Excessive prescription of opioid medication is doubling the risk of long-term disability among injured workers, and highlights the need for workers' compensation schemes to take urgent action, says a leading occupational health researcher.
> Manslaughter offence without limitation periods introduced; > WHS Code released and new exposure threshold flagged in Qld; and > SWA releases guide for hazardous prefabricated concrete sector.
A short, weekly mindfulness program successfully reduced stressed among emergency despatchers with demanding schedules, suggesting such initiatives can be applied successfully to other challenging workplaces.
The Fair Work Commission has commended an employer's injury-management efforts, in the lead up to the dismissal of a worker with physical and mental injuries, who claimed she was "written off" due to her mental illness.
BHP is educating its leaders on "chronic unease" to boost its safety culture, according to its latest sustainability report, which also details its new leading indicators and plans to improve contractor safety.
Workplace leaders learn the majority of what they know about health and safety from their employers, showing employers should use that influence to drive safety outcomes, according to the head of health, safety and security for one of Australia's biggest infrastructure projects.
> New laws protect safety of contractors and gig economy workers; > Safety Regs with WHS clauses released, WorkSafe Vic boss resigns; and > SRC and disability discrimination instruments introduced.
An international leadership expert has urged safety practitioners to "ask more, tell less" when challenged by workers who push back against safety initiatives.
A major employer's anonymous behaviour feedback system allows it to quickly identify unsafe practices and resolve them informally, stopping inappropriate behaviour from escalating and requiring formal disciplinary action, its executive director of people and culture says.
