Browsing: Health and mental wellbeing | Page 111

Workers exposed to a common industrial chemical could be at risk of more types of cancers than previously thought, according to an international study of more than 37,000 workers.

A draft Code of Practice on protecting the mental health of fly-in-fly-out workers has been amended to reflect the reporting requirements of WHS laws, clarify that it is useful for multiple industries and include the internationally recognised definition of mental health.

A unique Monash University report has found that while the truck driving sector is notorious for fatal and debilitating crashes, more than four in five lost-time injuries result from other causes. It also identifies the geographical regions that will benefit most from interventions, and warns that falling claim numbers could be linked to legislative changes rather than safety improvements.

Wellbeing experts have identified a type of office workstation that can reduce workers' stress levels and increase their physical activity by more than 30 per cent.

A solid communications plan is crucial to facilitating and managing change when implementing a workplace violence (WPV) program, and ensuring all employees know their role in the initiative, according to a healthcare association.

The "first case" of mixed dust pneumoconiosis in NSW in four decades was actually another debilitating lung disease with no known cause, a regulator has found. However, it is now investigating a new dust disease case to determine whether it arose from WHS breaches.

The model WHS laws could be amended to increase the focus on psychological health, with the public consultation process for the ongoing review of the laws identifying widespread concerns over this issue and the absence of a "notification trigger" for psychological injuries.

An Australian study has found that sitting-reduction strategies that can be incorporated into work tasks, like using more distant printers, are the most feasible for workers to adopt, and were highly used by study participants.

Providing workers with access to private health insurance allows them to take control of their health, translating into a quick return on investment for organisations, an Aon director says.

Matching physically safe job roles to workers' skills is one of the nine "attributes of a healthy workplace" detailed in mock job applications to companies, under a unique workplace mental health and wellbeing campaign.