One of the best ways to prevent and control occupational injuries, illnesses and fatalities is to design out or minimise hazards and risks early in the design process. Prevention through design (PtD) is an engineering initiative, which was launched in the US by NIOSH, that attempts to mitigate hazards in the construction sector in the design stage. The concept has been around a while, but there are still some barriers to its adoption globally. [ + ]

An online Introduction to First Aid (IFA) awareness course which has been launched by St John Ambulance Victoria will equip more than 11,000 existing Melbourne cab drivers with basic first aid skills. [ + ]

The Working at Height Association has funded the development of an Australia Standard for the manufacture and test of single point anchors through Standards Australia. Gordon Cadzow, Secretary, WAHA, provides all the background and progress of this standard and the critical next step to ensure properly functioning fall arrest systems. [ + ]

Radio remote controls fitted to Konecranes overhead and monorail cranes at Tasmanian brewer J Boag & Son are helping the operators lift and position their loads precisely, while also ensuring the safety of the operators. [ + ]

Anyone doubting the effectiveness of interlocks as a means of reducing drink driving should consider data stored and correlated from installed Dräger Interlock XT. It has been reported by the company that the data reveals it prevented 37,225 drink driving incidents in 2012. [ + ]

Last month, Safe Work Australia published a report, titled Work-related injuries resulting in hospitalisation (July 2006 to June 2009), which found that over the three-year period the most common specific place of occurrence for incidents that led to a work-related hospitalisation was the ‘factory and plant’. Pilz calls for companies to take preventative action to reduce accidents. [ + ]

Growing industries across Australia including mining, oil and gas, petrochemical, metallurgy and heavy manufacturing have seen a huge increase in the use of caustic liquids and chemical solvents in the manufacturing and maintenance process of many business. From chemical separations, alkylation, electripolishing, anodising, phosphating, caustic cleaning through to fuel management - all require the material handling of potentially dangerous chemicals that can cause life-threating burns from chemical splash. [ + ]

A specially adapted ‘tactile helmet’, developed by researchers at the University of Sheffield, could provide firefighters operating in challenging conditions with vital clues about their surroundings. [ + ]

One of the challenges many senior leaders express to us is the ability to create a safety speech (or public address) that: isn’t boring, isn’t just a rehash of corporate philosophy or edicts, and demonstrates they genuinely value the safety of their workers ahead of financial, sales or production performance. Kevin Obermuller Managing Partner, Leadership Dimensions explains how. [ + ]

Vaccination programs are being implemented by an increasing number of businesses to minimise the impact the flu will have on their workplace, according to health and safety service provider Medvet. [ + ]

Wood dusts and other contaminants are produced in various tasks commonly carried out both in the workplace and in the home/hobby situation. These materials, if present in high-enough levels, are a respiratory hazard and suitable precautions should be taken. [ + ]

Wormald has installed a comprehensive fire protection solution as part of expansion works at Newcastle’s coal export terminal. [ + ]

Konecranes has been chosen by Yallourn Power Station in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley for crane reliability surveys on cranes due for their recertifications. [ + ]

New research appearing online in Clinical Chemistry, the journal of American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC), shows that cannabis can be detected in the blood of daily smokers for a month after last intake. [ + ]

Cook’s Body Works recently engaged the Melbourne branch of CAPS Australia to assist with sourcing 10 ‘box-type’ portable air compressors that were to be truck mounted for one of its major cable laying and telecoms infrastructure clients. [ + ]