WorkSafe Victoria’s annual roadshow begins soon, with 19 metropolitan and country locations to be visited from 15 May to 19 June. [ + ]

The Department of Mines and Petroleum, Government of Western Australia, has issued a safety alert following two recent incidents where explosive items were left unaccounted for in underground elevated work platforms and charge baskets at mine sites. The explosives were only discovered some time later, after the equipment returned to the surface. In one case, welding work was carried out on the machinery in very close proximity to the explosives (boosters and a detonator) before they were discovered. [ + ]

As part of an Australian Research Council Discovery Project, a report has been released analysing 284 sexual harassment complaints reported to all Australian, state and territory equal opportunity commissions. [ + ]

Winners of the 7th annual Safe Work Australia Awards were announced at a ceremony held at Parliament House in Canberra on Thursday 26 April 2012. [ + ]

Carton finishers in Melbourne’s south could soon begin protected industrial action in an effort to defend a key entitlement under threat by their management. AMWU Print Division organiser Tony Piccolo said negotiations on a new collective agreement at Colorpak’s Mt Waverly site had broken down over the issue of sick leave entitlements - traditionally paid out upon redundancy. [ + ]

Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, an Australian law firm, has filed Federal Court action today on behalf of sacked Toyota workers, to reinstate a number of those it claims were subjected to targeted and unlawful discrimination in the recent job cuts at the car company's Altona plant. [ + ]

WorkCover NSW has issued a safety alert to remind electrical workers of the inherent dangers of cutting electrical conduits that are in service. These conduits may contain multiple circuits. This is in response to an incident where an electrical contractor received a fatal electric shock. The contractor was replacing a faulty lighting circuit that was located in an underground heavy-duty PVC conduit. He isolated the lighting circuit at the meter board and proceeded to carry out the repairs. [ + ]

The outcome of an appeal against a controversial Fair Work Australia (FWA) ruling could determine whether employers in Australia’s resource industry will be restricted in their ability to administer appropriate on-site drug and alcohol testing procedures, according to national employer group AMMA. [ + ]

Innovation is essential to drive down musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) incidence rates for the construction industry, said John Darcy, OHS Manager, Master Builders Association, on the sidelines of trade show Safety in Action. MSD incidence rates are on the rise and more workers are ringing us about compensation claims, he added.  [ + ]

The action-packed, three-day Safety in Action trade show kicks off today at Melbourne Exhibition Centre. The event, to continue until 19 April, will provide safety managers and supervisors a great opportunity to keep track of safety innovation and industry developments. [ + ]

A mock worksite setup on a busy Melbourne street, in which two actors posing as workers asked passers-by to hand over a ‘live’ cable from one to the other, has delivered shocking results. [ + ]

A safety alert has been issued following two incidents where kitchen workers received serious burns from methylated spirits. It is intended to remind persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) of the need to safely handle and store hazardous and flammable chemicals in the workplace. [ + ]

The President of the Australian Industrial Truck Association (AITA), Steve Stewart, has announced that the forklift industry body will sponsor its second annual National Forklift Safety Week from 4-8 June 2012. [ + ]

WorkSafe Victoria has kicked off its inspector recruitment campaign and is encouraging those who want to help keep Victoria the safest place to work in Australia to apply. Roles are available across Melbourne and regional Victoria and applications close 15 April at 5 pm. [ + ]

Keeping young people safe from workplace injuries was the focus of a WorkCover NSW sponsored forum held at Parliament House today. [ + ]