remained
  the matter in-house.                         or email wstinfo@justice.tas.gov.au.          positive, it did highlight some areas for
                                                                                             greater attention, to keep the Strategy
                                               In order to help you, we will need as
                                                                                             relevant for the next five years.
  In-house first                               much information as possible. This
                                               includes information that will allow us to:   As a result, Safe Work Australia will:
  They include:
                                               • find the address of the workplace           • undertake detailed analysis of the
  • reporting the issue verbally to your         and the location within that                  cause and controls of work-related
    supervisor or manager                        workplace where the WHS issues                fatalities, injuries and illnesses, with
  • reporting the issue through your             are occurring                                 an initial focus on the agriculture
    workplace’s hazard reporting                                                               sector and musculo-skeletal
                                               • identify the exact nature of the
    procedures                                                                                 disorders
                                                 issues/concerns (for example,
  • raising the issue with your health           working at heights or plant safety          • explore the feasibility of national
    and safety representative (HSR) or           risks)                                        lead indicators to support
    health and safety committee                                                                improved workplace performance
                                               • identify the name and address of the
                                                                                               measurement and reporting
  • raising the issue with management            organisation or individual in control
    through your union representative.           of the workplace.                           • develop effective information sharing
                                                                                               and improved co-ordination of
  Communicating with one another may           WorkSafe inspectors won’t reveal your
                                                                                               activities implemented under the
  resolve the matter quickly and positively,   name as the source of the request to
                                                                                               Strategy.
  without the need to involve WorkSafe.        the workplace parties involved unless
                                               you consent.                                  Find the Strategy
                                               If you choose to remain anonymous             Get your copy of the Strategy, share it
                                               when speaking to us, it’s not possible        with your co-workers, and see how it
                                               for an inspector to seek further              applies to your workplace. Go to
                                               information from you or provide you with      www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au and look
                                               feedback on the issue.                        under the ‘news and events’ tab.

                                                                                             Workplace Issues             No. 90         June 2018   19
REGULARS

     Build a wellbeing program:
     Organise your program
     You’ve got management support behind      Whatever your option, the members            • setting the goals for the program
     you and you’ve got a co-ordinator —       should have an interest and enthusiasm       • conducting a needs assessment
     let’s move forward assuming that’s you!   for wellbeing: people who’ll show their        in your workplace, then prioritising
                                               support by participating in activities and     these needs
                                               communicating the program’s progress
     Consider a working group                  to other workers.                            • developing an action plan that
                                                                                              covers strategies and activities
     No matter what size your workplace        You may want to consider drawing up
     is, consider creating a committee or      some terms of reference for your group.      • implementing the program, and
     working group.                            This can keep you on track with your           monitoring its progress and
                                               role and your goals. To make this easy,        effectiveness
     This is not meant to introduce an
     extra layer of bureaucracy; rather, it    we’ve developed a template for you to        • evaluating the program and
     can ensure success by sharing the         customise; go to www.worksafe.tas.gov.         reporting on the outcomes to your
     workload, and getting input and ideas     au and search for ‘terms of reference’.        senior managers.
     from throughout your workplace.                                                        As work gets under way, you and your
     So bring together a small group of        Roles and tasks                              working group should keep a record of:
     workers representing each team in         Your working group should meet               • notes from your meetings
     your workplace or with an interest; for   regularly to start program planning
     example, your safety, human resources                                                  • feedback from participants (and
                                               and preparation. Its role is to guide          those not participating)
     or operations teams. In a small           the implementation of your wellbeing
     organisation, you might gather a few      program. Delegate responsibilities and       • costs; materials and resources
     motivated workers — some wellbeing        tasks, which will likely include:              required.
     ‘champions’ (smaller workplaces may                                                    This will help with future evaluation.
     also consider inviting a community        • identifying resources, facilities and
     health centre to contribute).               expertise and networks to draw on

     Or it may be a new task for an existing   • identifying potential barriers to
     group, such as your health and safety       implementing your program
     committee; the advantage of this is       • identifying processes already in
     that wellbeing and safety become            place in your workplace that may
     integrated.                                 help you plan and implement your
                                                 program

20   Workplace Issues    No. 90   June 2018
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