Construction companies considering undertaking government construction projects as head contractor for federally funded building works valued at $3 million or more may need to be accredited under the Australian Government Building and Construction OHS Accreditation Scheme.

Cost-benefit analysis is a challenging element of safety management because managers can choose between adequate safety and possible benefits from production with a lower level of safety. OHS law in most states allows for an almost formal assessment in managing a hazard or risk ‘as far as is reasonably practicable’. But what if that hazard is unknown? Does that mean that a cost-benefit analysis is easy because the cost cannot be determined?

According to St John Ambulance, sudden cardiac arrest strikes around 30,000 Australians each year and alarmingly, fewer than 5% survive.

The standard AS/NZS 1891.4 that covers the selection, use and maintenance of industrial fall arrest systems and devices has recently been updated with important changes to the previous edition.

Metal lathes are dangerous machines that can cause serious injury. A simple interlocked chuck guard that prevents the machine from starting while open can reduce most lathe safety risks. These guards and controls are adaptable for just about every brand of lathe and, applied correctly can eliminate risks without depending on human behaviour.

Protector Alsafe and Victoria University (VU) collaborated to provide an opportunity for a group of Diploma of OHS students to have a ‘hands-on’ approach in the investigation of a mock confined space incident.

A keynote speaker at the forthcoming Risk Management Institution of Australasia conference will discuss the significant safety risks associated with shift workers and the methodologies available to mitigate these risks.

Part 3 - how to get the most out of noise measurement surveys to ensure that the noise in the workplace can be controlled, so as to not be a hazard for workers.

Control of noise in the workplace - Part 2: Differences between sound level meters and noise dosimeters.

A number of safety experts recently spoke at the Safety Show in Sydney to answer the wide range of questions that employers and workers had about the forthcoming national OHS laws.

Part 1 of this three-part article examines what needs to be measured in the workplace to determine if noise levels are safe or not.

Could ‘zero harm’ be killing our people? Yes, says veteran OHS expert Phillip Byard, ahead of his 29 October address to The Safety Conference at the Sydney Showground.

A recent workers compensation court ruling highlights the importance for employers to have accurate medical information and diagnosis for injured workers.

The draft model OHS legislation has been released by Safe Work Australia for public consultation, along with draft model regulations.

Traffic safety is a top priority in many countries around the world. By getting vehicles to communicate with one another and using infrastructure in what is known as ‘cooperative systems’, it is possible to considerably increase safety levels.