Liquefied petroleum gas is highly flammable, invisible and heavier than air. If it leaks or escapes it will flow along floors and downhill into gullies, and will tend to settle in low spots, such as trenches or basements.

A recent case reminds employers of the importance of reviewing employees’ contracts, enterprise agreements and any applicable modern awards to assess an employee’s entitlement to any severance payments, including notice and redundancy.

Over recent years responsibility for fleet safety has shifted from drivers to organisations and even individual managers - making this a growing issue for Australian businesses.

Workplace fatalities and a marked rise in industrial injuries are costing Australian companies over $57bn, according to a safety research study released by Siemens.

 A recent study by CARRS-Q has found that young drivers who experience anxiety and depression are more likely to take risks on the road.

Every year many Australian businesses experience a serious fire. The risk of fire in the workplace is a serious concern for businesses. Fire can result in injury, fatality, property loss, significant damages and lengthy downtime. Although it is not always possible to prevent a fire, businesses must be adequately prepared to help to minimise the impact if a fire was to occur.

While there are many different protective suits on the market, not all meet the same performance standards. Faced with a bewildering choice, what criteria should buyers use to ensure they select the right protective suit for the right application?

The recent Federal Court decision in Haros v Linfox [2011] FCA 699 has dismissed a claim by a former executive that Linfox had misled him during the recruitment process, both in the nature of his role with the company and the security of his employment.

Many industries around the country are battling a skills shortage, particularly for tradespeople, and the compressed air sector is no exception. As Australia strives to meet recent infrastructure demands as a result of natural disasters, major project initiatives and the mining resources boom, it is clear that placing a ‘vacancy’ ad in the newspaper is no longer enough.

The upcoming harmonisation of national OHS laws has many organisations struggling to see how, or if, budgets can possibly be stretched further to gain compliance. However, doing so need not break the bank. Paying close attention to existing systems and some creative thinking, when it comes to skilling up OHS teams, are the best steps an organisation can take to prepare for this, or any other, new legislative regime.

If Facebook were a country, it would be the world’s third-most populated, with over 400,000,000 users. So it would not be news to anyone that the use of social media is growing: Socialnomics 2011 claims that over 50% of the world’s population is under 30 years old, and 96% of them have joined a social networking site. Further, the fastest growing segment on Facebook is 55- to 65-year-old females. However, what seems to come as a surprise to many employees is that what they post on social media sites can get them into all sorts of trouble - including termination of their employment.

The harmonisation of the occupational health and safety laws has allowed the asbestos codes to be further refined, incorporating a range of new best practices from the asbestos industry. The codes of practice have been simplified and clarified where necessary, but at the same time the former ‘grey’ areas have been expanded in detail

Paul Anthony Friend, who operates Latrobe Roofing and Spouting Services in the Geelong region in Victoria, has accumulated more than $65,000 in fines for safety law breaches since 2001.

WorkCover NSW has issued an alert to remind employers, and those who control railway construction sites, to keep workers clear of crane loads that are under tension.

A recent study by Wormald has found that 61% of small businesses do not have fire detection or evacuation procedures in place.