Health and safety sentencing emphasises the importance of training
A recent health and safety sentencing decision from the District Court, WorkSafe New Zealand v Avon Industries Ltd [2018] NZDC 4766, has highlighted how critical the proper training of workers can be in a workplace, Duncan Cotterill advises
In particular, just correcting bad practices and dangerous behaviour isn’t enough – instead training should be provided to ensure that every worker knows the correct procedures to follow, the leading law firm insists. Continue →
The post Health and safety sentencing emphasises the importance of training appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Asbestos regulations now in full effect
Businesses must now take greater responsibility for managing asbestos in their place of work
On 4 April, the two-year window for industry, the regulator and training partners to implement changes created by the Health and Safety (Asbestos) Regulations 2016 expired. Continue →
The post Asbestos regulations now in full effect appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Quitting Facebook can reduce stress
There may be more benefits to deleting your Facebook account than just protecting your private data – it could also reduce your stress levels
A University of Queensland research team led by Dr Eric Vanman of the School of Psychology, investigated the effects of a short break from Facebook on a person’s stress and well-being. Continue →
The post Quitting Facebook can reduce stress appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Ninth enforceable undertaking agreed
WorkSafe has accepted its ninth enforceable undertaking under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015
The regulator accepted the undertaking from Earthcare Environmental Limited, following an incident in July 2016 where a worker suffered hand injuries including the amputation of two fingers. Continue →
The post Ninth enforceable undertaking agreed appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Do you really know what your workers are doing?
The importance of risk assessments and implementing appropriate controls was a dominant message in a recent health and safety sentencing
The Whangarei District Court recently released their sentencing decision after Avon Industries appeared in court for sentencing in February. Continue →
The post Do you really know what your workers are doing? appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Site Safe backs apprenticeship programme
Site Safe is proud to be supporting hundreds of young apprentices by offering training providers discounted health and safety courses as part of the nationwide Skills Week initiative
Skills Week, a one-week work readiness course developed by the Skills Organisation, is the first block course of a specialist trades apprenticeship and includes training on employment skills, first aid, basic trade calculations and health and safety. Continue →
The post Site Safe backs apprenticeship programme appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Employers urged to take part in Road Safety Week 2018
Road Safety Week 2018 takes place 7-13 May and employers, especially those with staff who drive for work, are urged to register to take part and raise awareness of road safety issues
Coordinated by road safety charity Brake and supported by QBE Insurance and the NZ Transport Agency, the week will focus on seat belts and distractions with the theme ‘Belt on, phone off – make it a habit’. Continue →
The post Employers urged to take part in Road Safety Week 2018 appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Transpower upgrades three training facilities
The opening of Transpower’s Grid Skills Bunnythorpe facility will mark the completion of works to upgrade three key electricity industry training facilities
Transpower plays a key role in New Zealand’s electricity industry by providing training through its Grid Skills programme for many of those working to maintain and repair lines, substations, and other key assets. Continue →
The post Transpower upgrades three training facilities appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Fire-fighting foams causing sparks to fly
As a formal investigation continues into the use of certain fire-fighting foams in New Zealand, airports are being identified as still having stocks of the foams, use of which has been restricted since 2006
Fire-fighting foams manufactured with the chemicals PFOS and PFOA were the standard from the 1970s until the early 2000s. Continue →
The post Fire-fighting foams causing sparks to fly appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Deadly reminder that lead exposure kills – even years later
Low-level lead exposure may be responsible for around 30 per cent of premature deaths from cardiovascular disease in the US each year, according to an international paper published in The Lancet Public Health
Researchers monitored the lead levels in more than 14,000 people over 20 years and found that even low-level lead exposure (between 1-5 micrograms of lead per decilitre of blood) increases the risk of premature death. Continue →
The post Deadly reminder that lead exposure kills – even years later appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Hawke’s Bay company first to gain meth test accreditation
Hawke’s Bay company Drug Smart has become the first in New Zealand to gain IANZ accreditation to test for methamphetamine contamination
In 2017, Standards New Zealand published a new standard on the testing and decontamination of meth-affected properties (NZS8510) which required rigorous validation of sampling kits and proof of appropriately trained samplers. Continue →
The post Hawke’s Bay company first to gain meth test accreditation appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Multiple risk sources need to be managed
The tortilla oven that crushed and burned a worker’s hand and arm in November 2016 had multiple sources of risk, WorkSafe found
The worker was cooking tortillas in a commercial tortilla press and oven when a Miller Foods Limited, trading as Remarkable Tortillas, was sentenced in the Queenstown District Court following an incident that left a worker’s arm trapped in an oven that was aflame. Continue →
The post Multiple risk sources need to be managed appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Innovative move to improve construction labour shortage
Site Safe’s new partnership with Filipino recruitment organisations is helping ensure workers hit the ground running when they arrive in New Zealand
Site Safe has joined forces with Working In Resourcing, an NZ-based immigration company and its counter-part Philippines-based recruitment agency, YWA Human Resource Corporation, to deliver entry-level health and safety training for workers preparing to start work in New Zealand. Continue →
The post Innovative move to improve construction labour shortage appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Drones are lifesavers in disaster zones
Pioneering research from the University of South Australia has shown for the first time that drones can be used to detect human vital signs in war zones and natural disasters
University of South Australia researchers have successfully trialled unmanned aerial vehicles to measure heart and respiratory rates using remote-sensing imaging systems, while hovering three metres from humans. Continue →
The post Drones are lifesavers in disaster zones appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Construction gets safer
Fewer tradies are being killed or seriously injured at work, new research has found
The government’s Towards 2020 report into New Zealand’s workplace death and injury rates shows the fatality rate in the construction industry has more than halved since 2011 and is now lower than the national rate. Continue →
The post Construction gets safer appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
A major drive to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities involving vehicles on farms is underway
Research by WorkSafe New Zealand shows there is almost always a vehicle involved when someone dies as a result of a farm workplace accident. Continue →
The post A major drive to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities involving vehicles on farms is underway appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Offers from Red Cross workplace safety training
Continue →
The post Offers from Red Cross workplace safety training appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
New skidding system moves heavy loads in tight spaces
Global hydraulics and heavy lifting technology specialists Enerpac are introducing a new low-height skidding system for the accurate positioning of heavy loads in tight and awkward spaces
The new Enerpac LH-Series Low-Height Skidding System is a modular track system that stands at just 92mm with the track yet can jack and slide heavy loads, such as transformers, generators, motors or drives, over a pre-constructed track. Continue →
The post New skidding system moves heavy loads in tight spaces appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Health and safety enforcement measures a live wire
When the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA) came into force in April 2016, there was much discussion about the new enforcement measures introduced to ensure duty holders complied with their obligations, Graeme Tanner and Joseph Williams note
The HSWA signalled a clear legislative intent to ensure duty holders under the HSWA were held accountable where acts or omissions in a workplace caused, or created an undue risk of, harm. Continue →
The post Health and safety enforcement measures a live wire appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Supportive colleagues could be the key to health and fairness at work
The attitudes and behaviours of colleagues towards people returning to work from sick leave can have a big impact on whether or not a worker feels they are fairly treated by their organisation
According to the Organizational justice and health: Studying mental preoccupation with work and social support as mediators for lagged and reversed relationships study by researchers at the University of East Anglia (UEA) and Stockholm University, there is a clear link between a person’s health and their perceptions of fairness at work over time. Continue →
The post Supportive colleagues could be the key to health and fairness at work appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
New year and new opportunity to improve workplace chemical safety
The advent of revised Hazardous Substances regulations in December passed largely unnoticed. Continue →
The post New year and new opportunity to improve workplace chemical safety appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Machine guarding no new phenomenon
New Zealand workplaces still aren’t getting it right despite having been required to adequately guard machinery since the Machinery Act 1950 came into force
Two recent sentencings in Invercargill District Court graphically illustrate the gruesome injuries that can be inflicted by inadequately guarded machinery. Continue →
The post Machine guarding no new phenomenon appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Smart choices key summits at Safety 360
The past three years have seen a massive shakeup in health and safety with changes to the regulations, attitudes and protocols needed to handle workplace incidents
The National Health and Safety Leaders’ Summit at the Safety 360 event this March brings Safety II and other key topics to the forefront of discussion. Continue →
The post Smart choices key summits at Safety 360 appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Essential guidance on driver eyesight launched
Road safety charity Brake has published an essential guidance report for fleet managers, health & safety and HR professionals, in collaboration with Vision Express
‘Look Sharp! Continue →
The post Essential guidance on driver eyesight launched appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Reflections on the first year in the job
Last year – 2017 – was a huge year for WorkSafe and for me personally in my first year as chief executive, Nicole Rosie reveals
This job is an opportunity to make a difference, leading an organisation that is working to get New Zealanders home healthy and safe at the end of each working day. Continue →
The post Reflections on the first year in the job appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Flu season is coming – time for a vaccination?
The government-funded seasonal influenza vaccine will be available in April, and wise employers and workers should consider vaccinating themselves as soon as possible against the traditional winter menace
Vaccination is recommended by most health professionals despite the fact that reports from the Northern Hemisphere reveal that the latest season’s vaccine was not as effective as expected. Continue →
The post Flu season is coming – time for a vaccination? appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
New sound level monitor aids in noise compliance
A new sound level monitor has been released to coincide with the World Health Organization’s World Hearing Day on March 3
The WHO initiative aims to draw attention to the global rise in hearing loss, with one key message the focus on efforts to stem hearing loss through prevention, such as reducing noise in the workplace. Continue →
The post New sound level monitor aids in noise compliance appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Cyclists and motor cyclists urged to be safe in cities
The behaviour of a small number of cyclists and motorbike riders is concerning the National Road Carriers Association
Incidents between motor vehicles and cyclists or motor bikes usually see the cyclist or motorbike rider come off second best. Continue →
The post Cyclists and motor cyclists urged to be safe in cities appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
The National Safety Show [4-5 July 2018]
Continue →
The post The National Safety Show [4-5 July 2018] appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Your fitness tracker may just save your life
Wearable sensors are not just useful for personal fitness tracking, but can also be used to gain new insights in several fields of biomedical research
In a research article in the open access journal PLOS Biology, Weng Khong Lim and colleagues from the SingHealth Duke-NUS Institute of Precision Medicine, Singapore, and the National Heart Centre Singapore show that wearables are not only able to identify groups of volunteers with similar patterns of daily activity, but can also predict various markers of risk for cardiovascular diseases such as obesity, high blood pressure and high blood sugar. Continue →
The post Your fitness tracker may just save your life appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Playing down workplace incidents doesn’t pay
WorkSafe is warning businesses not to play down notifiable events in their workplaces following the release of a decision involving a 2016 accident
Trade Depot Ltd appeared in Auckland District Court in December following an incident where more than 200kg of plasterboard fell on a worker in Takanini. Continue →
The post Playing down workplace incidents doesn’t pay appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Research shows health and safety training pays off
The government’s latest workplace health and safety attitudes and behaviours survey has confirmed strong links between recent health and safety training and the way people act and feel at work
Commissioned by the government’s health and safety watchdog, WorkSafe, the survey canvassed thousands of Kiwi workers and employers in high-risk industries, asking them about their experiences of workplace health and safety. Continue →
The post Research shows health and safety training pays off appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
How to keep your workplace safe from electrical hazards
Electrical equipment is common to every office, notes Jeson Pitt
According to one study, one person is electrocuted every single day in their workplace and most are within the age group of 25-44 years. Continue →
The post How to keep your workplace safe from electrical hazards appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Exciting new technology brings hope to those with reading disabilities
Revolutionary new device empowers people who are blind, partially sighted, and have reading difficulties to achieve increased independence in employment, education and daily life
Wireless, lightweight and about the size of a finger, OrCam MyEye 2.0’s breakthrough assistive technology instantly reads printed and digital text aloud: newspapers, books, restaurant menus, signs, product labels, computer and smartphone screens. Continue →
The post Exciting new technology brings hope to those with reading disabilities appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Machines a matter of life and death
There are no second chances with heavy machinery says WorkSafe after the recent sentencing of Easton Agriculture Limited in Palmerston North District Court
The sentencing follows the death of a worker in August 2016 after he became trapped in a potato harvester on a farm in Shannon. Continue →
The post Machines a matter of life and death appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Use the gear you’ve got
Safety gear is no good when it is sitting in your vehicle – and it needs to be used properly
That’s the lesson following the sentencing of Stumpmaster Limited in the North Shore District Court. Continue →
The post Use the gear you’ve got appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
HASANZ appoints first Executive Director
The Health and Safety Association of New Zealand (HASANZ) has appointed Philip Aldridge as its first Executive Director with responsibility for managing its day to day operations and implementing its business strategy
HASANZ is the umbrella organisation for workplace health and safety professions and was established in September 2014 to raise professional standards to provide healthier and safer workplaces. Continue →
The post HASANZ appoints first Executive Director appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
New insights into how employees manage stressful situations at work
Researchers have developed a new tool which could benefit organisations and their staff by assessing employees’ beliefs about how they manage challenging and stressful situations at work
Self-efficacy – the belief in one’s capabilities to achieve a goal or an outcome – is a key variable for understanding how people manage themselves and their behaviour at work, given its influence on motivation, well-being, and personal achievement and fulfilment. Continue →
The post New insights into how employees manage stressful situations at work appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Expert panel recommends ten actions to prepare and support the mobile workforce
The International Corporate Health Leadership Council (ICHLC) has released eight corporate health trends paired with ten actionable items to effectively help organisations prepare and support their mobile workforce
“Significant changes have impacted the mobile workforce since the Council’s 2014 trend report,” says Professor Robert L. Continue →
The post Expert panel recommends ten actions to prepare and support the mobile workforce appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Vodafone gets poor reception in latest telco survey
Good communications is essential for safety, but the latest Consumer NZ survey reveals some telecommunications companies aren’t getting the message
Telco customers rated Vodafone last for both mobile and broadband services in Consumer NZ’s latest satisfaction survey, the same place it occupied last year. Continue →
The post Vodafone gets poor reception in latest telco survey appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Protecting workers from solar UV radiation
The recent scorching weather provides a timely reminder of the importance of protecting workers from the power of the sun’s potentially deadly rays
Workers may be exposed to harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, particularly while working outdoors, WorkSafe advises. Continue →
The post Protecting workers from solar UV radiation appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Developing a roadside test for marijuana intoxication isn’t as easy as it sounds
Researchers are taking active steps to identify and combat the problem of people driving under the influence, but problems abound
Recent studies in which marijuana users took controlled doses of cannabis in the lab have identified new biomarkers that can be used to estimate a person’s recent cannabinoid intake. Continue →
The post Developing a roadside test for marijuana intoxication isn’t as easy as it sounds appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
National first aid training partnership forged
The Electrical Training Company, New Zealand’s leading provider of electrical apprenticeships, has partnered with Life Care Consultants Ltd to deliver first aid and CPR training across its apprentice programme
The Electrical Training Company has more than 600 apprentices across the country and Life Care Consultants will provide all training nationally, apart from the Auckland region, where First Aid NZ is the provider. Continue →
The post National first aid training partnership forged appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
First scaffolding apprenticeship designed to help boost construction
New Zealand’s first apprenticeship in scaffolding is being launched in a bid to support the surging construction sector
Scaffolding, Access and Rigging Association of New Zealand (SARNZ), the industry body representing the leading companies in the sector, has worked closely with Skills (The Industry Training Organisation) and training providers to develop the apprenticeship. Continue →
The post First scaffolding apprenticeship designed to help boost construction appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Road safety charity calls on fleets to tackle driver distraction
Road safety charity Brake is calling on fleet operators to crackdown on driver distraction, as more than a third of respondents to its annual Fleet Safety Survey say they do not monitor distraction. Continue →
The post Road safety charity calls on fleets to tackle driver distraction appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Keep fatigue out of the workplace
It’s a shock to the system going back to work after the holidays, particularly after a couple of weeks off over Christmas. Continue →
The post Keep fatigue out of the workplace appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Lurching from crisis to crisis
Professor Michael Baker – public health under serious threat
Workplace health and safety has deteriorated for many years – it took the Pike River crisis to remind us how bad it had become. Continue →
The post Lurching from crisis to crisis appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Taskforce identifies up to 1,400 buildings in Victoria clad in aluminium composite panels with a polyethylene core
Continue →
The post Taskforce identifies up to 1,400 buildings in Victoria clad in aluminium composite panels with a polyethylene core appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Simple, safe and practical takes out top safety prize
Husband and wife Robyn de Bruin-Judge and Wim de Bruin established Designerscope in 2013 when cabinet maker Wim decided there must be a better way to level cabinets. Continue →
The post Simple, safe and practical takes out top safety prize appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Health and safety toolkit now available
SafePlus, a new Government developed and endorsed health and safety toolkit, is now available to all New Zealand businesses. Continue →
The post Health and safety toolkit now available appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Health and safety sentencing emphasises the importance of training
A recent health and safety sentencing decision from the District Court, WorkSafe New Zealand v Avon Industries Ltd [2018] NZDC 4766, has highlighted how critical the proper training of workers can be in a workplace, Duncan Cotterill advises
In particular, just correcting bad practices and dangerous behaviour isn’t enough – instead training should be provided to ensure that every worker knows the correct procedures to follow, the leading law firm insists. Continue →
The post Health and safety sentencing emphasises the importance of training appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Asbestos regulations now in full effect
Businesses must now take greater responsibility for managing asbestos in their place of work
On 4 April, the two-year window for industry, the regulator and training partners to implement changes created by the Health and Safety (Asbestos) Regulations 2016 expired. Continue →
The post Asbestos regulations now in full effect appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Quitting Facebook can reduce stress
There may be more benefits to deleting your Facebook account than just protecting your private data – it could also reduce your stress levels
A University of Queensland research team led by Dr Eric Vanman of the School of Psychology, investigated the effects of a short break from Facebook on a person’s stress and well-being. Continue →
The post Quitting Facebook can reduce stress appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Ninth enforceable undertaking agreed
WorkSafe has accepted its ninth enforceable undertaking under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015
The regulator accepted the undertaking from Earthcare Environmental Limited, following an incident in July 2016 where a worker suffered hand injuries including the amputation of two fingers. Continue →
The post Ninth enforceable undertaking agreed appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Do you really know what your workers are doing?
The importance of risk assessments and implementing appropriate controls was a dominant message in a recent health and safety sentencing
The Whangarei District Court recently released their sentencing decision after Avon Industries appeared in court for sentencing in February. Continue →
The post Do you really know what your workers are doing? appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Site Safe backs apprenticeship programme
Site Safe is proud to be supporting hundreds of young apprentices by offering training providers discounted health and safety courses as part of the nationwide Skills Week initiative
Skills Week, a one-week work readiness course developed by the Skills Organisation, is the first block course of a specialist trades apprenticeship and includes training on employment skills, first aid, basic trade calculations and health and safety. Continue →
The post Site Safe backs apprenticeship programme appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Employers urged to take part in Road Safety Week 2018
Road Safety Week 2018 takes place 7-13 May and employers, especially those with staff who drive for work, are urged to register to take part and raise awareness of road safety issues
Coordinated by road safety charity Brake and supported by QBE Insurance and the NZ Transport Agency, the week will focus on seat belts and distractions with the theme ‘Belt on, phone off – make it a habit’. Continue →
The post Employers urged to take part in Road Safety Week 2018 appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Transpower upgrades three training facilities
The opening of Transpower’s Grid Skills Bunnythorpe facility will mark the completion of works to upgrade three key electricity industry training facilities
Transpower plays a key role in New Zealand’s electricity industry by providing training through its Grid Skills programme for many of those working to maintain and repair lines, substations, and other key assets. Continue →
The post Transpower upgrades three training facilities appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Fire-fighting foams causing sparks to fly
As a formal investigation continues into the use of certain fire-fighting foams in New Zealand, airports are being identified as still having stocks of the foams, use of which has been restricted since 2006
Fire-fighting foams manufactured with the chemicals PFOS and PFOA were the standard from the 1970s until the early 2000s. Continue →
The post Fire-fighting foams causing sparks to fly appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Deadly reminder that lead exposure kills – even years later
Low-level lead exposure may be responsible for around 30 per cent of premature deaths from cardiovascular disease in the US each year, according to an international paper published in The Lancet Public Health
Researchers monitored the lead levels in more than 14,000 people over 20 years and found that even low-level lead exposure (between 1-5 micrograms of lead per decilitre of blood) increases the risk of premature death. Continue →
The post Deadly reminder that lead exposure kills – even years later appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Hawke’s Bay company first to gain meth test accreditation
Hawke’s Bay company Drug Smart has become the first in New Zealand to gain IANZ accreditation to test for methamphetamine contamination
In 2017, Standards New Zealand published a new standard on the testing and decontamination of meth-affected properties (NZS8510) which required rigorous validation of sampling kits and proof of appropriately trained samplers. Continue →
The post Hawke’s Bay company first to gain meth test accreditation appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Multiple risk sources need to be managed
The tortilla oven that crushed and burned a worker’s hand and arm in November 2016 had multiple sources of risk, WorkSafe found
The worker was cooking tortillas in a commercial tortilla press and oven when a Miller Foods Limited, trading as Remarkable Tortillas, was sentenced in the Queenstown District Court following an incident that left a worker’s arm trapped in an oven that was aflame. Continue →
The post Multiple risk sources need to be managed appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Innovative move to improve construction labour shortage
Site Safe’s new partnership with Filipino recruitment organisations is helping ensure workers hit the ground running when they arrive in New Zealand
Site Safe has joined forces with Working In Resourcing, an NZ-based immigration company and its counter-part Philippines-based recruitment agency, YWA Human Resource Corporation, to deliver entry-level health and safety training for workers preparing to start work in New Zealand. Continue →
The post Innovative move to improve construction labour shortage appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Drones are lifesavers in disaster zones
Pioneering research from the University of South Australia has shown for the first time that drones can be used to detect human vital signs in war zones and natural disasters
University of South Australia researchers have successfully trialled unmanned aerial vehicles to measure heart and respiratory rates using remote-sensing imaging systems, while hovering three metres from humans. Continue →
The post Drones are lifesavers in disaster zones appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Construction gets safer
Fewer tradies are being killed or seriously injured at work, new research has found
The government’s Towards 2020 report into New Zealand’s workplace death and injury rates shows the fatality rate in the construction industry has more than halved since 2011 and is now lower than the national rate. Continue →
The post Construction gets safer appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
A major drive to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities involving vehicles on farms is underway
Research by WorkSafe New Zealand shows there is almost always a vehicle involved when someone dies as a result of a farm workplace accident. Continue →
The post A major drive to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities involving vehicles on farms is underway appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Offers from Red Cross workplace safety training
Continue →
The post Offers from Red Cross workplace safety training appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
New skidding system moves heavy loads in tight spaces
Global hydraulics and heavy lifting technology specialists Enerpac are introducing a new low-height skidding system for the accurate positioning of heavy loads in tight and awkward spaces
The new Enerpac LH-Series Low-Height Skidding System is a modular track system that stands at just 92mm with the track yet can jack and slide heavy loads, such as transformers, generators, motors or drives, over a pre-constructed track. Continue →
The post New skidding system moves heavy loads in tight spaces appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Health and safety enforcement measures a live wire
When the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA) came into force in April 2016, there was much discussion about the new enforcement measures introduced to ensure duty holders complied with their obligations, Graeme Tanner and Joseph Williams note
The HSWA signalled a clear legislative intent to ensure duty holders under the HSWA were held accountable where acts or omissions in a workplace caused, or created an undue risk of, harm. Continue →
The post Health and safety enforcement measures a live wire appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Supportive colleagues could be the key to health and fairness at work
The attitudes and behaviours of colleagues towards people returning to work from sick leave can have a big impact on whether or not a worker feels they are fairly treated by their organisation
According to the Organizational justice and health: Studying mental preoccupation with work and social support as mediators for lagged and reversed relationships study by researchers at the University of East Anglia (UEA) and Stockholm University, there is a clear link between a person’s health and their perceptions of fairness at work over time. Continue →
The post Supportive colleagues could be the key to health and fairness at work appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
New year and new opportunity to improve workplace chemical safety
The advent of revised Hazardous Substances regulations in December passed largely unnoticed. Continue →
The post New year and new opportunity to improve workplace chemical safety appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Machine guarding no new phenomenon
New Zealand workplaces still aren’t getting it right despite having been required to adequately guard machinery since the Machinery Act 1950 came into force
Two recent sentencings in Invercargill District Court graphically illustrate the gruesome injuries that can be inflicted by inadequately guarded machinery. Continue →
The post Machine guarding no new phenomenon appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Smart choices key summits at Safety 360
The past three years have seen a massive shakeup in health and safety with changes to the regulations, attitudes and protocols needed to handle workplace incidents
The National Health and Safety Leaders’ Summit at the Safety 360 event this March brings Safety II and other key topics to the forefront of discussion. Continue →
The post Smart choices key summits at Safety 360 appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Essential guidance on driver eyesight launched
Road safety charity Brake has published an essential guidance report for fleet managers, health & safety and HR professionals, in collaboration with Vision Express
‘Look Sharp! Continue →
The post Essential guidance on driver eyesight launched appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Reflections on the first year in the job
Last year – 2017 – was a huge year for WorkSafe and for me personally in my first year as chief executive, Nicole Rosie reveals
This job is an opportunity to make a difference, leading an organisation that is working to get New Zealanders home healthy and safe at the end of each working day. Continue →
The post Reflections on the first year in the job appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Flu season is coming – time for a vaccination?
The government-funded seasonal influenza vaccine will be available in April, and wise employers and workers should consider vaccinating themselves as soon as possible against the traditional winter menace
Vaccination is recommended by most health professionals despite the fact that reports from the Northern Hemisphere reveal that the latest season’s vaccine was not as effective as expected. Continue →
The post Flu season is coming – time for a vaccination? appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
New sound level monitor aids in noise compliance
A new sound level monitor has been released to coincide with the World Health Organization’s World Hearing Day on March 3
The WHO initiative aims to draw attention to the global rise in hearing loss, with one key message the focus on efforts to stem hearing loss through prevention, such as reducing noise in the workplace. Continue →
The post New sound level monitor aids in noise compliance appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Cyclists and motor cyclists urged to be safe in cities
The behaviour of a small number of cyclists and motorbike riders is concerning the National Road Carriers Association
Incidents between motor vehicles and cyclists or motor bikes usually see the cyclist or motorbike rider come off second best. Continue →
The post Cyclists and motor cyclists urged to be safe in cities appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
The National Safety Show [4-5 July 2018]
Continue →
The post The National Safety Show [4-5 July 2018] appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Your fitness tracker may just save your life
Wearable sensors are not just useful for personal fitness tracking, but can also be used to gain new insights in several fields of biomedical research
In a research article in the open access journal PLOS Biology, Weng Khong Lim and colleagues from the SingHealth Duke-NUS Institute of Precision Medicine, Singapore, and the National Heart Centre Singapore show that wearables are not only able to identify groups of volunteers with similar patterns of daily activity, but can also predict various markers of risk for cardiovascular diseases such as obesity, high blood pressure and high blood sugar. Continue →
The post Your fitness tracker may just save your life appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Playing down workplace incidents doesn’t pay
WorkSafe is warning businesses not to play down notifiable events in their workplaces following the release of a decision involving a 2016 accident
Trade Depot Ltd appeared in Auckland District Court in December following an incident where more than 200kg of plasterboard fell on a worker in Takanini. Continue →
The post Playing down workplace incidents doesn’t pay appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Research shows health and safety training pays off
The government’s latest workplace health and safety attitudes and behaviours survey has confirmed strong links between recent health and safety training and the way people act and feel at work
Commissioned by the government’s health and safety watchdog, WorkSafe, the survey canvassed thousands of Kiwi workers and employers in high-risk industries, asking them about their experiences of workplace health and safety. Continue →
The post Research shows health and safety training pays off appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
How to keep your workplace safe from electrical hazards
Electrical equipment is common to every office, notes Jeson Pitt
According to one study, one person is electrocuted every single day in their workplace and most are within the age group of 25-44 years. Continue →
The post How to keep your workplace safe from electrical hazards appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Exciting new technology brings hope to those with reading disabilities
Revolutionary new device empowers people who are blind, partially sighted, and have reading difficulties to achieve increased independence in employment, education and daily life
Wireless, lightweight and about the size of a finger, OrCam MyEye 2.0’s breakthrough assistive technology instantly reads printed and digital text aloud: newspapers, books, restaurant menus, signs, product labels, computer and smartphone screens. Continue →
The post Exciting new technology brings hope to those with reading disabilities appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Machines a matter of life and death
There are no second chances with heavy machinery says WorkSafe after the recent sentencing of Easton Agriculture Limited in Palmerston North District Court
The sentencing follows the death of a worker in August 2016 after he became trapped in a potato harvester on a farm in Shannon. Continue →
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Use the gear you’ve got
Safety gear is no good when it is sitting in your vehicle – and it needs to be used properly
That’s the lesson following the sentencing of Stumpmaster Limited in the North Shore District Court. Continue →
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HASANZ appoints first Executive Director
The Health and Safety Association of New Zealand (HASANZ) has appointed Philip Aldridge as its first Executive Director with responsibility for managing its day to day operations and implementing its business strategy
HASANZ is the umbrella organisation for workplace health and safety professions and was established in September 2014 to raise professional standards to provide healthier and safer workplaces. Continue →
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New insights into how employees manage stressful situations at work
Researchers have developed a new tool which could benefit organisations and their staff by assessing employees’ beliefs about how they manage challenging and stressful situations at work
Self-efficacy – the belief in one’s capabilities to achieve a goal or an outcome – is a key variable for understanding how people manage themselves and their behaviour at work, given its influence on motivation, well-being, and personal achievement and fulfilment. Continue →
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Expert panel recommends ten actions to prepare and support the mobile workforce
The International Corporate Health Leadership Council (ICHLC) has released eight corporate health trends paired with ten actionable items to effectively help organisations prepare and support their mobile workforce
“Significant changes have impacted the mobile workforce since the Council’s 2014 trend report,” says Professor Robert L. Continue →
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Vodafone gets poor reception in latest telco survey
Good communications is essential for safety, but the latest Consumer NZ survey reveals some telecommunications companies aren’t getting the message
Telco customers rated Vodafone last for both mobile and broadband services in Consumer NZ’s latest satisfaction survey, the same place it occupied last year. Continue →
The post Vodafone gets poor reception in latest telco survey appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
Protecting workers from solar UV radiation
The recent scorching weather provides a timely reminder of the importance of protecting workers from the power of the sun’s potentially deadly rays
Workers may be exposed to harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, particularly while working outdoors, WorkSafe advises. Continue →
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Developing a roadside test for marijuana intoxication isn’t as easy as it sounds
Researchers are taking active steps to identify and combat the problem of people driving under the influence, but problems abound
Recent studies in which marijuana users took controlled doses of cannabis in the lab have identified new biomarkers that can be used to estimate a person’s recent cannabinoid intake. Continue →
The post Developing a roadside test for marijuana intoxication isn’t as easy as it sounds appeared first on Industrial Safety News Magazine.
National first aid training partnership forged
The Electrical Training Company, New Zealand’s leading provider of electrical apprenticeships, has partnered with Life Care Consultants Ltd to deliver first aid and CPR training across its apprentice programme
The Electrical Training Company has more than 600 apprentices across the country and Life Care Consultants will provide all training nationally, apart from the Auckland region, where First Aid NZ is the provider. Continue →
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First scaffolding apprenticeship designed to help boost construction
New Zealand’s first apprenticeship in scaffolding is being launched in a bid to support the surging construction sector
Scaffolding, Access and Rigging Association of New Zealand (SARNZ), the industry body representing the leading companies in the sector, has worked closely with Skills (The Industry Training Organisation) and training providers to develop the apprenticeship. Continue →
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Road safety charity calls on fleets to tackle driver distraction
Road safety charity Brake is calling on fleet operators to crackdown on driver distraction, as more than a third of respondents to its annual Fleet Safety Survey say they do not monitor distraction. Continue →
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Keep fatigue out of the workplace
It’s a shock to the system going back to work after the holidays, particularly after a couple of weeks off over Christmas. Continue →
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Lurching from crisis to crisis
Professor Michael Baker – public health under serious threat
Workplace health and safety has deteriorated for many years – it took the Pike River crisis to remind us how bad it had become. Continue →
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Taskforce identifies up to 1,400 buildings in Victoria clad in aluminium composite panels with a polyethylene core
Continue →
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Simple, safe and practical takes out top safety prize
Husband and wife Robyn de Bruin-Judge and Wim de Bruin established Designerscope in 2013 when cabinet maker Wim decided there must be a better way to level cabinets. Continue →
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Health and safety toolkit now available
SafePlus, a new Government developed and endorsed health and safety toolkit, is now available to all New Zealand businesses. Continue →
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