On the three-year anniversary of the Fair Work Act 2009, the latest AMMA Workplace Relations Research report, on its operation and impact on the resource industry, has shown an ongoing deterioration of the Australian workplace relations (WR) environment. [ + ]

NSW Trade & Investment recently issued a safety alert after a mine worker suffered serious injuries, including the loss of his leg, after falling about 14 m down a mine shaft. [ + ]

The recent Fair Work Australia ruling in the Endeavour Energy v CEPU, ASU, APESMA case has again sparked a debate on drugs and alcohol testing in the workplace. Most of us agree that drug testing is vital in maintaining a safe and drug-free workplace; however, there still remains much-debated controversy about the most appropriate method for drug testing. [ + ]

An invasion of bumblebees may sound like something best dealt with by an exterminator but for some towns this isn’t a viable solution. Bumblebees is an often derogatory term used to described the yellow, fluorescent-striped uniform-wearing miners who are perceived as infiltrating family-based communities, bringing with them inflated housing and food prices, drunken bad behaviour and lack of engagement with the local community.  It is easy to have some sympathy for these townships and communities; however, a balance needs to be struck in order for Australia to remain a prosperous nation enjoying world-leading employment, health and lifestyle. [ + ]

For many businesses, scissor lift systems are a second line consideration and not seen as a part of the business that has the potential to raise efficiencies. However, upon closer inspection, it becomes clear why this view may be limited. [ + ]

Since July 2011, New South Wales has witnessed a total of 55 incidents where cranes, machinery and other mobile plant have come into contact with power lines. This has prompted WorkCover to issue an alert reminding businesses, industry and workers of the dangers arising when operating mobile plant near energised overhead power lines. [ + ]

The process for harmonising rail safety throughout Australia’s states and territories has commenced with South Australia passing the Rail Safety National Law (South Australia) Bill 2011 (SA Bill) through both houses of parliament. [ + ]

Falls cost employers millions of dollars each year in lost time, compensation and third-party liability suits. For the period 2003-04 to 2008-09, there have been 180 fatalities as a result of falls from height, 10.67% of total fatalities recorded during this period, according to Safe Work Australia statistics. More specifically, in 2008-09, 33 deaths occurred as a result of falls from height (39% being from the ‘Construction’ industry). ‘Fall from a height’ is the third largest killer of people in the workplace behind ‘vehicle incidents’ and ‘being hit by moving objects’. Of the 33 ‘fall from a height’ fatalities recorded in 2008-09, nine were from buildings and structures; six from ladders; four from trucks, semitrailers and lorries; and three from scaffolds. [ + ]

WorkSafe Western Australia has issued a safety alert highlighting the importance of using safe procedures when pumping hazardous chemicals following a recent incident where two workers were injured while transferring chromic acid solution from an intermediate bulk container (IBC) to another vessel using a submersible sump pump. [ + ]

Fire protection specialist Wormald has designed and installed a fire suppression system for Logset’s new forestry vehicle, the 10F Titan Forwarder. Logset is a Finnish manufacturer of forestry machinery and has recently started operating in the Australian market. The company provides solutions to logging professionals and its 10F Titan Forwarder is a heavy-framed machine with a load capacity of 18 tonnes. [ + ]

The use of the synthetic drug Kronic among NSW miners has prompted specialised drug screening. The Director of Mine Safety Operations, Rob Regan, from NSW Trade & Investment, says the Work Health and Safety legislation imposes a duty on a Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers and others at work. The Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 requires that hazards are identified and the resultant risks eliminated or controlled. [ + ]

Almost 2200 (44%) of 5000 workers recently surveyed felt their work impacts negatively on their mental or physical health, reveals research conducted by Medibank. The research examined 13 different industries and discovered that many workers felt their employment impacted their health, with over one in two (54%) specifying that work affected their physical health and 40% believing it impacted their mental health. A quarter felt they worked for an organisation that had a high risk of harm to their physical health (26%) or mental health (24%). [ + ]

Tech Innovations has designed and developed Tech Table, a product that allows technicians to perform the task on a stable, height-adjustable working platform that is lightweight and easily transported. It is designed to alleviate many challenging manual handling and safety issues confronted by technicians when terminating data cables. [ + ]

The Gillard government has announced that the 2012-2013 budget will support jobs, building on an investment in skills, training and assistance. It was claimed that protecting jobs has been “the number one priority of the Gillard government from day one”, with the following measures intended to reflect that commitment. [ + ]

The Federal Court has upheld a workers compensation claim by a Commonwealth worker whose ‘private activities’ with a ‘male friend’ in a motel room caused a glass light fitting above the bed to fall and strike her on the nose and mouth leaving her with physical and psychological injuries. [ + ]