When it comes to managing social media use, the boundaries between personal and work life are blurred, and employers risk regulatory scrutiny and litigation if they ignore issues that arise between workers online, according to a senior workplace lawyer.
An Aon risk survey has found that work health and safety has emerged as one of the major risks faced by local governments, and identified nine strategies underpinning "smart" safety cultures.
European researchers have identified the types of organisational change most strongly associated with sick leave. Meanwhile, employers in an industry where workers are prone to tobacco and alcohol-related cancers have been urged to adopt interventions focusing on both lifestyle and working conditions.
A worker whose internet search led to her claiming she developed chronic fatigue syndrome from employer-provided vaccinations has been denied workers' compensation.
A safety expert has warned that asbestos substitutes could be as hazardous as the substance they're replacing, while a study has confirmed that a man who worked with a chemical found in fire extinguishers and refrigerants for four hours died from exposure to the chemical.
FIFO workers who fear being stigmatised for having mental health problems are up to 24 times more likely than others to experience high psychological distress, according to a major study of Australian remote mining and construction workers.
Canadian researchers have reiterated urgent calls for employers to get rid of old diesel-powered machinery, and found that most lung cancers caused by occupational diesel engine exhaust result from exposure to low concentrations of the substance.
Managers who undergo mental health training feel more capable of supporting staff, but the flow-on effects for employees are unclear, according to a major review. However, the lead researcher tells OHS Alert that this should not deter organisations from implementing such important programs.
