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Safe Work Australia (SWA) is urging employers to access a free evidence-based program designed to address the WHS risks associated with prolonged sitting, which included resources for those working at home during COVID-19. Based on over 10 years of research, employers and businesses can now sign up to the BeUpstanding trial to gain access toRead more

COVID-19 pressures and the subsequent lockdowns to contain it are causing widespread sleep deprivation and a greater risk of injury, according to new research. SleepStandards recently conducted a study on the sleep of 1,000 Americans during and after the nation’s lockdown, and found 53 per cent of Americans were getting less sleep after the lockdownRead more

COVID-19 safety measures on fly-in-fly-out (FIFO) worksites, including longer rosters and the shutting of areas where workers socialise, have worsened the already isolating experience of FIFO work and may have long-term mental health impacts, according to the leader of a major Australian study. Dr Jess Gilbert from Curtin University’s Centre for Transformative Work Design isRead more

Shift workers who are working night shifts are approximately 25–30 per cent more at risk of injury than those working day shifts, according to new British research. Researchers from the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) examined five aspects of well-being including chronic fatigue, emotional reactivity, social isolation, stress, and overall health. They foundRead more

Drug and alcohol experts are calling for more reduction measures to combat risky drinking behaviour in the construction sector, after an Australian study found one in six workers reported workmates being visibly affected by alcohol on site. The 2020 study of more than 500 New South Wales (NSW) male construction workers found the prevalence ofRead more

In response to the emergence of the gig economy and the changing nature of work, the UK’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published new research on its risks and benefits in hopes of informing future occupational safety and health policy. Gig economy work is characterised by short-term informal working relationships where work is generally on-demand,Read more

Today, information is spread at the touch of a button, and the modern public demand accountability and transparency. Rather than shy away from this, successful companies take advantage of it. Health and safety initiatives are used not only to avoid a bad reputation, but also to build a good one. The companies at the forefrontRead more

A safety climate is the shared set of perceptions and expectations that workers have regarding safety in their organisation at any given time. But how does this safety climate affect how workers approach their day-to-day work, and any health and safety concerns that may arise? The literature says the impact is significant. A 2005 studyRead more

Too many organisations still believe they have to choose between safety and productivity. There is a view, particularly among smaller companies, that health and safety directives exist to stifle the productivity within an organisation. But safety and productivity are not competing ideals. You do not need to sacrifice one, in order to achieve the other.Read more

Young workers living with more than one health condition such as arthritis, asthma, and anxiety are significantly less productive in the workplace, according to new Curtin University research. Researchers said the number of young workers suffering from multiple health conditions is expected to rise in the coming years, and that it was vital employers took earlyRead more