Employers are being urged to consider the significant health and safety risks posed by sickness presenteeism and to establish cultural norms that encourage workers to take sick leave when they are ill. Psychologists say the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise in remote working arrangements are exacerbating these risks, and that employees should be encouraged toRead more
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A UK High Court has ruled that gig economy workers are entitled to key health and safety protections including the provision of personal protective equipment and the right to stop work in response to serious and imminent danger. The landmark judicial review won by the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) against the UKRead more
Australian doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers are nearly three times more likely to get COVID-19 than other Australians, according to new research which estimates how Australian health workers’ risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection differs from that of the broader community. “Despite low community prevalence during the period studied, which was prior to the second wave in Victoria,Read more
Register Now Presented by Anthony Gibbs (CEO, Sentis) What’s covered? Understanding why your people don’t engage with your safety tools, the risks associated with the return to a ‘new normal’ and what you can do about it. The uncertainty created by current events, including COVID-19, has led to increased stress, distraction and anxiety in theRead more
All NSW employers and insurers would contribute to the cost of COVID-19-related workers’ compensation claims under a cost-sharing model being considered by the State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA). The mechanism would enable the cost of COVID-19 claims to be shared across the widest possible base, rather than individual employers and insurers bearing a variable andRead more
More than one in three COVID-19-related workers’ compensation claims involve mental health issues, according to a new report from Safe Work Australia (SWA). SWA has collected preliminary data on the 533 COVID-19 related workers’ compensation claims up until July 31 2020 (the number of current claims is expected to be much higher). 202 were forRead more
As COVID-19 restrictions gradually ease across Australia, Comcare recently released guidance to help employers support workers as they transition back to usual workplaces. Employers must follow local conditions and the relevant state and territory restrictions as part of their transition planning. Transition plans should be tailored to meet relevant industry or geographic circumstances and respondRead more
Safety inspectors will be “out in force” to ensure Victorian employers that have been shut down or under work-from-home arrangements are meeting their health and safety obligations, the state regulator says. WorkSafe Victoria said obligations include training and instructing staff on how to complete tasks and use equipment safely, and ensuring equipment and machinery isRead more
Employees and employers across NSW whose mental health has been impacted by the onset of COVID-19 are being encouraged to take part in a community consultation that will help drive how the NSW Government supports people when they need help most. In order to hear from as many people as possible, the NSW Government hasRead more
A big challenge for many organisations when it comes to occupational hygiene and management of COVID-19 related risks is around rearranging physical space and flow, to limit human congestion, according to the University of Adelaide. The most important exposure scenario is people speaking face to face in proximity, without protection such as shields and respirators,Read more
