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Issue 17 - November 2009

Spotlight on - Young workers

Young workers are more likely to be injured at work than any other age group in Victoria.

In all types of employment – casual, part-time, labour hire, work experience, structured workplace learning or apprenticeships – 15 to 24 year olds have the highest rate of injury in the state and their injuries are more likely to result in hospitalisation.

About 10 per cent of all workplace injury insurance claims in Victoria involve people under 25.

Injuries to this group are a high priority for WorkSafe and are a factor behind a WorkSafe campaign targeting injuries in the retail and hospitality industries.

Employers need to pay specific attention to the needs of young workers in their workplace. Young workers must be properly trained and supervised, and provided with sufficient information to ensure they can work safely.

Related Resources...

Download Your health and safety guide to young workers

View WorkSafe’s advertising campaign

View WorkSafe’s holiday media release

Help your employees check the things they can’t see

You don't expect your employees to start their day without ensuring they have the right tools, but what about checking the important things they can't see like high cholesterol, diabetes or heart disease? WorkHealth is offering free and confidential health checks that are delivered in your workplace by trained professionals, helping your staff to understand the risk of chronic disease.

Early summer brings safety warning about working in the heat

A week of scorching temperatures has prompted a warning for people to be aware of the dangers of sun exposure and the need to be well-hydrated.

Racing trio win safety award

A new running rail designed and invented by Dan Mawby, tested by Delta-V Experts and used by Racing Victoria has won WorkSafe’s award for ‘Best design for workplace safety’. The rail has been a welcome replacement for solid aluminium rails.

Keg lifting system wins state safety award

Cherry Constructions and Workright Safety Solutions have won WorkSafe’s ‘Best solution for preventing musculoskeletal injuries’ for the design of their new mechanical aid system for handling beer kegs.

New Injury Hotspot available

WorkSafe has released an Injury Hotspot for slips, trips and falls, a major focus for WorkSafe Victoria in coming months. Slips, trips and falls are one of the single-biggest causes of workplace injuries.

Download the Injury Hotspot

Work-related stress prevention - Risk management worksheet

WorkSafe has released a worksheet about work-related stress prevention.

Download the worksheet

Increased effort in occupational health and safety

Tasmania’s Minister for Workplace Relations, Lisa Singh has welcomed amendments to the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 that give authorised officers of employee organisations permission to enter workplaces for occupational health and safety purposes.
This system is already in place in Victoria.

View Victoria's system

Read Tasmania's media release

Return to Work Fund

WorkCover SA has established a $15 million Return to Work Fund to implement initiatives for improving the return to work of injured workers. Expressions of interest for the second round of funding are now open.

Growing a ‘mo’ for men’s health

‘Movember’ is a month-long charity event that celebrates moustaches throughout November to promote awareness about prostate cancer. Men across Australia, known as 'MO Bros', are growing facial hair to raise funds for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.

Work Safe Week news

Download a copy of the newsletter

Safe Work Australian

The first issue of the Safe Work Australian is now available.

Read the newsletter

SafetyNet journal 176

The latest edition of SafetyNet journal is now available.

View the journal

New teachers' resource to promote safety

SafeWork SA has released a toolbox kit to help teachers prepare secondary school students to make the transition to work safely.

Download the toolbox

TAFE wins award in 2009 WorkSafe Victoria Awards

Bendigo Regional Institute of TAFE has won the ‘Best solution to a health and safety risk’ award in the 2009 WorkSafe Victoria Awards. The lathe chuck guard protects the operator of a lathe by refusing to close if the key is left in the chuck.

Winning formula for state safety award

RMIT’s school of aerospace, mechanical and manufacturing engineering campus at Bundoora East has won WorkSafe’s ‘Health and safety committee of the year’ award.

Victoria's commercial radio stations become official emergency broadcasters

More than 40 commercial radio stations across Victoria have become official emergency broadcasters under a formal agreement with the Victorian Government to provide people with greater access to information and warnings during bushfires and other emergencies.

Governments to address workplace health

State and territory governments have decided to act on the health and wellbeing of Australia’s 10 million workers. Through the program, employees can receive health screenings, health and wellbeing surveys and influenza vaccinations.

Winning strategy for state safety award

The Youth Justice Custodial Services branch within the Department of Human Services has won the ‘Best strategy for health and safety management’ in this year’s WorkSafe Awards.

Alcohol and drugs management policies published

The Federal Safety Commissioner has published a range of Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) policies and procedures to help build a better knowledge base and assist industry to develop and implement effective workplace policies.

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