Simple Safety Update – Issue 14 February 2011

The countdown continues. We are already at the end of February and the year is really picking up pace. It will be the end of the financial year before we know it and then only 6 months to the new Workplace Health and Safety Act (WHSA). As I pointed out each month we will look at a part of the new Act so you can get to grips with what is coming. This month we look at a very important new term under the Act, a "Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking", which replaces the term employer . Read on ….
Don’t forget this month’s Simple Safety Stuff up. They say necessity is the mother of invention. These items of head protection sure show some ingenuity, if not being all that effective.

OHS News

A Win for Piper Alderman - SafeWork SA v Bridgestone

It is widely known that OHS regulators across the country rarely lose a prosecution and defendants are fighting an uphill battle to escape a guilty finding. However Piper Alderman recently achieved a rare win. In South Australia a tyre manufacturer was prosecuted for failing to ensure so far as is reasonably practicable their employees were safe from injury and risks to health after an incident when an employee became caught in a conveyor while clearing it
The company was found not guilty after it was established that the employer;
• had in place safe work procedures
• had provided information and instruction to employees
• had conducted pre start checks of the conveyor
In summary this case shows that good systems for managing OHS will provide employers with evidence to successfully defend a prosecution in the event of an incident. Contact Simple OHS Solutions to get your systems under control 1300 654 843 or www.simpleohssolutions.com.au

Harmonisation Countdown 
2- PCBU

The new Act talks about PCBU's not employers so what is a Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU)

What	Who
A "person" can be an individual or an organisation	e.g. individuals, company, partnership, who act as employers, contractors, franchisors, and the Crown
The undertaking can be for profit or gain or not	Includes charities that employ people and organisations that make profit
Domestic households	Does include the weekly cleaner but not tradespersons
Does not apply to elected members of local government	Not the Mayor or counsellors
Does not apply to volunteer associations without employees	Not the tennis club

Did you Know?

Last year, 23 Victorians didn’t come home from work at the end of the day. Dozens more received life-threatening injuries and more than 29,000 sustained an injury that required extended time off work or extensive medical treatment.

Simple Safety Stuff Ups

Using your lunch as head protection … novel.
Click here to view images of safety stuff ups

OHS Events

Safety In Action 2011 Melbourne
Date: Tue 5 Apr 2011- Thu 7 Apr 2011
Location: Melbourne Convention Centre
View full event details

AIOH Musculoskeletal Disorders Seminars 2011
SYDNEY: 3M Innovation Centre, 25 Bridge St, Pymble
When: Friday 1 April 2011, 8:30am - 4:30pm

MELBOURNE: AIOH Training Room, Level 1/49 Keilor Park Dr, Keilor Park
When: Friday 8 April 2011, 9:00am - 5:00pm

ADELAIDE: Quality Hotel Old Adelaide, 160 O'Connell St, North Adelaide
When: Friday 15 April 2011, 9:00am - 5:00pm

BRISBANE: Virginia Palms International, Cnr of Sandgate Rd & Zillmere Rd, Boondall
When: Wednesday 20 April 2011, 9:00am - 5:00pm

PERTH: Victoria Park Hotel, 605 Albany Highway, Victoria Park
When: Friday 29 April 2011, 9:00am - 5:00pm

HOBART: IPM, 176 New Town Rd, New Town
When: Friday 6 May 2011, 9:00am - 5:00pm
View full event details