SafeWork SA is urging workplaces to have clear guidelines and procedures in place for dealing with alcohol and other drugs, after a new report found illicit drugs are costing Australian businesses $3.3 billion a year.

The winners of the national Safe Work Australia Awards 2006 were announced at a ceremony at Old Parliament House last night.

The Hazardous Substances Information System (HSIS) was first released by the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission in January 2005. It has now been upgraded to fit the look and feel of the ASCC website and to be compliant with IT requirements within the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.

The VTHC is concerned that Australian Workplace Agreements (AWA) are breaching OHS law following statistics that claim 30% of AWAs do not allow workers to have rest breaks during scheduled hours of work.

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland has announced a series of grants designed to facilitate workplace health and safety projects for small businesses.

WorkSafe WA will target the metal manufacturing sector as part of a Trans-Tasman workplace safety project focusing on manual handling injuries resulting from heavy lifting and repetitive tasks.

A series of free forklift safety seminars to be held throughout New South Wales has been announced.

Oldfields has entered into a binding agreement with Advcorp Pty Limited to purchase the business assets of Advance Scaffold.

The future incidence of asbestos-related disease has been underestimated, according to an epidemiologist from The Australian National University.

WorkSafeWA will hold free lunchtime information sessions throughout 2007.

Amendments to the Building and Construction Industry Improvement Act 2005 were introduced into Parliament last week. The amendments were introduced under the Building and Construction Industry Improvement Amendment (OHS) Bill 2007.

Northern Territory WorkSafe is calling for input into the review of the Work Health Act, the Mining Management Act and the Petroleum Act.

The Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Joe Hockey MP has announced the first group of companies to achieve full accreditation under the Australian government’s new building and construction scheme.

The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) and the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) have both slammed the changes the federal government made to the Federal Workers’ Compensation Scheme last week.

Safety sign manufacturer, HVS Services is making occupational health and safety clothing available through its network.