Browsing: Emerging risks | Page 7

A WHS regulator has revealed that it has received hundreds of complaints about the conditions of workplace toilets, and highlighted the association between substandard facilities and poor safety outcomes.

Poor sleep in workers starting new roles significantly impacts their first few months of employment, and can lead to the development of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, a new Australian study has shown.

Employers can reduce the occupational risks to workers' reproductive health by reducing their exposure to heat, noise and chemicals, a global literature review has found.

Employers have been reminded that cars used by workers are workplaces and they have a duty to control the risks posed by in-vehicle distractions and other hazards. They have also been reminded of two high-level safety fines, of nearly $500,000 each, imposed on organisations that failed to comply with their road-related duties.

• Dog-attack death triggers call for high-level WHS controls; and
  
• Transitional arrangements for HSRs expiring under WA's WHS Act.

Workplace bullying and harassment are overshadowing certain "sleeper hazards" in psychosocial risk management, potentially exposing employers to the scrutiny of WHS regulators, safety law experts have warned.

Employers should more rigorously screen vehicle operators for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and monitor those workers already receiving treatment for the condition, Australian research on the link between OSA and work incidents has found.

Occupational stress, unclean workplace toilets and prioritising tasks over fluid intake are putting female workers at risk of debilitating symptoms, a major study has found.

A much higher number of workplace types than expected has been linked to significant infectious disease risks, highlighting the need for more widespread preventive actions.

Employers are now expected to take greater ownership of the WHS challenges posed by global supply chain pressures and changing technologies - an expectation that will be enforced by regulators under Australia's new 10-year WHS strategy, which identifies six key emerging issues.