Health and Safety Representatives - HSRs

24/04/2020

INTERNATIONAL WORKERS' MEMORIAL DAY - 28 APRIL

International Workers’ Memorial Day takes place annually around the world on April 28 - it is an international day of remembrance and action for workers killed, disabled, injured or made unwell by their work.

Due to the current COVID-19 restrictions, Trade & Labour Councils around the country will be holding their events online this year.

You can find details of the various TLC events https://www.actu.org.au/ohs/events

01/04/2020

COVID - 19 HELP

In these uncertain times it is important that working people can find factual information and tools which can be applied in the workplace.
The ACTU have developed a resource page for the current COVID - 19 pandemic designed to help HSRs and workers more broadly. If you haven't got it in your favourites we recommend you do so and don't forget to sign-up for the updates.
You can reach the page here

COVID-19 Stay up to date with the changing workplace situation

09/10/2019

PPE SHOULDN'T HARM
Something provided to protect workers should not harm. Workers have been complaining about issues regarding reflective tape on work jackets and shirts for years, but regulators and employers ignored these complaints.
This article identifies some of the issues. It's time for HSRs to review the PPE provided for workers in their workplace, is it fit for purpose? does it create a risk? could higher controls be introduced removing the need for PPE?

A Perth doctor is warning of the dangers of wearing high-vis shirts in direct sunlight after what she believes is the world's first case of burns from retro-reflective tape.

20/08/2019

COME ON BE A GOOD SPORT
SafeWork Australia wants to find a safety champion, someone who can hold their head up and say they were first across the line.
We agree there is nothing wrong with a little competition. Let's see which HSR can issue the most PINs in October.

14/08/2019

SAFEWORK AUSTRALIA IS LOOKING FOR A SAFETY CHAMPION
Let's help them.

10/07/2019

SURVEY FOR SAFETY

The Boland Review of the Model WHS Laws is now open for public consultation and will close on 5 August.

Everyone has a right to a safe workplace and to arrive home at the end of the working day. Yet every week four people are killed and thousands more seriously injured in Australian workplaces.

Every one of these is preventable!

Working people in their unions are fighting for improved workplace laws and safer workplaces. As part of this work, we are inviting all workers to complete the safe at work survey.
The survey will only take a few minutes to complete but the information you provide will be invaluable. Please take the survey as soon as you can.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CR5825J

The more responses we receive the better informed our workplace health and safety work will be. Once you have completed the survey, please ask the Boland Review of the Model WHS Laws is now open for public consultation and will close on 5 August your friends and workmates to take the survey too.

Take the Review of Australian Work Health and Safety Laws Worker Survey

28/05/2019

SOME SIMPLE AND GOOD ADVISE FOR HSR INVESTIGATIONS

Go to https://www.facebook.com/TheAMWU/photos/a.120560197958044/3247520655261967/?type=3&theater

🚨Is your work taking accidents seriously? 🚨

When correct health and safety practices are followed accidents should be rare.

However, if incidents do occur it is essential that your workplace health and safety rep acts promptly to ensure a proper investigation of the incident takes place.

If you have any questions contact your organiser or the helpdesk.

30/04/2019

AN OPPERTUNITY FOR WORKPLACE JUSTICE

Labor has promised it will introduce uniform industrial manslaughter laws across Australia with jail time if it wins government.
The move announced last Friday (April 26) follows an independent review of national workplace safety laws earlier this year, which recommended introducing national industrial manslaughter law.
Labor governments in Queensland and the ACT have implemented industrial manslaughter laws, with Victoria set to follow later this year with penalties including 20 years in jail.
Shadow industrial relations minister Brendan O'Connor said a Labor govt would work with state and territory ministers to apply a uniform industrial manslaughter law across all jurisdictions.
Labor said it would set up a national advisory committee of representatives from each state and territory who have been personally impacted by a serious workplace injury or death.
The committee would provide advice to health and safety ministers and develop recommendations.
The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) welcomed Labor's move, saying it "marks a systemic shift in how this country will view the responsibility of employers for the safety of workers, and how our courts will address the tragic loss of life that has become an unacceptable feature of Australian workplaces".
ACTU assistant secretary Liam O'Brien said "anyone who is responsible for the death of another person should face the prospect of serious jail time".
"This is a significant reform which will change the way employers think about their responsibility towards their employees."
Liberal IR minister Kelly O'Dwyer said uniform industrial manslaughter laws "will not address the underlying issues identified by families impacted by workplace fatalities".
(source: Workforce Daily)

16/04/2019

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF MOURNING 2019 - APRIL 28th

Fight for the living, remember the dead.

International Mourning Day is an opportunity for us to remember why we have to fight so hard to ensure good health and safety in our workplaces. On this day we remember our fallen workmates who never made it home from work due to a workplace incident, or died as a result of being exposed to such things as chemicals, fumes, gasses, silica or asbestos.

If you can make one of the events it is very powerful & worthwhile. If you can't then spend a minutes silence with your workmates on or around the 28th to reflect on those whose lives have been taken as a result of their employment.

For details of the Sydney service https://actionnetwork.org/events/sydney-international-day-of-mourning-service?source=direct_link&

The International Workers' Memorial Day service is a time where our community comes together to reflect and remember the thousands of workers who are killed in their workplace each year. This special open service is an opportunity for all workers, political leaders, employers, religious and civic le...

19/03/2019

NSW ELECTION
Don't forget on Saturday 23rd March you and your workmates need to vote if your a NSW HSR. The political parties have drawn their lines on policy, see what the major parties are offering on health & safety and workers comp.

NSW Liberal Party - we were unable to find any policies relating to Work Health & Safety or Workers Compensation.

NSW Greens - Work & Industrial Relations - includes legislating for strong right of entry powers for unions to protect workplace safety and workplace rights, implementing a workers compensation scheme that promotes the recovery of workers from workplace injuries through the payment of adequate and timely benefits including medical support and provides return-to-work pathways where appropriate, including training and work adjustment support & extending workers compensation benefits to cover workers injured on a journey to or from work. Please see https://greens.org.au/nsw/policies/work-and-industrial-relations

NSW Labor - Increasing work safety law and compliance - includes tougher penalties for corporations and jail for individuals responsible for workplace death resulting from a breach of work safety laws. Please see https://www.michaeldaley.com.au/increasing_work_safety_law_compliance_and_enforcement. Gig workers legally entitled to workers’ compensation when injured see https://www.michaeldaley.com.au/legislating_to_protect_workers_in_the_gig_economy. Double compliance functions of SafeWork NSW, ensure workers and their representatives can enforce workplace safety laws, strengthen obligations on employers to provide opportunities for injured workers, new laws to protect workers from bullying, charter of rights for injured workers. See Labor's plan for secure jobs, fair conditions and safe workplaces.

We think all of the parties could have done more to provide for safe workplaces and fairer workers compensation.