Browsing: Injury prevention | Page 156

Employers have been urged to "see the person not the drug" when dealing with workers suspected of misusing drugs or alcohol.

Individuals exposed to disinfectants are twice as likely to suffer from asthma - than those not exposed to the substances - after relatively short periods of regular use, European researchers have found.

Many employers use "single focused" wellbeing and safety programs that don't engage workers, but they can encourage participation by highlighting the links between mental and physical health and injury risk, according to a workplace health expert.

Comcare will extend its "proactive regulatory reach" and take steps to reduce workers' comp premiums in 2017-18, while Safe Work Australia will finalise its policy on harmonised explosives laws, the Australian Government budget shows.

A large employer has used a major office fitout as an opportunity to provide sit-to-stand desks and other ergonomic tools to help its desk-bound workers sit correctly.

Australian employers are being urged to keep on top of scientific developments on the use of mobile phones, after an Italian man was awarded workers' compensation for a brain tumour arising from excessive phone use.

• Agency lauds "return-to-play" program for injured workers;
  
• Less adversarial workers' comp scheme promised in NSW;
  
• NSW issues conveyor warning, offers free quad bike training; and
  
• Did you miss our latest major quarterly update?

Big companies need to lead by example and improve safety standards and practices in partnership with "smaller players" like their contractors and suppliers, according to a panel of top business leaders.

Workers who are overweight and have high physical workloads are at a significantly high risk of exiting the workforce due to disability, highlighting the importance of interventions that target both issues, researchers say.

• Safety audit points to poor management on PCH; and
  
• Workers' Memorial Day tomorrow, injury-prevention tool launched.