Some high physical and mental workloads can be unmodifiable and lead to poor health outcomes, but altering direct and indirect factors can influence a worker's perception of their workload, facilitating their wellbeing, researchers say.
The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) has released new guidelines to help employers monitor, measure, analyse and evaluate their workplace health and safety performance, and warned against over-relying on lag indicators.
Employers have been reminded of their WHS duties to pregnant and parent workers, and urged to make ergonomic adjustments where needed, after a major project found these workers continue to face "vast discrimination, disadvantage, and bias".
Disingenuous attempts by companies to curb s-xual harassment in response to increased attention on the matter are damaging the chances for change, according to the latest instalment of a landmark Australian study.
A beleaguered aerospace giant's safety reporting system discourages staff reports through fear of retaliation, while many workers are unaware of the operation of, or their place in, the company's safety management system, a major review has found.
The rate of work-related dermatitis has nearly doubled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but a major review has identified two effective methods to prevent the "ubiquitous" skin condition.
A major study spanning the European Union has found the COVID-19 pandemic was a "formative event" for workers' mental health. It found many workers experienced increasing stress, mainly linked to two factors, and employers must continue to proactively monitor potentially health-damaging working conditions.
A major review of a WHS regulator has been quickly followed by a highly critical audit, which found the regulator lacks effective strategies for dealing with emerging WHS threats, and took about eight years to "actively and sufficiently respond" to the dangers of engineered stone.
A WHS regulator will step up its enforcement activities against workplace psychosocial hazards, like excessive workloads, with more specialist inspectors and better engagement with stakeholders, under two of 46 accepted recommendations from a highly anticipated review.
