Recently the Australian Industry Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox, addressed the National Press Club in Canberra. The AIGroup is one of the “go to” business groups, along with the Business Council of Australia and mining industry groups, that the business media knows will comment on anything when asked, and frequently when not asked. Willox’s August … Continue reading "Business lobbyist misses the point"
Business lobbyist misses the point
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Interview with ILO’s Manal Azzi
Last week, I was able to interview several speakers, sponsors and delegates at the 23rd World Congress on Safety and Health at Work, sometimes on behalf of the Congress and at other times privately. Some of these interviews were edited from forty-five minutes of content to ten. The interview with the Team Lead on Occupational … Continue reading "Interview with ILO’s Manal Azzi"
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Should photos of unsafe activities be published unedited?
In early December 2023, the Australian Financial Review (AFR) published this (unblurred) photo of a woman, a man, and a child riding a single motorbike in the Australian countryside. Riding in such a way is unsafe, some may say reckless, and contrary to the operational guidelines of motorcycle manufacturers. Should the AFR have used this … Continue reading "Should photos of unsafe activities be published unedited?"
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What was he thinking? A case study in risk assessment and intervention
Below is a video of a worker setting up their work area and dusting a retail sign. When one sees such videos or images, we naturally think, “What is he doing?” and “What was he thinking?” This article speculates on those questions and what could have been done. It seems clear that the work task … Continue reading "What was he thinking? A case study in risk assessment and intervention"
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Call for Industrial Manslaughter laws after more unnecessary deaths
It was inevitable that all States in Australia would end up with Industrial Manslaughter (IM) penalties related to occupational health and safety (OHS). Tasmania is the latest to start the consultation on these laws, and again, it has required a work-related tragedy to generate the outrage that seems required for such a push. The Australian … Continue reading "Call for Industrial Manslaughter laws after more unnecessary deaths"
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Purposeful or lazy discussion of Right-To-Disconnect and Working-From-Home?
There is a curious development in the current discussion in Australia about the newly introduced Right-To-Disconnect (RTD). Many are conflating RTD with Working From Home (WFH) – two separate but slightly overlapping changes to the world of work – which is impeding valid and necessary discussion. Working From Home largely emerged as a response to … Continue reading "Purposeful or lazy discussion of Right-To-Disconnect and Working-From-Home?"
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Work (re)design needs government subsidies to succeed
Last week, SafeWork New South Wales progressed the management of psychosocial hazards at work with the release of its Designing Work to Manage Psychosocial Risks guidance. This document has been a long time coming and offers significant advice on how work and people management needs to change in order to prevent psychosocial hazards. However, its … Continue reading "Work (re)design needs government subsidies to succeed"
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HSRs are one option for Consultation, not the be-all and end-all
WorkSafe Victoria’s obsession with Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) was displayed at last week’s 2023 WorkSafe Awards night. The HSR of the Year nominations generated rowdiness in the audience, absent from the rest of the evening. The political context for emphasising HSRs in workplaces is understandable; there is always a close (and financial) relationship between … Continue reading "HSRs are one option for Consultation, not the be-all and end-all"
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The (fatal) flaw in over-reliance on government safety funding
As I write this, I am in a rooftop bar not far from the Astor Theatre, where the new Australian film ”Just a Farmer” is premiering. I am expecting a powerful story of the struggles of a farming family and community after one of their members dies by suicide. The film will likely touch on … Continue reading "The (fatal) flaw in over-reliance on government safety funding"
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New Australian film on farming life and mental health
“Just a Farmer” is an extraordinary independent Australian film about an all too common occurrence on farms – suicide. The filmmakers have built a strong media profile over the last few months, emphasising the significance of a psychosocial work-related condition. But the film is much more than a film about mental health Note: this article … Continue reading "New Australian film on farming life and mental health"
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