The emergence of an incurable occupational disease in at least three Australian states can be explained, in part, by a new building product having a hazardous-substance content of 90 per cent, compared to as low as three per cent in equivalent natural materials, according to a report published by BMJ.
A workplace psychiatrist has called for employers to boost employees' endorphin levels and reduce depression through a Black Dog Institute exercise campaign, while Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has urged workers and others to "send a message of care" on R U OK? Day tomorrow.
Will your workforce be the same in 10 years' time, and do you want it to be? This is a question employers must ask themselves under their injury-prevention strategies, according to a claims management specialist.
Protracted workers' comp disputes, loss of social function and relationship breakdowns can all amplify an injured worker's pain levels in an injury vicious circle, a clinical psychologist has warned.
Australian researchers have identified increased levels of proteins associated with inflammatory responses in both workers who handle engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) and patients with cancer.
Ninety per cent of shift workers are at high risk of accidents because they are regularly sleepy or fatigued during work, highlighting the need for smarter rosters and medical practitioners to do more to improve patients' sleep, according to a sleep and respiratory physician.
A type of benign eye growth caused by UV exposure, as well as wind and dust, points to a significantly increased risk of skin cancer, while an abnormal blinking condition that affects a worker's ability to work safely can be managed with the right treatment, two Australian research projects have found.
Work safety and workers' compensation amendments have passed Parliament in Queensland and Tasmania, while a NSW inquiry into the Dust Diseases scheme has made five recommendations amid growing concerns of a silicosis "epidemic".
