A Toolbox Talk is another term for a safety meeting. The term “Toolbox Talk” was originally used as a means to encourage building workers to have a documented regular safety meeting, the best time to do this was considered to be when they stood around the tool box in the morning before starting work so the term Toolbox Talk was born.Today the Toolbox Talk has been widely accepted as a common means ensuring consultation occurs between workers and is a practical way to raise workers awareness of specific problems on site and help to remind workers that health and safety are an important part of the working day.
Apr
08
What is a Toolbox Talk?
Apr
02
Manual Handling injury statistics reveal different injury claims suffered by workers
According to WorkSafe Victoria, the most common injuries related to manual lifting, as shown by injury claims, are:
- Back (48%) — muscle strain and disc injury from lifting objects (eg, boxes, cartons, crates, bags, drums), powered tools, equipment and other materials.
- Shoulder (17%) — traumatic joint/muscle injury and strain from lifting objects and repetitively handling objects or other materials.
- Abdomen (16%) — hernias from heavy and/or awkward lifting.
- Arm (8%) — traumatic joint/muscle injury and strain from lifting objects, equipment or other materials.
- Neck (4%) — muscle strain as a result of lifting and putting down boxes, cartons, crates, bales and heavy bags.
- Leg (3%) — traumatic joint/muscle injury and strain from lifting heavy objects.
Manual Handling injuries can be reduced or eliminated with good training, work practices and by implementing proper and suitable lifting equipment
Coresafe can run Manual Handling training for your staff at your place of work, call Dom Weir on 0403 946 959 to discuss your staff training needs
Mar
26
New guide to help reduce worker fatigue
One of the most common questions I am asked regards fatigue in the workplace, at a recent training course I held for employees in the tendering department of a large construction firm a young lady revealed that at times towards the close of a tender both herself and fellow colleagues were expected to work 16-18 hours a day. This in itself was bad practice, but the scenario got worse, they revealed that this regime was conducted over a 5-7 day period and they were also expected to drive home and then be in 4-6 hours later. In other words – be in at 8 am leave sometime after midnight and be back for normal starting time at 8 am the following day for 5 to 7 days straight… This of course is not only irresponsible and bad practice on the managements behalf, but also reckless in the approach taken by the company in ensuring the welfare of its employees.Should an accident occur to one of the employees, either at work, but more importantly on the drive to or from the workplace then the company may well find themselves liable and open to prosecution.I urge companies unsure of their legal obligations regarding managing worker fatigue to contact their state or territory regulatory body to talk about their responsibilities WorkCover NSW, in conjunction with WorkSafe Victoria, has launched a new guide that provides practical advice on how to address fatigue in the workplace.The media release can be read here WorkCover guide fatigue in the workplace And the guide is available for download here fatigue prevention in the workplace or is also available from www.workcover.nsw.gov.au or by calling the WorkCover publications hotline 1300 799 003
Any similar stories about fatigue in your workplace?
Mar
26
Skin cancer has now overtaken lung cancer as the fourth most common form of cancer
New figures from The Cancer Council Victoria show that the number of Victorians affected by melanoma is at the highest level ever- Skin cancer has now overtaken lung cancer as the fourth most common form of the disease in Victoria according to figures released from the Victorian Cancer Registry. In 2005, melanoma overtook lung cancer .
This re-infoces an earlier article about the importance of staying vigilant against the effects of the sun and the need for regular skin checks
Given the high and rising rate of skin cancer affecting all outdoor workers, this is going to be an emerging cause for concern for most employers that have persons exposed to working outdoors,
SunSmart Manager Kylie Strong says the latest figures are signs of a concerning trend. “These latest figures do confirm that melanoma is on the increase in Victoria, in both men and women. Based on these latest figures, on average 6 Victorians a day are diagnosed with melanoma.” View the full article at the following link
http://www.sunsmart.com.au/article.asp?ContentID=12mar08 For information about workplace protection you can follow this link to the Cancer Council N.S.W
http://www.cancercouncil.com.au/editorial.asp?pageid=2312
or advice from the WorkCover N.S.W website can be found here
Mar
26
Become sun smart or face a flood of skin cancer claims
Article written by Grant McArthur, medical reporter and published in the Herald Sun
November 21, 2007 12:00am
THE building industry has been warned to become sun smart or face a flood of skin cancer claims similar to those over asbestos exposure.
Each year more than 34,000 workers are believed to suffer skin cancers while working in the sun, including 200 who contract melanomas.
With the 1.2 million Australians working outdoors and receiving up to eight times more sunlight than those indoors, Ergosh safety management consultant Gary Thompson said employers had to take notice.
“Workers compensation claims and litigation for skin cancer are rapidly increasing,” Mr Thompson said.
“It’s very likely that in the next few years it could be a common occurrence for employers of outdoor workers to be held liable for their employees’ skin cancers.”
Skin cancer has been considered a serious occupational injury since 2003, when the Victorian County Court paved the way for a delivery driver to pursue damages from his employer after developing skin cancer.
To view the full atricle as written in the Herald Sun follow this link
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22794511-662,00.html
Mar
26
Fall prevention in construction campaign to be adopted nationwide
According to WorkSafe Victoria, the most common injuries related to manual lifting, as shown by injury claims, are:
- Back (48%) — muscle strain and disc injury from lifting objects (eg, boxes, cartons, crates, bags, drums), powered tools, equipment and other materials.
- Shoulder (17%) — traumatic joint/muscle injury and strain from lifting objects and repetitively handling objects or other materials.
- Abdomen (16%) — hernias from heavy and/or awkward lifting.
- Arm (8%) — traumatic joint/muscle injury and strain from lifting objects, equipment or other materials.
- Neck (4%) — muscle strain as a result of lifting and putting down boxes, cartons, crates, bales and heavy bags.
- Leg (3%) — traumatic joint/muscle injury and strain from lifting heavy objects.
Manual Handling injuries can be reduced or eliminated with good training, work practices and by implementing proper and suitable lifting equipment
Coresafe can run Manual Handling training for your staff at your place of work, call Dom Weir on 0403 946 959 to discuss your staff training needs