WorkSafe has issued an eleventh-hour reminder to businesses and workers to comment on the model Work Health and Safety Regulations before the public comment period closes on 4 April.

The Safety In Action and Melbourne Materials Handling expos return to Melbourne from 5 to 7 April 2011, offering a range of safety solutions that goes well beyond personal protective equipment and high-tech automation; they also encompass a comprehensive source of expert knowledge.

Too many people still have the misconception that the dangers associated with working at height can be removed simply by wearing a fall-restraint harness. But that’s completely wrong, as two height-safety subject matter experts point out. In this article, they show that there is much more than just harnesses to take into consideration in keeping workers safe at height.

Safety switches are widely recognised as vital to making electrical systems in business and residential premises all over the world. In recent years, safety switches have been mandated by the Wiring Rules for inclusion in all new electrical installations in Australia. But what about existing electrical systems - shouldn’t they be mandated to be equipped with safety switches as well?

Under the existing and soon-to-be-released new workplace health and safety regulations, employers are obligated to ensure their workplaces are safe. While the focus of that responsibility has largely been on the workplace itself, work practices, safety systems and education, compliance to these regulations extends beyond just the workplace - it encompasses staff attitudes and their propensity to safety. But how do employers ensure the staff they recruit are going to be safe?

TAFE SA is a network of three independent institutes that provide vocational education and training in South Australia, to an average of 80,000 students in courses ranging from building and furnishing to engineering and transport. Part of South Australia’s Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology, TAFE SA plays a key role in the development of the state’s workforce and community. In building South Australia’s skill base, the institutes work with industry and business to deliver relevant vocational training to better link skills and training with job opportunities, ensuring sustainable employment within the state. This means offering the best possible quality of teaching and searching for ways to update their services.

The Federal Safety Commissioner comments on recent Accreditation Scheme trends.

WorkSafe Victoria has announced good results at its mid-year update, but points out that this does not mean efforts to obtain workplace safety should slacken.

How to prevent injury or illness resulting from two-pack paint spraying, by understanding how to use appropriate air-fed respiratory protection.

A recent International Labour Organization report highlights that the risk of injuries is increasing in the container shipping industry as a result of poorly packaged containers.

A major utility company that is responsible for the delivery of water and wastewater services in Queensland, requires many of its workers  to wear fall protection equipment - specifically full-body safety harnesses every day - to work in physically harsh and dirty conditions.

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland is looking to the future and has developed a website that provides specific instruction and risk assessment tools for nanotechnology.

Few people stop to consider not only does a sensor respond, but how fast does it respond? The average walking speed for humans is 5 km per hour or 83 m per minute. Some gas detectors can take up to a minute or more to respond, that’s 80-odd meters later if you are walking into a hazard at normal pace. If not walking, it is up to a minute lost to take evasive action. Time is of the essence and evasive action taken sooner can and will prevent disaster.

WorkSafe WA is urging employers with workplaces that may contain fall hazards to ensure their workplaces are safe from fall injuries.

A recent study into deaths from mesothelioma resulting from exposure to asbestos claims that the number of deaths reported has been dramatically underestimated.