Urgent workplace safety warnings and orders have been issued, after WorkCover Queensland reported receiving 22 workers' comp claims for silicosis over the last three weeks.
Employers can prevent minor workplace conflicts escalating into long-tail injury claims through a psychosocial wellbeing strategy that focuses on resolving issues as quickly and as informally as possible, the Comcare National Conference has heard.
The "smarter use" of incident notifications and other data has helped the Comcare scheme slash its injury and illness claims from about 20,000, in its first full year of operation, to just over 2,500 in 2017-18, its CEO told the Comcare National Conference in Melbourne today.
A major study has linked exposure to three toxic industrial settings with excess mortality from cancer and neurological diseases. Meanwhile, Canadian researchers say a ubiquitous carcinogenic chemical and its substitutes are associated with "modest increases" in lung cancer risk.
The fourth national survey on workplace s-xual harassment shows work health and safety laws and other legislation must be amended to require employers to proactively prevent harassment, according to Australia's peak union body.
A worker has failed to convince a tribunal that being bitten by a midge at a national employer's pest-ridden workplace caused her to develop a blood vessel disease.
Computer programs that prompt sedentary workers to take a "movement break" lower workers' blood pressure, and are especially beneficial for those who can't or don't exercise enough, Australian researchers say.
Lendlease's mental health programs, including "industry leading wellbeing leave" used by nearly 70 per cent of eligible employees, have earnt the Sydney-headquartered company the title of one of the world's healthiest workplaces.
